Royal Canadian Medical Service Association

1 week ago

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Congratulations to Lilly Lamarche of Albert Bridge NS the 2019/20 recipient of the RCMSA Educational Bursary. Lilly is the daughter of Maj Kim Lamarche (NUR) and 2Lt Pat Lamarche (HCA) 35 (Sydney) Field Ambulance and will be attending Dalhousie University

Félicitations à Lilly Lamarche de Albert Bridge (N.-É.), récipiendaire de la bourse d'études de l'ASSRC en 2019/20. Lilly est la fille du Maj Kim Lamarche (infirmière) et du 2Lt Pat Lamarche (HCA) 35 (Sydney) Field Ambulance et fréquentera l'Université Dalhousie. ... See MoreSee Less

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Royal Canadian Medical Service Association

2 weeks ago

The following post is thanks to Capt Dan Trask, Unit Historian, 11 (Victoria) Field Ambulance

2 September 2019, marked the 101st anniversary of the worst day for 13 Field Ambulance [predecessor to the current 11 (Victoria) Field Ambulance] during the Great War. This day would see the start of the Battle of Arras and the breaking of the Drocourt-Queant Line. The edited for brevity passage below is taken from "Stretchers, Mud and Blood: The Story of 13 Field Ambulance During the Great War". This day would see four members killed and a number of others wounded. Yes, these numbers are small in terms of Great War standards, but they still had an impact on the unit and the members themselves. Captain Palmer established a post at Vis-en-Artois and cleared wounded back by hand-carrying and wheeled stretchers. Unfortunately, it was at this location that three ORs from 13 Field Ambulance were killed. One of these men was Private Honeyman [524777] and his circumstances of death card reads “While going up the line with three comrades to bring out wounded in front of Vis-en-Artois, he was instantly killed when an enemy shell landed in the midst of the party”. The other two men killed were Private Fisher [400110] and Private Green [524990]. Private Fisher was actually severely wounded in the explosion, being rendered unconscious and dying approximately half an hour later. Following the war, Privates Green and Fisher would be interred together and share a common headstone. Captain Walsh was wounded by a shell fragment that struck his chin near Hancourt and was evacuated as a result. His wound would heal but he required subsequent surgery and he would not return to the unit. That afternoon the CO and LCol Bell moved forward and established an ADS at the junction of Eterpigny and Arras-Cambrai Roads, leaving Captain Parney and Captain Maynard to clear up Rohart. Captain Palmer moved his post forward to Snipe Copse to account for the line moving and to be closer to the incoming casualties. It was at this location that another unit member was killed. Lance-Corporal Bunch [532735] was recorded as having been killed in action. His death card reads “He was assisting dressing the wounded men in a dugout, when an enemy shell hit the door, instantly killing him”. It was not only 13 Field Ambulance who was suffering casualties, as a shell landed near the ADS, killing three members of 12 Field Ambulance and wounding the Motor Transport Sergeant for 13 Field Ambulance. Through an analysis of personnel files. it appears Sergeant Bennett [532776] was the Motor Transport Sergeant who was wounded in the right leg. Fortunately, his wound was considered minor and he was able to rejoin the unit that day. The scheme of evacuation included clearing the ADS by light railway to St Sauveur and then by ambulance to the MDS. One casualty during the day was Private Mowatt [532655] as he received a gunshot wound in the right buttock and was evacuated as a result. Another casualty was Private MacHam [532663]. His injuries were more serious as he was evacuated with a fractured pelvis and a shrapnel wound that ruptured his bladder. For a couple of days, his condition was listed as Dangerously Ill but he managed to survive. Prior to being wounded, Private MacHam’s actions were such that he was nominated for, and would receive, the Military Medal. A third casualty was Private Birkett [532691] who received a gunshot wound to the chest. Fortunately, his wound was not too serious, and he rejoined the unit on 9 Oct. Sergeant Feaver [686] would receive a shell wound to his left buttock and had to be evacuated. Another casualty was Private Dare [524783] who received shell wounds to his left hand, left arm and groin. He would be evacuated and face a long recovery but was able to rejoin the unit on 15 May 19, in time to return home with them. Lance-Corporal Pover [524808] was struck by a shell fragment in his left shoulder and would be evacuated to 23 Casualty Clearing Station for surgical attention and recovery. He would rejoin the unit on 18 Sep. ... See MoreSee Less

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