Our Emblems

+The Origin+

The history of the St. John Ambulance emblem goes back a long way to around 1099 in Jerusalem. When the Crusaders captured the Holy City of Jerusalem, they found a group of Benedictine monks caring the sick and the wounded pilgrims and soldiers. The rich sea merchants from the great Republic of Amalfi (now part of Italy near Naples) took upon themselves the gifts of land and money. The Benedictine monks headed by The Blessed Peter Gerard of Martigues, who was known as the Founder of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, adopted the emblem of the Republic of Amalfi on the black habit and formed the Order of St. John in honour of Saint John the Baptist. The fame of the Order grew through the Christendom.

The emblem of the Republic of Amalfi as adopted by the Knight Hospitallers (the predecessors of today's the Order of St. John)

When the great Blessed Raymond du Puy succeeded the Blessed Gerard in 1119, he instituted the Rules of Raymond du Puy and made The Order an Order of Chivalry. The monks also took up arms and become the Knight Hospitallers. Their purpose was no so much for military but rather the protection of the Christian faith and the protection of the injured pilgrims. This gave birth to the mottoes of the Order of St. John:

Pro Fide - for the Faith

Pro Utilitate Hominum - for the Service of Mankind

which are still practised today. The four arms represents the virtues of:

PRUDENCE - JUSTICE - TEMPERANCE - FORTITUDE

+British Order of St. John+

After the siege of Malta in 1565, the Knights left to their respective countries. The English knights returned to England and started the Priory of England. In 1888, HM Queen Victoria officially recognized the Order of St. John as a British Order of Chivalry in a Royal Charter of Incorporation. The King or Queen of England is made the Sovereign Head and the Patron of the Order of St. John. The establishment of the St. John Ambulance Association (SJAA) in 1877 and the St. John Ambulance Brigade (SJAB) a decade later allow lay person to carry out first aid duties and help those in suffering. The original cause of the Order founded by the Blessed Gerard thus sees its continuity and preservations throughout the British Commonwealth and in the United States of America.

The Royal Beasts - the lions and the unicorns - were added to the St. John cross and thus linking the Order of St. John to the British royal patronage.

The St. John cross with the British Royal Beasts - the lions and the unicorns
The St. John cross has 8 points franked by the lions and the unicorns on opposite directions. Each of the 8 points carries a virtue, which every Cadets of the St. John Ambulance must uphold. They are:

OBSERVATION

That he may note the causes and signs of injury.

TACT

That he may, without thoughtless questions, learn the signs and symptoms and history of the case, and secure the confidence of the patient and the bystanders.

RESOURCE

That he may use to the best advantage whatever is at hand to prevent further damage and assist Nature's efforts to repair the mischief already done.

DEXTERITY

That he may handle a patient without causing unnecessary pain, and use appliances efficiently and neatly.

EXPLICITNESS

That he may give clear instructions to the patients and/or the bystanders how best to assist him.

DISCRIMINATION

That he may decide which of the several injuries should be treated first.
PERSEVERANCEThat he may continue his efforts, though not at first successful.

SYMPATHY

That he may give real comfort and encouragement to the suffering.

+St. John Ambulance of Malaysia (SJAM) Device+

St. John Ambulance began in Malaya in 1908. During the World War Two, members of the Brigade served along side with the British Medical Auxiliary Service (MAS). After the War, the government formed lay units in various states.

In 1972, an Act of Parliament merged the St. John Ambulance Association (SJAA) and St. John Ambulance Brigade (SJAB) into a single entity known today as the St. John Ambulance of Malaysia (SJAM).

Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the St. John Ambulance of Malaysia (Incorporation) Act 74, 1972 provide that the device of the SJAM is protected the name of "St. John" and the emblem from unauthorized use.

The St. John Ambulance of Malaysia device

All official use of the SJAM device is stated in the General Regulations of the St. John Ambulance of Malaysia, 1996 and should be accurately represented in the following manner:

#The white St. John cross with the white Royal Lions and Unicorns encircled in a black background when used as black and white. No other part of the cross shall be changed.

#The name "St. John Ambulans" in Malay shall be used. English representation of the name shall not be used in Malaysia.

#Note the "T" in "St.". For the device purpose, the period shall be underneath the letter "T". However, for written purpose, the normal convention of writing shall be used i.e., "St."

#The name "St. John Ambulans" starts from the lower point of the left cross and all around towards the lower point of the right cross. The "N" in "John" and the "M" in "Ambulans" shall be directly above to left and right points of the top cross respectively.

#The word "Malaysia" shall be represented at the bottom of the device with the first "A" and "S" directly below the left and right points of the bottom cross respectively.

#No other alterations to the SJAM device shall be permitted. If in doubt, kindly contact the Hon. Secretary-General of SJAM or your State/Regional Commander.