Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson was a graduate of Northwestern University Medical School. In 1915, he renounced his United States citizenship in order to join the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Attached to the 75th (Mississauga) Battalion, Hutcheson earned the Military Cross and the Victoria Cross during Canada’s Last Hundred Days. In 1920, he reclaimed his American citizenship after leaving Toronto. CEFRG presents the story of one of five Americans to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
Enlistment
Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson was born 16 December 1883, in Mound City, Illinois. He attested 14 December 1915, at Exhibition Camp, Toronto. Joined with the 9th Reserve Battalion, CEF. Bellenden stood 5, 9″ tall, 155 pounds, with blue eyes. He was Episcopalian, a physician, and also a surgeon. His father was Bellenden Hutcheson, also of Mound City, Illinois. His mother, Louella, was previously deceased. Hutcheson also had previous service, with the 13th Royal Regiment.
Hutcheson had several reasons for joining the CEF. After the war, he had written to a Captain Gunyon in 1927. “In the first place, I was in great sympathy with the Allied cause, secondly I am chiefly of English descent: my great grandfather served under Lord Nelson and lost an eye in the battle of Trafalgar and my paternal grandfather came to the U.S. from England in the 1840’s and was Captain and adjutant on a New York regiment during the Civil War. The third factor was the desire for surgical experience and adventure which I felt war service would afford.”
Service
Unit sailed from Halifax on 18 September 1916. Arrived at Liverpool, 25 September 1916. On 8 November 1916, attached to R.C.R and P.P.C.L.I. Depot.
To be Acting Senior Medical Officer, 13th Provisional Brigade, Seaford, 28 November 1916.
Illness
In December of 1916, Hutcheson is diagnosed with pleurisy. An inflammation of the lining of the lungs. Doctors wrote, previous to enlisting never had any serious illness. In addition, Family History negative. Present attack came on 10 days ago as an Influenza. Then, pain in the left chest 4 days ago preceded by a chill. Some dullness at base of left lung. Then, pain not so severe. Coughing a great deal dry and short. Hospitalized at Perkins Bull Convalescent Hospital in Putney Heath, England.
On 13 January, admitted to Raven’s Croft Military Hospital, Pleurisy, Seaford, England. Then, on 25 January 1917, transferred to Perkins Bull Convalescent Hospital. Finally, on 3 March 1917, the medical board pronounces Bellenden fit for service at London, England. Finally, on 23 March 1917, sent to France for service.
By May 1917, attached to the No.2 Canadian Stationary Hospital, in Boulogne for temporary duty. Then, on 2 May 1917, attached to the 75th Battalion. Later, granted ten days leave, on 21 September 1917.
Trench Fever
Admitted to No. 13 Cdn. Fld. Amb., 21 December 1917 with trench fever. Ceases to be attached to 75th Battalion, on 30 December 1917. Admitted Duchess of Westminster Hospital, 1 January 1918. Once again, on 23 February 1918, attaches to the 75th Battalion.
Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson is on the far right in the second row of MIKAN No. 3522231, captured by Lt. William Rider-Rider.
Military Cross
In the span of less than one month, Captain Hutcheson earns the Military Cross, and then the Victoria Cross. The former award, is for most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. The latter, is the highest military award in the British Commonwealth, for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.
The following action came on the opening day of the Battle of Amiens, on 8 August 1918.
“Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson, C.A.M.C., attached 75th Can. Bn., 1st Central Ontario R. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Before the battalion reached its jumping off position, the enemy put down a heavy barrage, and many casualties were sustained. This officer worked unceasingly in attending to and dressing the wounded under heavy fire in open ground”.
“During the mopping up of a village he passed through the streets several times attending to the wounded. He also voluntarily dressed nearly 100 enemy wounded who had been left behind”. The Edinburgh Gazette, December 4, 1918, Issue 13362, Page 4450.
Victoria Cross
Twenty-five days later, Captain Hutcheson displays even more gallantry and devotion to duty. Bellenden still has no idea he will receive the MC. Now, he is about to earn the Victoria Cross. The action came at the Hindenburg Line, on 2 September 1918.
“Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson, Can. A. Med. Corps, attached 75th Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on September 2nd, when under most intense shell, machine-gun, and rifle fire, he went through the Quéant-Drocourt Support Line with the battalion. Without hesitation, and with utter disregard for personal safety, he remained on the field until every wounded man had been attended to. He dressed the wounds of a seriously wounded officer under terrific machine-gun and shell fire, and, with the assistance of prisoners and of his own men, succeeded in evacuating him to safety, despite the fact that the bearer-party suffered heavy casualties.”
“Immediately afterwards he rushed forward, in full view of the enemy, under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, to tend a wounded sergeant, and, having placed him in a shell-hole, dressed his wounds. Captain Hutcheson performed many similar acts, and, by his coolness and devotion to duty, many lives were saved”. The London Gazette, December 13, 1918, Supplement 31067, Page 14774.
Demobilization
In December of 1918, the 75th Battalion is still in the area between Namur and Tirlemont. Then, on 2 December 1918, Awarded the Military Cross. Less than two weeks later, on 14 December 1918, Awarded the Victoria Cross.
Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson attended the Corps Sports Competition, held at Brussels on 22 March 1919.
Finally, on 2 May 1919, Hutcheson proceeds back to England with the 75th Battalion. However, demobilization had become a highly contentious issue. The divisions returning in the order 3, 1, 2, with the 4th Division being last. Appropriate for the 4th Division, but the other division’s were upset with hearing the 3rd Division would return first.
On 7 May 1919, in good general health, and physical condition when he is discharged in England. Later, the 75th Battalion returned to Canada in June of 1919. Finally, S.o.S. on 9 December 1919, in Toronto, he intends to move to Mound City, Illinois.
After the Great War
Before travelling overseas, Hutcheson had met his future wife in Canada. Frances Young was a nurse from Nova Scotia, and returned each year to spend her summers there. They had a son, and he was schooled in Canada. Dr. Hutcheson joined the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital, and he acted as a surgeon for two American railroad companies.
In March of 1930, the Globe and Mail revealed, Doctor Hutcheson had modestly declined to detail his exploits. When King George VI visited Washington in 1939, he requested that Captain Hutcheson, accompany him to Arlington where he placed a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson, VC, MC, MD, died of cancer at Cairo, Illinois, on 9 April 1954. His wife Frances, donated his medals to his former regiment. The Toronto Scottish Regiment was raised 1 July 1915, as the 75th (Mississauga) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Beckett.
In December of 2016, Mount Carmel Mayor Bill Hudson signed a proclamation declaring December 16th, Hutcheson’s birthday, as Captain Bellenden S. Hutcheson, VC MC MD Day.
Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson VC Armoury
The Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson VC Armoury is home to the Toronto Scottish Regiment, as well as The Toronto Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums, and the 75th Toronto Scottish Regiment Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps. It is also the home of Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson’s Victoria Cross, and Military Cross.
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