History of blood services - 1939-1945

During World War II, state-based Red Cross Blood Transfusion Services played a critical role in Australia's war effort, providing whole blood and serum for the military and stockpiling for civilian needs in the event of an air attack on Australia. A great number of Australians came forward to donate blood.

The first Emergency Blood Transfusion Service is set up in Victoria. The Australian Army establishes blood and serum preparation units in five states.

Picture: Victorian Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service found, Dr Lucy Bryce, (right) inspecting blood collected for processing into serum during WWII.
Australian War Memorial

-Scientists discover the Rhesus blood group, one of the final obstacles to safe blood transfusion.

-Lifesaving pooled human serum is produced at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories.

-The Red Cross finances the nation's first fully-equipped ‘blood bank’ at the Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia.

Picture: Pooled human serum produced in 1942.

Australia's earliest mobile blood bank, presented to the army in 1940, met a disastrous fate while being shipped to Australian forces in the Middle East during World War II. Captured by the Germans, the ship was later sunk by the British off the French coast.

The Red Cross takes over blood transfusion services in every capital city.