League of Mercy

In 1898, Sir Everard Hambro chaired a committee established to consider several submitted plans and proposals on devising a badly needed organisation.[6]

On 1 March 1899, the Edward, Prince of Wales chaired a meeting at Marlborough House[6] to establish a fundraising body to support voluntary hospitals and announce subsequent directives.[7] Sixty-five districts were established based on Parliamentary constituency divisions, each with a president (grandee) who coordinated the collection of donations through middle class volunteers.[7] Many notable contemporaries were in attendance at the meeting, including the Duke of Westminster, the Marquess of Lorne, the Marquess of Camden, Earl Carrington, Earl of Clarendon, Earl of Dartmouth, Sir W. Hart Dyke, Sir Whittaker Ellis, Sir Arthur Hayter, Sir Fitzroy D. Maclean, Weetman Pearson and Edmund Boulnois.[6]

The prince stated:[6]

The purpose for which the League of Mercy has been established is to promote the welfare and to further the objects of the Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund for London, and in every way, but especially by encouraging personal service on the part of large numbers of persons to further the interests and to promote the adequate maintenance of hospitals and other institutions for the relief of sickness and suffering, and especially those institutions which are supported by voluntary contributions.

— Edward, Prince of Wales, The Times, 2 March 1899[6]

After being active for nearly half a century, the League ceased its work in 1947 on the creation of the National Health Service,[3] its Royal Charter subsequently surrendered.[4] In 1999, the League of Mercy Foundation, was re-established to recognise and reward volunteers.[2]

Badge of the Order of the League of Mercy, version awarded 1899-1946. The bow was for ladies' awards

The original badge of the order, awarded from 1899, was a red enamelled silver or silver gilt cross surmounted by the plumes of the Prince of Wales and with a central roundel bearing the crest of the League. The reverse is plain, save for the inscription “League of Mercy 1898” on the central roundel. It was awarded for at least five years distinguished and unpaid personal service to the League in support of charity hospitals, or in the relief of suffering, poverty or distress. A bar for a second award was introduced in 1917.[8] The Order ceased to be awarded after 1946, and the League itself closed in 1947.[3]

From 1999, the Badge was reinstituted to encourage and recognise voluntary work in these areas of care the sick, injured and disabled; young people who are at risk; the homeless; the elderly; the dying; and those who are impaired in mind.[9] In the United Kingdom, the Badge comes after the Service Medal of the Order of St John and before the Voluntary Medical Service Medal in the order precedence.[5]

The League of Mercy was re-established as a charity registered in England on 30 March 1999, with Charity Number 1076885, exactly 100 years after the founding of the original League.[2]

The current President of the League is a sitting Lord, Robert Balchin, Baron Lingfield. The League continues its close relations with the British Royal Family. For example, in September 2010 in a ceremony at Armourers' Hall in the City of London, HRH Princess Michael of Kent was invested with the Companion's Badge of the League of Mercy.[2]

• Official website of the League of Mercy Foundation