No.3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) in the Great War

No.3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) in the Great War describes the origins of the unit beginning in August 1914 with Herbert Stanley Birkett, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University, until May 1916.

The Call to Arms

(4 August 1914 – 5 May 1915)

Origins of No.3 Canadian General Hospital

When war declared in August, 1914, Herbert Birkett, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University. Served previously in the Non-Permanent Army Medical Services of Canada. Had risen steadily until he retired from the Active List with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Stanley Birkett

Herbert Stanley Birkett born 17 July 1864 in Hamilton, Ontario. Married to Margaret A Birkett of 252 Mountain St, Montreal. Foreseeing his services required again, Birkett abandoned his holiday on the lower St Lawrence, at Metis Beach. Then he reported to Lieut-Col J W Bridges, Assistant Director of Medical Services, Montreal. Bridges later arranged that he be restored to the Active List and given immediate employment. Birkett would not complete his attestation paper until 5 March 1915.

Unbeknownst to the IWM annotators, the identity of No.3 Canadian General Hospital’s commanding officer. Also, the correct date, and the now famous Canadian poet in the background. Left to right, Colonel Andrew Fullerton (Consulting Surgeon).

In addition, Colonel Birkett, LCol McCrae (Officer in charge of Medicine), Her Majesty, Nursing Sister Margaret Isabelle MacIntosh, Sir Bertrand Dawson (Surgeon-General).

Dr Birkett

Birkett received his education from 1874 to 1881 at Forest House School, Chester, England. He studied medicine at McGill University and graduated in 1886 with honors, before the age of 22, taking the Holmes Gold Medal for highest marks throughout the whole four years. Senior House Surgeon for a year at Montreal General Hospital, and after some months spent in general practice, went abroad to specialize in otolaryngology.

At McGill he studied under Buller, Palmer, Howard, Osler and Shepherd. He valued his experience in the Anatomy Room with Shepherd, serving as Demonstrator and then Lecturer for ten years. Two and a half years spent under Professors Chiari, van Schroetter and Schnitzler in Austria, Hartmann, Fraenkel, and Kraus in Berlin, Fauvell in Paris, and Greville Macdonald, Bond, Mark Novell and Morell McKenzie at Golden Square Hospital in London.

Colonel Andrew Fullerton

Unit: Royal Army Medical Corps. Harvard Medical School had a large part in providing Colonel Andrew Fullerton. Later Professor of Surgery, Queen’s Belfast. Armed with the intellectual and practical help for the Allies to deploy blood on the Western Front and Salonika. 

Assistant Director of Medical Services

Shortly after Lieut-Col Birkett reported for duty in Montreal, Lieut-Col J W Bridges ordered to assume the post of A.D.M.S., Valcartier Camp. Vice Lieut-Col Hew Ramsay Duff had suffered severe injuries when thrown from his horse (died 8 February 1916). Finally, on the departure of Lieut-Col James Whiteside Bridges, Lieut-Col Birkett appointed A.D.M.S., Montreal.

In consequence of his experience in the medical branches of the Canadian Militia and his intimate knowledge of the Royal Army Medical Corps, gained at Aldershot, and in London some fifteen years previously, Birkett realized the necessity of providing adequate hospital accommodation to support the British Armies in France, and Flanders.

McGill University

The plan that McGill University should offer to the War Office, through the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence, a completely equipped lines of communication general hospital, of the standard 520 beds. Officered by men chosen from the staff of the Faculty of Medicine of the University. In addition, with the ranks including a high percentage of medical and other students. Furthermore, the nursing personnel selected from graduates of the Training Schools of the Royal Victoria and Montreal General Hospitals.

Sir William Peterson

Lieut-Col Birkett then sought Sir William Peterson, Principal of McGill University. As Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Birkett formally offered to raise the proposed unit, and command it overseas. On 21 October 1914, Sir William duly presented the proposal of the Medical Faculty. The plan approved, and Dean Birkett instructed to refer the mater forthwith to the Department of Militia and Defence.

PETERSON, Sir WILLIAM, classical scholar and university professor and administrator; b. 29 May 1856 in Edinburgh, fifth son of John Peterson, a merchant in Leith (Edinburgh), and Grace Mountford Anderson; m. 8 April 1885 Lisa Ross in London, England, and they had two sons; d. 4 Jan. 1921 in Hampstead Heath (London).

Peterson appointed principal of McGill University in 1895. He encouraged recruiting, worked for wartime charities, and personally visited units composed of McGill students or graduates on the battlefront in France. He continued support at home in Canada through committee work and the raising of funds, and not least through the encouragement of the McGill-led Khaki University of Canada, which worked among the armed forces with conspicuous success.

Major-General Sam Hughes

Lieut-Col Birkett presented his offer to Major-General Sam Hughes, Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence. He then agreed to forward it to the War Office and recommend that it be accepted.

On 5 December 1914, Sir William wrote to Lieut-Col Birkett to report how matters stood. Later in the day, Sir Alfred Keogh granted Sir William an interview. And, expressed deep satisfaction when informed of the McGill plan. He accepted the offer on behalf of the War Office. And, also stated, in his opinion, such a hospital would be invaluable to the British Armies in the Field.

Sir Alfred felt it would be unwise for the McGill unit to cross from Canada before the spring. A summary of the opinions expressed by Sir Alfred then cabled by Sir William to Lieut-Col Birkett. Finally, Birkett announced on 9 December 1914 the McGill Hospital accepted and would proceed overseas in the spring.

Senior Officers of No.3 Canadian General Hospital

Following acceptance of the Hospital by the War Office, selection of senior and junior officers proceeded. A deep impression created when announced Lieut-Col H B Yates had accepted the post of Second-in-Command. In addition, Lieut-Col J M Elder to serve as Officer in charge of Surgery. Furthermore, Lieut-Col John McCrae to serve as Officer in charge of Medicine.

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Brydges Yates

Henry Brydges Yates born 10 May 1865 in Montreal. Married to Alice Mary Yates of 257 Peet St, Montreal. Yates had acted as Medical Officer of the 3rd Regiment, Victoria Rifles of Canada, for seventeen years. Practised in Montreal, Demonstrator in Pathology, in addition, Lecturer in Bacteriology at McGill. Yates, like John McCrae, dies of pneumonia, Bright’s disease, and finally cardiac failure on 22 January 1916.

Lieutenant-Colonel John Munro Elder

John Munro Elder born 29 October 1861. A Surgeon with three children married to Grace B Elder of 4201 Sherbrooke St, Westmount, Quebec. Elder had served in the North-West Rebellion of 1885. For thirteen years thereafter had held the post of Medical Officer to the 2nd (Montreal) Brigade, Heavy Artillery (1885-1907).

Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

John McCrae born 30 November 1872 in Guelph, Ontario to Lieutenant-Colonel David McCrae and Janet Simpson Eckford. McCrae wore the Queen’s Medal with three clasps for service in South Africa. Single, John had already proceeded overseas as Medical Officer to the 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, 1st Canadian Division. His acceptance of the post of Officer in charge of Medicine later cabled from England.

Growth of No.3 Canadian General Hospital

In January 1915, the Director General of Medical Services, Ottawa, received notice from the War Office. The capacity of all general hospitals would in future be 1,040 beds. Finally, by telephone, Birkett affirmed McGill able to comply.

As construction of the unit progressed, four officers, subordinate to the aforementioned Senior Staff, selected. Majors W H P Hill, E W Archibald, A C P Howard, and J C Meakins.

Major Walter Henry Phillip Hill

Walter Henry Phillip Hill born 18 November 1875. Married to Isabel Mary Hill of 409 Mackay St, Montreal. Hill had previous service as an officer with the AMC from 1902 to 1914. Hill returns to resume studies on 21 July 1916. Lieutenant Walter Henry Phillip Hill rose to Lieutenant-Colonel in the RCAMC during the Second World War. In addition, Mentioned in Despatches. And, served for a time as Officer in Charge of Medicine, No 5 Canadian General Hospital. Held same appointment with No 1 Canadian General Hospital in 1945. Finally, appointed Lecturer in Medicine and Clinical Medicine in 1946.

Major Edward William Archibald

Edward William Archibald born 5 August 1872. Married to Agnes W B Archibald of 160 Metcalfe St Montreal. A Surgeon with three children under sixteen years of age. Married to Agnes Maud Black Barron, a musician. Of his four daughters, one would become a pianist, another a violinist, and one a fencer.

“John McCrae became part of his household for six years. He was part of the family, he loved and would play with Edward Archibald’s daughters, and, apparently, was a great storyteller. His letters, written during the war, always mention the girls with fondness. At that point, John McCrae had become a doctor, pursuing medicine in Montreal. He and my grandfather went off to war together. They were close already, but their war experiences tied them closer, and they corresponded frequently. John McCrae became the Chief Medical Officer of the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, so they worked together.“

Martha Lloyd-Smith, granddaughter of Edward William Archibald

Archibald had previous service as an officer in the AMC. Suffering from bronchitis, Edward later returns to Canada on 20 October 1916. Nursing Sister Cora Peters Archibald of Truro, NS, a graduate of Royal Victoria Hospital in 1908.

Major Allan Campbell Palmer Howard

Allan Campbell Palmer Howard born 2 April 1877. Married to Ottille Wright Howard of 141 Somerset St, Ottawa. Howard, standing 6′ 3″ tall, had previous service as a Provisional Lieutenant in the AMC. Died 3 June 1936.

Major John Campbell Meakins

John Campbell Meakins born 16 May 1882. Married to Dorothy Meakins of 7 Ontario Ave, Montreal. Service file lost by LAC. In 2018, his grandson, Dr Jonathan Larmonth Meakins, OC, FRCSC of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada later led a research project to commemorate the end of the Great War. His grandfather, Major John Campbell Meakins, the Royal College’s inaugural President. He had completed some of the earliest research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Meakins came back to England with No 3 Canadian General Hospital in May 1915. But, soon rejoined Sir Thomas Lewis, who had begun work with Dale, Haldane, Barcroft and Cushny on the study of the physiological problems arising from gas and other hazards of war. By the end of the war recognized as a brilliant investigator. Well worthy of his appointment to the Christison chair of therapeutics and clinical medicine at Edinburgh later in 1919.

Royal Victoria Hospital

On his return to Montreal in 1924 as professor of medicine at McGill and physician-in-chief to the Royal Victoria Hospital, he worked for many changes in the old order. And, saw them accomplished in spite of opposition from orthodox colleagues. His leadership quickly recognized throughout the North American continent. And, in 1929, elected first president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In 1934 president of the American College of Physicians, and finally in 1935 president of the Canadian Medical Association.

The Practice of Medicine

Meakin editor of the American Heart Journal from 1950 to 1958. His The Practice of Medicine quickly went through six editions (1936-56). In 1939 appointed deputy director of medical services in the Canadian Army with the rank of brigadier. And, still able to take over the duties of dean of the faculty at his University School of Medicine in 1942. Meakins indeed a great man. Meakins died on 12 October 1959 and later buried at the Hamilton Cemetery, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Captains of No.3 Canadian General Hospital

Of the 26 captains named to complete the establishment, a number had acquired military experience. Captain Alexander Howard Pirie (Royal Scots, London Scottish) with the R.A.M.C. In addition, Capt William Boyman Howell (Victoria Rifles) with No.4 Field Ambulance, C.A.M.C., Captain Ronald St John Macdonald with the 18th Battery, C.F.A., Captain Harry Clifton Burgess as M.O. of the 5th Regiment, Royal Highlanders of Canada, Captain John William Hutchinson as M.O. of the 17th Hussars, Captain Donald Alexander Hingston as M.O. of the Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars, Hon Captain Howard Chancellor Dixon (Dental Officer), Captain Lewis L Reford, and Captain John George Browne with No 5 Field Ambulance, C.A.M.C.. And finally, Captain George Henry Stevenson, Officer in charge of Dentistry, with the 3rd Regiment, Victoria Rifles of Canada.

St Mary’s Hospital – Dr. Donald Alexander Hingston

In January of 1930, Dr. Donald Alexander Hingston set out to raise one million dollars to build a hospital to serve Montreal’s Irish-Catholics. In spite of The Depression, the Irish community supported Hingston’s endeavors. Hingston’s father, Sir William Hingston, a former Mayor of Montreal, also a distinguished surgeon and banker. Hingston Hall on Concordia’s Loyola Campus named after Sir William’s oldest son, Reverend William F. Hingston, a Superior of the Jesuits for Canada.

Enlisted Men of No.3 Canadian General Hospital

Amongst the enlisted men a number had also received a measure of military training. Sergeant-Major Albert Frederick Marshall with the Canadian Permanent Army Medical Corps.

Sergeant William George Hadley with the British Territorials. Lance-Corporal Alfred Joseph Drummond in the Royal Navy. And, more than a score in units of the Canadian Militia. Furthermore, many of the students who enlisted had trained for a time with the McGill C.O.T.C.

Charles Lightfoot Roman

Private Charles L Roman became one of the first Canadian Blacks to sign up in the Great War, and the only Black person known to have served with the No. 3. Lightfoot Roman had finished only three of the five years required to complete his medical training at McGill, so he began his service as an orderly with the rank of Private.

Nursing Staff of No.3 Canadian General Hospital

Meanwhile, progress made in selecting the nursing staff. Miss Katherine Osborne MacLatchy, of the Permanent Canadian Army Medical Corps, appointed Matron of the Hospital. In addition, under the supervision of Miss Livingstone and Miss Hersey, Lady Superintendents of the Montreal General and Royal Victoria Hospitals respectively, her 72 assistants chosen, 36 from each hospital.

MIKAN No. 3395911: Colonel Lorne Drum centered by Matron Katherine Osborne MacLatchy on the left. And, Nursing Sister Sophie Mary Hoerner on the right, extreme right same row is Nursing Sister Maude Matilda Wright. Somewhat later these nurses ordered to the Military Hospital at Quebec to acquire knowledge of those differences which distinguish military from civilian nursing.

Jessie Nelson King

Nursing Sister King a graduate of Royal Jubilee Hospital School of Nursing, Victoria, British Columbia, Class of 1916. Sister of Lieutenant Albert Nelson King, who died while serving with the Royal Horse Artillery.

Jessie Ann Middleton Sedgewick

Nursing Sister Jessie M Sedgewick the future wife of Private (later Doctor) Charles L Roman. Always outranking Roman during wartime, doubtful their relationship began at No. 3 Canadian General Hospital.

Students

Then on 27 February 1915, students accepted for service with the McGill unit ordered to report to the Medical Superintendent of the Montreal General Hospital for inoculation against typhoid. After inoculation, ordered to return to their homes by street car. To remain at home for 36 hours, and during that time to refrain from the use of alcohol. Three days later Lieut-Col Birkett announced instructions to mobilize received. The unit, officially known as No 3 General Hospital (McGill), C.E.F., would henceforward receive daily orders as to training and routine.

Order No 1

Order No 1, issued on 4 March 1915. Signed by Capt W B Howell, Acting Adjutant, which instructed medical students of the Fourth and Fifth Years to parade for stretcher drill under Lieuts J G Browne and H C Burgess at stated times and places. First, Second, and Third Year students similarly ordered to parade for instruction under Lieuts L L Reford and D A Hingston.

Students, other than those in Medicine, placed under the command of Lieut W G Turner. On 5 March 1915, the official date of mobilization, space in the McGill Medical Building taken over for an Orderly Room. In addition, a temporary Officers’ Mess established at the University Club, and attestation began.

Soon after mobilization, No 3 General Hospital (McGill) occupied barracks in St.George’s Home, Mansfield Street. Whence the men marched daily to the Drill Hall on Craig Street for roll-call and training. Then, on 8 March 1915, Lieut David Law assumed the duties of Quartermaster. And, on the 13th, the men of the unit paraded in the Medical Building of McGill University to receive their first pay.

Colonel H S Birkett

On 29 March 1915 Lieut-Col Birkett promoted to the rank of colonel. Three days later, he granted leave to students on the Hospital staff in order that they might visit their families to say good-bye. Meanwhile, friends of McGill in Canada and the United States subscribed $25,598.10 as a fund placed in the hands of Col Birkett. Used by him for the benefit of the Hospital’s patients and staff in such manner as he might see fit.

In addition to the splendid gift of money, four McLaughlin-Buick motor ambulances presented to the Hospital. One by Mrs W R Miller. One by Mrs Huntly Drummond, one by Mrs Dobell, on behalf of friends in Quebec, and another by Lady Allan, on behalf of subscribers in Montreal.

On 11 April 1915, the men of No 3 General Hospital (McGill) paraded to Christ Church Cathedral. Later presenting a smart appearance in their progress through the streets. Drill on the Campus of McGill University. Route marches over Mount Royal added to the satisfactory bearing of the unit. Which, with drum and bugle band, later attended Divine Service at Emmanuel Church on 18 April 1915.

Duke of Connaught

On the morning of 20 April 1915, with Sir William Peterson taking the salute. The unit rehearsed an inspection to be held in the afternoon by Major-General Lessard. Then, the next morning, in preparation for a review by H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, the unit carefully inspected by Col E W Wilson, Officer Commanding the Montreal Military District.

Fine weather prevailed on the morning of 22 April 1915. The Hospital personnel paraded on the University Campus for the royal review. Sharp at 11 o’clock, the Duke of Connaught commenced his inspection. In addition, His Royal Highness, who wore over his field-marshal’s uniform his robes as LLD (McGill), presented to Major A A Magee (Toronto), the degree of B.A., (ad eundem) in recognition of his services to the McGill Battalion, C.O.T.C.

Second Battle of Ypres

Saturday, 24 April 1915, and the days immediately following brought news which implied the period of winter inactivity in France had definitely ended. Neuve Chapelle marked the beginning of the spring fighting. But, now came news the Germans, using poison gas, had driven against the Canadian Division during the Second Battle of Ypres. Finally, No 3 General Hospital (McGill) then summoned by the War Office. They would proceed overseas early in the month of May.

In Flanders Fields

On 4 May 1915, John McCrae, already serving in Belgium, composes In Flanders Fields. After attending the funeral of his good friend Lt Alexis Helmer, McCrae motivated to compose a bitter, angry, pro-war poem. Ironically, his writing today, the most concise, and poignant example of the futility of war.

From Montreal to Shorncliffe

6 May 1915 – 17 June 1915

Reveille awakened the men of No 3 General Hospital (McGill), at 8 o’clock on the morning of 6 May 1915. The unit paraded outside barracks in heavy marching order. Colonel Birkett, accompanied by his Second-in-Command, Lieut-Col H B Yates, then inspected the lines. When satisfied all was well, he led the unit to the docks. Finally, thirty-seven officers, 73 Nursing Sisters, two Warrant Officers, 21 Sergeants, in addition 179 Other Ranks, then embarked on the Canadian Pacific Steamship METAGAMA.

SS METAGAMA

The METAGAMA carried 42 officers and 1,057 Other Ranks of the 21st Battalion, C.E.F., under command of Lieut-Col William St Pierre Hughes. Also Nos 4 and 5 Stationary Hospitals, the former a unit raised by Laval University, Montreal, and the latter by Queen’s University, Kingston. Hughes promoted later in May 1916 to Brigadier and given command of the 10th Brigade. Finally, troops on the METAGAMA, including nursing sisters, numbered approximately 1,700.

Lieut-Col William Gardner Anglin, of No 5 Stationary Hospital, appointed surgeon on duty. Major J C Meakins appointed physician on duty. Captain Arthur Theodore Henderson, of No 3, placed in charge of the ship’s hospital. In addition, Captain John Alexander MacMillan admitting officer.

Voyage

At 4 p.m. on 7 May 1915, Private Stanley Herbert Blyth 59076, of the 21st Battalion, operated upon by Lieut-Col J M Elder, in addition, Lieut-Col Anglin, of No 5 Stationary Hospital, assisting. Operation revealed a gangrenous appendix and peritonitis, a serious condition, despite which the patient doing well as METAGAMA neared England.

Five days later, Company Sergeant-Major Lattion, of the 21st Battalion, developed appendicitis. Operated upon by Lieut-Col Anglin. Assisted by Lieut-Col F Etherington, the O.C. the Queen’s University unit. In addition to surgical cases, the medical officers on the ship called upon to treat Private Thomas Kenny 59543, of the 21st Battalion. He developed lobar pneumonia, and one case of measles, which prompted isolation to prevent spreading.

When near the coast of Ireland the METAGAMA altered her course and swung far south. Owing much to activity of German submarines which some days previously had sunk the LUSITANIA. METAGAMA then turned north and, under escort of four destroyers, entered Plymouth Sound. Finally, docking at Devonport early on the morning of 15 May 1915.

Devonport

At Devonport the personnel of No 3 General Hospital divided, pending arrangements to send the unit to France. Then at 1 pm, Lieut-Col Elder proceeded to London, with all nurses from the METAGAMA. Then reported to Surgeon-General G C Jones at his headquarters, 36 Victoria Street. Furthermore, five officers from No 3 Hospital, and one each from Nos 4 and 5 Stationary Hospitals detailed as escort.

Arriving at Paddington Station at 7 pm, Lieut-Col Elder’s party met by a representative of the Canadian Red Cross. Busses convey the nurses to billets in the neighbourhood of Southampton Row. Three days later 56 of the nursing sisters of No 3 Hospital ordered to proceed for temporary duty to units in France. Furthermore, 15 detailed to the Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow. Miss K O MacLatchy, the Matron, remained in England until June 13th. Then proceeded to No 2 Canadian General Hospital, Le Tréport, to await the arrival in France of No 3.

Shorncliffe

After transferring their ordnance from the hold of the METAGAMA to the vans of a goods train, they travelled from Devonport to Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe. Finally, this destination reached early on the morning of May 16th. The men, weary after 24 hours without sleep, promptly dismissed to obtain rest.

When the men established barracks at Shorncliffe, Col Birkett and Lieut-Col Elder proceeded to London to discuss the unit’s future. Then early in the third week of May, the men moved from Moore Barracks to camp on St Martin’s Plain.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae joins No.3 Canadian General Hospital

On 1 June 1915 Lieut-Col John McCrae, officially posted to the unit. McCrae immediately writes to his good friend, Sir Andrew MacPhail informing he has been placed in charge of medicine with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel as of date 17 April 1915.

I have a very deep affection for Bonfire, for we have been through so much together, and some of it bad enough. All the hard spots to which one’s memory turns the old fellow has shared, though he says so little about it. I wish that Bonfire could have spoken when some clever person said the other day, “he knows you”.

John McCrae

On 7 June 1915, Nursing Sister Ruth Loggie records in her diary.

Such terrible wounds among these patients and such nice men. One boy in our war just 20 years old, looses [sic] an arm and may have to loose [sic] a leg, and he is so patient. We had a terrible day. Tate and I discouraged and so tired, and it is so unnecessary. Just bad management through and through. The comfort of the patients seems to be the last consideration. It makes one heart sick. No mail again today.

Nursing Sister Ruth Loggie

Southampton

Then on 14 June 1915, officers of the unit detailed for temporary duty at hospitals in England recalled. Finally, at 11 pm loading of equipment on motor lorries began.

At Southampton, reached about 8.30 am, 15 June 1915, the unit detrained and marched to a rest camp. Two days later Col Birkett held a muster parade of the unit on deck. Then at 4 pm, tugs towed HUANCHACO into the stream. Shortly thereafter the tugs castoff and the HUANCHACO headed for the shore of France.

Across to France

17 June 1915 – 22 September 1915

Early on the morning of 18 June 1915, HUANCHACO docked at Boulogne. Unloading followed, the men afterwards marching to a dismal rest camp outside the town. At 10 o’clock next morning, the men of No 3 Hospital paraded at the rest camp. Then marched through Boulogne to the North Station. The unit entrained later for a run of approximately twelve miles to Dannes-Camiers.

No.3 Canadian General Hospital, B.E.F.

When the men of the McGill Hospital explored the vicinity of Dannes-Camiers, they found a great camp of tented hospitals. Several units were at work nearby. At Etaples, No 1 Canadian General Hospital and several fine British general hospitals established.

Between the site chosen for No.3 Canadian General Hospital and the sea lay about a mile of dunes. Fir trees planted to keep the shifting sand in place. Traversed by a railway track, over which, day and night, troops and material moved in endless procession to the front.

Privates Urbain Joseph Gareau 358, Douglas R Learoyd 384, and Anderson C Farlinger 348 contributed a unique McGill crest. Made out of crushed bricks, coal, and sea-shells. The last gathered on the beach whither splendid bathing drew many of the officers and men whenever their duties would permit.

Surgeon-General Guy Carlton Jones

Deep interest in the McGill unit’s progress displayed by senior officers of the Medical and Administrative Services. Col A Graham Thomson, C.B., Commandant of the Etaples Administrative District, inspected the personnel on arrival. His visit soon followed by official calls from Surgeon-General Guy Carlton Jones, D.M.S., Canadians. Major R C L Williams, Surgeon-General Tom Percy Woodhouse, Director of Medical Services, Lines of Communication, and finally Col H Carr, A.D.M.S., Etaples. Guy Carleton Jones the 4th Canadian Surgeon General.

Mutiny at Etaples

When mutiny came to Etaples in September of 1917, Col A Graham Thomson still the Commandant of Etaples. The combination of the Scots, the Australians, the special grievances of the New Zealanders, the oratory of Percy Toplis, the common hatred of the Red Caps and Canaries (instructors), the burgeoning populism, purveyed by papers like John Bull, prove a deadly mix.

For six days Brigadier-General Thomson and his staff would stand helplessly by and watch the old order collapse. The fighting ability of the British Army threatened. Just as their ally on the Eastern Front, Russia, about to be levered out of the war for good by revolution.

Brigadier-General Andrew Graham Thomson

A group of a hundred mutineers had crashed into the midst of an officers’ meeting. And, summarily ordered them to their feet. The mutineers then loaded Commandant Thomson and a dozen officers into two trucks. Then set off with them down the road to the bridge over the River Canche.

On the bridge the two lorries stopped. There was a moment of silence. Then the trucks tipped up and slid the top echelon of the British Army’s No 1 Base over the parapet and into the river. By the time Thomson and his senior officers hit the water. And, swimming for their lives, the banks of the River Canche crowded with hundreds of men yelling and hooting derisively.

Cameras Forbidden

On 1 July 1915, 28 other ranks of the unit paraded before Lieut-Col Yates. Disobeying standing orders regarding possession of cameras. However, he realized the men had offended more through thoughtlessness than deliberate intent and refrained from sharp punishment. Guilty N.C.O.’s received a reprimand only, and the privates seven days’ C.B.

Despite the enormous Canadian war effort, the government took a passive attitude to documenting the war. Luckily for Canada, and future generations, Sir Max Aitken (later Lord Beaverbrook) took it upon himself to establish the Canadian War Records Office (CWRO) in January 1916, which he paid for himself. Captain Harry Edward Knobel, Lieutenant Ivor Castle, and Lieutenant William Rider-Rider, as well as a few additional photographers, would eventually take over 7900 images.

The O-Series of the MIKAN Photo Collection

Several series of photographs illustrating naval activities, individuals, and training in England. But, most of the images belong to the O-series, which primarily captured Canadian troops in France. These evocative photographs document the Canadian wartime experience And, although a few faked and purported to represent events they did not, most images offered a poignant testimony to the soldiers experience behind the lines and in the trenches.

O-Series represented photos captured Overseas, and (later Captain) Ivor Castle began his work in May of 1916. O-26 above the first official image of a C.A.M.C. unit on the Western Front. The M-Series (Miscellaneous) photos captured in England during and immediately after the Great War. M-60 below, one such example.

Chaplain Honourary Captain Alan Pearson Shatford

Throughout July work in preparing for patients continued, and by the 29th of the month 55 special marquees, 19 Neilson tents, 159 bell tents, and 24 ordinary marquees erected. These tents each held between 50 and 60 beds.

On 6 July 1915 Hon Capt A P Shatford reported for duty with the unit as Church of England Chaplain. On the 19th the Matron and 21 nursing sisters returned from their temporary assignments. Fourteen additional nursing sisters reported on the following day, and twenty-four on 23 July. On 26 July 1915, Capt Lawrence Joseph Rhea rejoined the unit from duty with the Director of Medical Services, London.

Right Honourable Sir Robert Borden

On the day following day the return of the Matron and the first detail of nursing sisters, No. 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) inspected by the Right Honourable Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister of Canada. He was particularly impressed by the manner in which Capt David Law, the Quartermaster, had effected arrangement of the unit’s stores.

Two days after the Prime Minister’s visit, the Hospital was inspected by Surgeon-General Sir Arthur Sloggett, K.C.B., Director-General of British Medical Services, France, who promised to take up with the Royal Engineers the question of water supply, which, at the time, was causing anxiety.

Sir Arthur was also interested in the Hospital’s appliances for administration of nitrous-oxide gas, which were explained to him by the anaesthetist, Capt William Boyman Howell.

Captain William Boyman Howell

William Boyman Howell born in England and educated there and in Montreal, where he received his M.D., C.M. from McGill University in 1896. He practiced in Montreal, and during the Great War worked overseas with the Field Ambulance Service. In 1918, appointed as the first full-time anesthetist to the Royal Victoria Hospital. Howell retired to England in 1937, where he pursued his avocation in literature and history. He was the author of a history of medicine in Canada (1933) and of a biography of Dr Frank J Shepherd.

Surgeon-General Tom Percy Woodhouse

On 2 August 1915 Surgeon-General Tom Percy Woodhouse paid his second official visit to No. 3 Canadian General Hospital. He expressed satisfaction with what he saw and highly commended the sanitary arrangements, effected under the command of Capt R St J Macdonald.

Three days later the Hospital was again inspected, this time by the Hon the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence, Major-General Sam Hughes, accompanied by Major-General Lord Leopold Guy Brooke, Lieut-Col Sir Max Aitken, and others.

At night Major-General Hughes and staff dined in the Officers’ Mess, other guests including Col A G Thompson, C.B., Col H Carr, C.B., Col Sir George Makins, C.B., Col Guise-Moores, O.C., No. 20 British General Hospital, Col Sir Allan Perry, O.C., No. 22 British General Hospital (Harvard), Col R J Copeland, O.C., No. 25 British General Hospital, Col Murray MacLaren, O.C., No. 1 Canadian General Hospital, Col James Whiteside Bridges, O.C., No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, Lieut-Col Hanford McKee, O.C. No. 1 Canadian Stationary Hospital, and Lieut-Col A T Shillington, O.C. No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital.

Leopold Guy Francis Maynard Greville, 6th Earl of Warwick

Major-General Lord Leopold Guy Brooke assumes command of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade on 25 June 1915. Awarded the Croix de Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, London Gazette, 18 March 1915. To be Companion Order St Michael and St George, London Gazette 18 February 1916.

As Brigadier-General Brooke, commanding the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade, wounded in thigh and left hand on 12 September 1916. Septic on admission, hand swollen, his hand healed quickly, but much stiffness remained. For this condition treatment by Lt-Col James of Liverpool until 4 January 1917 (hand injury probably permanent). Major-General Brooke later attached to General Pershing’s Staff, 14 June 1917.

Opening of No.3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill)

On 7 August 1915, the staff of No. 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) rehearsed, with dummy patients, the arrival and disposition of a convoy of wounded. Having rehearsed admission procedure, under direction of the Acting Registrar, Major J. C. Meakins, the personnel of No.3 Canadian General Hospital stood ready to receive patients.

At 6 pm notice of a convoy received, and at half-past eight o’clock, 36 patients arrived, 20 walking cases and 16 on stretchers. Almost the entire medical staff of the unit gathered to welcome these first patients to No 3. Thanks to the care with which procedure had been rehearsed, the admission well conducted, and less than one minute taken with each patient. Finally, Nursing Sister Mary Farmer Steele appointed Night Superintendent of the Hospital by the Matron.

Private MacMutchkin

An account of the arrival of the first convoy at No.3 Canadian General Hospital given in The Diary of Private MacMutchkin, an unpublished document of great historic value.

“I was wounded in the Salient,” Private MacMutchkin states, “though the doctor says I was wounded in the Rolandic Area. They must have taken me there when I was unconscious. Anyway, I arrived eventually at No. 3 Canadian General Hospital and will never forget my reception. As I was helped out of the ambulance, the Colonel took my hand, then three lieutenant-colonels took my pulse, four majors hurried to take my temperature, and some blighter took my watch.”

Private MacMutchkin (sic)

First Operation at No.3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill)

At 2 pm on 9 August 1915, Lieutenant-Colonel John Munro Elder performed the first operation in the Hospital’s overseas history. X-ray localization of foreign bodies, under the direction of Capt’s A H Pirie and Walter Ashby Wilkins, also proved highly successful, and the gas-ether apparatus, presented to the unit by Mrs Danforth, of Boston, U.S.A., used by Capt W B Howell in a thoracic case with excellent results. Captain Wilkins returns to Shorncliffe in May of 1916, and to Canada the following month where he discharged from His Majesty’s Service.

Flamethrowers in the Great War

On 10 August 1915 at 645 am the first evacuation of patients from the Hospital took place, and later in the day two convoys of wounded arrived from the Ypres Salient. Sharp fighting had occurred near Hooge, and the Germans had used liquid fire. A number of the new patients had suffered from this form of Teutonic “frightfulness.”

On the afternoon of 10 August 1915 the hospital visited by the Right Honourable H. J. Tennant, British Under-Secretary of State for War, and on the 19th by Sir Herbert Holt, of Montreal. On the 23rd Col Sir John Rose-Bradford, KCMG, Consulting Physician to the Etaples Area, visited the Hospital and examined a case of pneumo-pericardium. Captain R M Shaw, Lady Hadfield, and Sir Thomas Oliver also called to discuss matters in their respective spheres of interest. Col Birkett, Lieut-Col Yates, and Captain Herbert Melville Little had proceeded to Rouen to interview the Chief Paymaster and the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General of the 3rd Echelon regarding the filling-out and forwarding of the great mass of documents which operation of a general hospital entailed.

Indian Tents

Early in September, 1915, heavy rain tested the Indian tents of the McGill Hospital. On the 3rd Nursing Sister Rachel McConnell mentions that in her wards conditions were far from satisfactory, leakage bothering the patients and compelling the nurses to work in raincoats, service hats, and rubber boots. The War Diary of the Hospital adds that many wards were similarly affected. Nursing Sister McConnell awarded the Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class, London Gazette No 31370, 3 June 1919.

Matron-in-Chief Margaret Clothilde MacDonald

On 4 September 1915 Lieut-Col Lorne Drum and Lieut-Col J G Adami, of the Headquarters Staff in London, inspected the Hospital, their visit followed on September 8th by an official call from the Matron-in-Chief of the Canadian Nursing Service, Miss M C Macdonald. This lady, born in Nova Scotia, had graduated from the New York City Training School for Nurses in 1895, served in the Spanish-American and South African Wars, and in the Panama Canal Zone, and joined the Canadian Permanent Army Medical Corps in November. Her appointment as Matron-in-Chief of the CEF dated from September, 1914.

Sir William Osler

On the day of MacDonald’s inspection, No 3 Hospital welcomed as a guest Lieut-Col Sir William Osler, whose son, Lieutenant Edward Revere Osler, serving as Assistant Quartermaster on the Hospital’s establishment. Considered to be one of the greatest physicians of all time, William Osler born in the small town of Bond Head, Ontario in 1849 and received his medical degree from McGill in 1872.

On returning to England, Osler addressed students at the University of Leeds and also referred to the speed with which convoys of wounded handled at No 3. In one instance, which he timed, four patients had their dressings changed and lying comfortably in bed 27 minutes after the first of them lifted from a Red Cross train at Camiers Siding.

2nd Lieutenant Edward Revere Osler

Edward Revere the only living child of the eminent Canadian physician, Sir William Osler, and Grace Revere Osler. Both his parents in their forties when he was born and they doted on him.

Dr Harvey Cushing

While attached to the Royal Field Artillery, 2nd Lieutenant Edward Revere Osler wounded on 27 August 1917. His father’s friend, Harvey Cushing, the American neurosurgeon, at 46 Casualty Clearing Station at Mendingham. He found Revere in extreme shock, drifting in and out of consciousness, but as Cushing stood over him Revere smiled and said ‘So glad you’re here’.

Dr George Washington Crile

Other eminent American surgeons, all friends of his father, rushed to Dozenghem to offer assistance. One, George Washington Crile, an expert on blood transfusion, took with him his transfusion apparatus and also immediately began to replace some of the precious blood that had been lost. By the time the transfusion completed, midnight and the surgery commenced.

A second transfusion caused some improvement but this short lived and despite the attention from such experts in their field, Revere died the next morning, 30 August 1917.

Buried in a grave lined with Alder branches, wrapped in a blanket and covered in a Union Jack. Buglers sounded the Last Post and the American Surgeons who fought so hard to save him now mourned him. Dozinghem Military Cemetery Plot IV, Row F, Grave 21.

H.R.H. the Princess Louise

On 15 September 1915, No.3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) honoured by a visit from HRH the Princess Louise, also accompanied by Sir Almroth Wright. On the previous day a number of Canadian newspaper representatives shown through the wards, and on the following day Surgeon-General O Chavasse, of the French Army, accompanied by a numerous staff, inspected the Hospital, paying particular attention to its surgical arrangements.

Lt-Col John McCrae lectured No.3 on the Second Battle of Ypres, Friday, 17 September 1915.

At 3 p.m. on 20 September 1915 McGill Hospital visited by Her Majesty Queen Amelia of Portugal, also accompanied by Lady Gifford (wife of 5th Baron Gifford, daughter of Arthur Wigram Allen.

Pride in Work

On the afternoon of September 22nd Major Edward William Archibald removed a piece of shell from an abscessed brain cavity. He located the fragment with a telephone probe and, after much difficulty, brought it gently to the surface. Lt-Col John Munro Elder, Major Walter Henry Phillip Hill, Captain Donald Alexander Hingston, and others watched this operation tensely. An observer records when the fragment appeared, all present paid tribute to the operator’s skill by an audible “Well done!” In a letter, an officer of the Hospital mentions that, in several cases of foreign body in the eye, Captain John Alexander MacMillan achieved equally striking success.

Dr Alexander Douglas Blackader

Pride in the work accomplished by his officers and nursing sisters expressed by Colonel Birkett in a report forwarded on September 24th, to Dr Alexander Douglas Blackader, acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University. Blackader also joined the staff of the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University in 1882 as Instructor in Diseases of Children. In addition, the C/O of No.3 Canadian General Hospital paid tribute to the discipline displayed by the other ranks who had sailed with him from Montreal.

The Casualties From Loos

(22 September 1915 – 8 December 1915)

On the night of September 26th a convoy of 243 wounded from the opening stages of the Battle of Loos arrived at No. 3. Obvious at once, the Gordon Highlanders had suffered severely. One lad lay dead on his stretcher, and another died within a few moments of arrival. Many only half conscious and several, fully conscious, suffering great pain.

Nursing Sister Christina Mary Watling (pictured above) noted in her ward many of the newly admitted cases found to have suffered terrible wounds, also similar conditions existed throughout. A private writes in his diary.

This week—the busiest since we opened—is a confusion to me of blood, gaping wounds, saline, and bichloride. Few particular events remain clearly in my mind.

For several consecutive days the personnel, under Nursing Sister Isabel Davies, assisted the surgeons to perform more than 30 operations a day.

Lieut-Col Elder, in a report to the Commanding Officer, formally expressed his appreciation of the assistance rendered and elsewhere recorded the opinion that the work of Nursing Sister Davies and her assistants, Nursing Sisters Louise McGreer, Margaret Jane Woods, and Margaret F S Park, “beyond all praise.” He also mentioned the good work of the Operating Room orderlies, formerly medical students, but now Privates Keith Ogilvie Hutchison, Norman Trenholme Williamson, and Doris Evelyn Ross.

Nursing Sister Cotton

On 29 September 1915 the staff of No.3 Canadian General Hospital bade farewell to two nurses, who had sailed with the unit from Montreal. Nursing Sister Jennette F Duncan returned to her home in the United States and Nursing Sister Dorothy McL P Cotton also left to represent Canada on the staff of the Anglo-Russian Hospital, Petrograd.

Following the Russian Revolution in 1917, Nursing Sister Cotton returned to England and was appointed Matron of the l.O.D.E. Hospital, London.

Nursing Sister Ruth Loggie

Nursing Sister Ruth Loggie’s diary continues to report of tending to the sick and wounded soldiers. She pasted leaves in her diary, and also copied out several poems, including a version of John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields. This entry in her personal dairy notable as it appears in November 1915, weeks before the poem officially published in Punch magazine.

In Flanders Fields

10 November 1915

Wednesday.

Watling and Lill and I took our half days and went to Paris Plage in the bus. I am on duty in the Supply tent now. Did not accomplish much in P. P. Got a pair of warm gloves. It was very windy and cold, and we had another rainy night. We had a long wait for the bus at Etaples, where the usual multitude of children entertained us.

In Flanders’ Fields

On Flanders’ fields the Poppies grow,

Between the crosses row and row

That mark our place: and in the sky

The lark still bravely singing, fly;

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: short days ago

We lived, felt dawn saw sunset glow.

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the Foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch: be yours to hold it high:

If ye break faith with us, who die
We shall not sleep, though Poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, McCrae’s good friend and inspiration for the poem, died 2 May 1915. McCrae attended his funeral, but sadly, Helmer’s body later lost to shell fire, or perhaps clerical errors by the IWGC.

October 1915

With the advent of October, the rush of wounded from the Battle of Loos abated. On 2 October 1915 a private wrote in his diary.

Had there been no war, the first line-up rugby practice of the season would have taken place at McGill this afternoon. Instead of football, I did a few dressings and cleaned and straightened up the ward.

Honourary Captain Galbraith Channell Hepburn MC

On 3 October 1915 Lieut-Gen Sir F T Clayton, KCMG, formally visited the Hospital. Followed two days later by Surgeon-General Sir Arthur Sloggett, on the 8th by Surgeon-General Tom Percy Woodhouse, and finally on the 12th by the Duchess of Westminster, who enquired into many phases of the Hospital’s work.

Major Edward Lewin Knight

Previous to the visit of Her Grace, Honourary Captain Galbraith Channel Hepburn MC reported as Church of England Chaplain. In succession to Hon Captain Alan Pearson Shatford, who then proceeded to duty with the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.

First Female Patient

On 13 October 1915, Captain Frank Wendell Tidmarsh developed appendicitis, and on the 14th Lieut-Col Elder operated. An acutely inflamed appendix found, but no perforation occurred. Later in the day Major Walter Henry Phillip Hill operated upon for a badly infected finger, His surgical services missed on the following day, when a convoy of 125 wounded arrived from fighting at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Soon after these wounded arrived, the first woman patient admitted to No 3. A Belgian refugee, referred by an Ambulance Corps to Colonel Birkett for laryngological treatment.

Dannes-Camiers Storm

25 October 1915 marked by a storm which the staffs of all hospitals at Dannes-Camiers long remember.

Rain and wind swept the tents of No 3. Tearing the canvas, pulling pegs from the soft ground, and also flooding many of the wards. Nursing Sister Christina Mary Watling mentions in her ward everything floating. And that the sisters on duty, wet and dirty, carried out their work in mud almost to the knees.

Lieutenant Charles Barnaby Tinling

Private Charles Barnaby Tinling mentions the efforts of other ranks to prevent the sodden tents from falling: “We spent the whole day,” he states, “salvaging the contents of damaged tents and touring up and down the lines, driving and renewing tent-pegs.” As a result of exposure suffered in this work, Private Richard Edey MacKechnie 397 evacuated to England with pleurisy. Pte MacKechnie finally discharged on 28 April 1917 in Quebec city.

Private Charles Barnaby Tinling rises through the ranks, son of Charles W and Louisa Brett Tinling, of Montreal, Quebec. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, passed with honours in his third year in Medicine. Sergeant-Major of No 3 for nearly two years, and then took his commission in the 42nd Royal Highlanders of Canada.

First Blood Transfusion at No.3 Canadian General Hospital

On 27 October 1915 a British Tommy had lost much blood. Sank to a condition where transfusion alone could save his life. Captain W B Howell offered to give the required blood. Major E W Archibald also effected a transfusion, the first to be performed in the Hospital. Following the operation, the patient was too weak to be returned to his ward. Remained in the Operating Room, with Nursing Sister Rachel McConnell on duty as a special nurse. Later, after he had been moved to his ward, he again had a haemorrhage. But, Nursing Sister Louella Louise Gillis, on night duty, controlled the flow of blood by pressure. Some days after this, blood for other patients was supplied by Captains William Theodore Ewing and W G Turner.

Nursing Sister Louella Louise Gillis

The service record of NS Louella Louise Gillis extensive. Also served with No 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, No 3 Casualty Clearing Station, No 16 Canadian General Hospital, Orpington, and the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Wokingham. At one time dangerously ill, Louella finally discharged on 9 September 1919, medically unfit, with gastric ulcers. Louella, born in Tide Head, New Brunswick, died 28 June 1950.

Infections at No.3 Canadian General Hospital

Following the heavy work of September and October, 1915, Captain L J Rhea took cultures from the floor of the Operating Room. Which, on the advice of a private, had been dressed with a compound of turpentine, linseed, and kerosene. Though many infected cases had passed onto the operating tables, the floor dressing harboured no pathogenic bacteria.

Some impression of the type of infections prevailing at the time gathered from an entry in Lieut-Col Elder’s diary on November 6th.

We have now done over 500 operations and admitted more than 3,000 patients. We have had many secondary haemorrhages, due, I fancy, to the disintegrating character of the organisms infecting the wounds. Some of the smells of the wounds are awful, and the necessary incisions are ghastly.

Lieut.-Col. Elder, 6 November 1915

The Commanding Officer of No.3 Canadian General Hospital adds to Lieut-Col Elder’s statement in a letter to the Acting Dean of Medicine at McGill.

I have seen cases in the Operating Room in which the tissues are so rotten with infection that portions of muscle tissue can be removed by the handful.

Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Stanley Birkett

Major Sir Andrew MacPhail

Explanation of the prevalence of infection given by Sir Andrew Macphail in his official book on the Canadian Medical Services.

The surgeon, had no unfair advantage. From his point of view never was a filthier war waged. From time immemorial Flanders has been the battlefield of Europe, and in the intervals of peace the land was most carefully farmed. The inhabitants gather up all excreta, their own included, and use it to fertilize the land, with the result that the soil is deeply infected.

MacPhail commanded No 6 Canadian Field Ambulance from 9 September 1915 on the Western Front. One of the last (and oldest) to return to Canada in November 1919. MacPhail turned 55 on the voyage home. Prior to the Great War, Dr. Andrew Macphail produced three remarkable volumes, Essays In Puritanism (1905), Essays In Politics (1909) and Essays In Fallacy (1910).

Despite infection, a report presented by the Officer in charge of Surgery on October 31, 1915, showed good results. At this time 1,650 patients admitted to the surgical wards. 450 operations performed, and but 21 of those operated upon died.

These excellent results, are due especially to the technique and good judgment of Majors Hill and Archibald, who have done most of the operating.

Report by Lieut-Col Elder

Anaesthesia

The majority of the cases mentioned in Lieut-Col Elder’s report operated upon under chloroform, administered with a Vernon-Harcourt inhaler. Gas-oxygen, however, used in desperate, or very short cases. And nitrous-oxide proved satisfactory when used to render painless dressings done in the wards. Spinal anaesthesia, in a number of cases, proved the reliability of a supply of stovaine purchased in Montreal.

Captain Rhea expressed his conviction practically all shell wounds heavily infected. But that, on the other hand, bullet wounds frequently sterile. With regard to bayonet wounds, the staff of No 3 Canadian General Hospital had no opportunity to judge. As a rule such wounds either slight, or so severe, the injured man died before reaching a general hospital. Besides, Captain D A Hingston remarked that in the first year of No 3 Hospital’s overseas service, only one bayonet-wounded man admitted.

Nursing Sister Clare Gass

On 30 October 1915, the war diary of Nursing Sister Clare Gass contains the first printed reference to In Flanders Fields. It is copied out in the diary entry for 30 October, nearly six weeks before its first publication in the magazine Punch on 8 December 1915. This diary edited and published, along with two shorter diaries, by Susan Mann under the title The War Diary of Clare Gass, 1915-1918 (Montreal, 2000). The diary donated to the Osler Library in 2012 by Elizabeth Anderson of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Masquerade Dance

On 1 November 1915, Surgeon-General G C Jones, Director of Medical Services, Canadian Contingents, inspected the McGill Hospital. His visit followed on the night of the 2nd by a masquerade dance, given by the nursing sisters to the N.C.O.’s and men. Unanimity in declaring this party a success shown in all diaries and documents written at the time. A few days after the masquerade, frost rendered many of the wards cheerless and uncomfortable.

Conditions growing worse thereafter until, on November 13th, high winds and rain wrought wide-spread havoc. The cotton ropes of the Indian tents shrunk, pulling the tent pegs from the ground. And the canvas, manufactured to meet conditions in a warmer clime, ripped to ribbons under the blast of the icy wind.

Damaged Tents

When we woke, we found the Sergeants’ Mess tents, the night men’s sleeping tent, one of the Men’s Mess tents, and several others flat on the ground. Wards A, B, C, J, L and P were torn beyond recognition, and only wards F, G, H, K and S are now open.

Private C B Tinling

Loss of Second in Command

Following the storm, Lieut-Col H B Yates, Second-in-Command of the unit, admitted to the Hospital, suffering from bronchitis. He failed to improve during the next few days. And on the 22nd evacuated to England. Bearing with him the affection and good wishes of the Commanding Officer and all members of the unit. Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Brydges Yates has 61 days to live.

Jesuit College of Boulogne-sur-Mer

In company with Lieut-Col John Munro Elder, Lieut-Col John McCrae, and also Captain David Law, Col Birkett proceeded to Boulogne on November 21st. And again on the 22nd, to inspect the partially destroyed Jesuit College. Now occupied by Meerut (Indian) Stationary Hospital, a possible site for the future work of No.3 Canadian General Hospital.

Much of the college had been burned when the French Republic confiscated the Jesuit estates. But, two wings remained, and in each an Indian hospital had been established. Birkett and his officers, and also Major John Campbell Meakins, who accompanied the party on November 22nd, agreed the site suitable, provided extensive alterations effected. Pending decision regarding these alterations, many of the officers and nursing sisters of No 3 transferred for temporary duty to other medical units in France and England.

The present location of the former No.3 Canadian General Hospital occupied by Lycée St. Joseph (a junior college), 26 route de Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer.  

Meerut Military Cemetery

The Meerut Stationary Hospital established at Boulogne from October 1914, when the Indian Corps arrived in France, to November 1915, when they left. The Cemetery named after the hospital. The majority of the Egyptian labourers buried here killed in the air raid over Boulogne on the night of 4-5 September 1917. The cemetery contains 339 burials and commemorations of the Great War. Including a memorial to 32 officers and men of the Indian Army, whose bodies cremated in the cemetery in 1915.

Painful Shins

Painful Shins, a malady more or less unknown and lacking a technical name, puzzled the officers of the Medical Department for some time. Lieut-Col John McCrae described this condition in his report. And mentioned that seven cases, observed by Captain J G Browne, had formed the subject of an interesting address to the Etaples-Camiers Medical Society on 27 October. None of the usual analgesics had proved effective in the treatment of these cases, morphia being required to give relief from the pain. Two to four weeks usually elapsed before the symptoms vanished.

Trench Feet

Arising possibly from circumstances similar to those which produced Painful Shins, also cases of Trench Feet. A condition of chilblains, sometimes confused with frost-bite. In this malady.

The feet are covered by an eruption, or are swollen, bluish-red, hot, itchy. And painful, many cases are febrile.

Lieut-Col John McCrae

Trench Feet difficult to treat. But the Officer in charge of Medicine at No 3 found a measure of success when the feet wrapped in hot cloths, bathed in hot water, and then treated with a mild astringent.

Nervous Cases

Referring to nervous cases, Lieut-Col John McCrae commented many patients arrived from the front bankrupt as to their nervous systems. No precise term available at the time to describe their condition. Which, usually involved irregular heart action, with a pulse rising at times to 140 or 150 beats a minute. Though shell shock the term most frequently applied to such a condition of exhausted nerves, the phrase misleading, as the man had usually suffered no direct injury from explosives. More often the condition followed upon the severe, though possibly brief, strain of a battle. Or, the protracted effort of months in the forward areas. Cure of the cases required a stay longer than could be permitted in a general hospital in France. All sufferers, therefore, after preliminary treatment, evacuated to England.

Malaria

A few well-defined cases of malaria had been admitted to No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in the period covered by Lieut-Col John McCrae’s report. For the most part, patients found to have served previously in India or Africa. But, in some instances no such explanation for the disease could be advanced. And, the only conclusion possible infection had been contracted in France or Flanders.

Dysentry

Few cases of dysentery had arrived at No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, but diarrhoea with cramps and sometimes vomiting had been common. Lieut-Col John McCrae stated his officers warned to watch such cases with care. Lest what appeared to be a simple case of diarrhoea should prove to be paratyphoid fever.

Dannes-Camiers to Boulogne

(1 December 1915 – 27 January 1916)

Original version of In Flanders Fields

Though Lieut-Col John McCrae respected throughout the world of medicine for the measure of his professional attainments, it is as one of the war poets that he commands a place in the hearts of those who use English as their mother tongue. One morning in November, 1915, John showed to Col Birkett a torn piece of wrapping paper. On which, after the Second Battle of Ypres, he had penciled a few lines. Those lines, famous now, originally published by London Punch, on 8 December.

Only three original hand-written copies of In Flanders Fields by John McCrae exist today. None of these believed to be what may have been perhaps the original copy, held by Col Birkett in November of 1915. Though John not attributed at the time of it’s publishing, one man immediately accused McCrae of its authorship, his good friend, Sir Andrew MacPhail. Punch Magazine attributes John as the author in its annual index on 29 December 1915, although misspelling his last name.

Cometh the Night

MacPhail read In Flanders Fields for the first time while stationed at No 6 Canadian Ambulance at a convent in front of Locre, in the shelter of Kemmel Hill. The poem brought to his attention by a Sapper Officer, then Major, now Brigadier. Sir Andrew immediately wrote to McCrae, saying he had proof, The Night Cometh, also penned by McCrae, as evidence.

It will be observed at once by reference to the text that in form the two poems are identical. They contain the same number of lines as surely all sonnets do. To the casual reader this much is obvious, but there are many subtleties in the verse which make the authorship inevitable.

Sir Andrew MacPhail

Sir Andrew MacPhail the editor of University Magazine in 1913. The magazine originated at McGill University in 1902. The Pilgrims, another work by John McCrae published in University Magazine in February 1905.

Sir Edward Whipple Bancroft Morrison, KCMG DSO

The officer, unnamed by MacPhail, must be Sir Edward Whipple Bancroft Morrison, KCMG DSO. MacPhail notes the Officer could himself weave the sonnet with deft fingers, and he pointed out many deep things.

It is to the sappers of the army always goes for technical material. The poem consists of thirteen lines in iambic tetrameter and two lines of two iambic each, in all one line more than the sonnet’s count. There are two rhymes only, since the short lines must be considered blank, and are, in fact, identical. But it is a different mode. It is true that the octet of the sonnet has only two rhymes, but these recur only four times, and the liberty of the tempers its despotism – which I thought a pretty phrase.

Sir E W B Morrison

Rhymester

Morrison pointed out the dangers inherent in a restrictive rhyme, and cited the cases of Browning, the great rhymester, who was prone to resort to any rhyme, and frequently ended in absurdity, finding it easier to make a new verse than to make an end. His appreciation, and understanding of the words written by McCrae, truly unparalleled since.

The theme has three phases, the first a calm, a deadly calm, opening statement in five lines. The second in four lines, an explanation, a regret, a reiteration of the first. The third without preliminary crescendo breaking out into passionate adjuration in vivid metaphor, a poignant appeal which is at once a blessing and a curse. In the closing line is a satisfying return to the first phrase – and the thing is done. One is so often reminded of the poverty of man’s invention, their best being an incomlete, their greatest so trivial, that one welcomes what may become a new and fixed mode of expression in verse.

Theme

As to the theme itself, what is his is mine, what is mine is his – the interest is universal.

The dead, still conscious, fallen in a noble cause, see their graves overblown in a riot of poppy bloom. The poppy is the emblem of sleep. The dead desire to sleep undisturbed, but yet curiously take an interest in passing events. They regret that they have not been permitted to love out their life to its normal end. They call on the living to finish their task, else they shall not sink into that complete repose which they desire, in spite of the balm of the poppy.

vivos voco mortuos plango fulgura frango

Formalists may protest that the poet is not sincere, since it is the seed and not the flower that produces sleep. They might as well object that the poet has no right to impersonate the dead. We common folk know better. We know that in personating the dead, and calling in bell-like tones on the inarticulate living, the poet shall be enabled to break the lightning’s of the Beast, and thereby he, being himself, alas, dead, yet speaketh, and shall speak, to ones and twos and a host. As it is written in resonant bronze: vivos voco mortuos plango fulgura frango (i call the living, mourn the dead, break the thunderbolt).

Sir E W B Morrison

In a letter to MacPhail from Brigadier-General E W B Morrison, Sir Andrew further indirectly acknowledges the identity of the unnamed Officer.

Letter to MacPhail from Morrison

This poem was literally born of fire and blood during the hottest phase of the Second Battle of Ypres. My headquarters were in a trench on top of this spoil bank of the Ypres Canal, and John had his dressing station in a hole dug in the foot of the bank. During periods in the battle men who were shot actually rolled down the bank into the dressing station.

Along from us a few hundred yards was the headquarters of a regiment, and many times during the 16 days of battle, he (McCrae) and I watched them burying their dead whenever there was a lull. Thus the crosses row or row grew into a good-sized cemetery. Just as he describes, we often heard in the mornings the larks singing in the high air, between the crash of a shell and the reports of guns in the battery beside us. I have a letter from him in which he mentions having written the poem to pass away the time between the arrival of batches of wounded, and partly as an experiment with several varieties of poetic metre.

I have a sketch of the scene, taken at the time, including his dressing station, and during our operations at Passchendaele last November, I found time to make a sketch of the scene of the crosses row on row from which he derived his inspiration.

Brigadier-General E W B Morrison

Bombardier Cyril L C Allinson

The origins of In Flanders Fields also confirmed by Bombardier Cyril L C Allinson 40051, serving with McCrae, and the author’s great-uncle, Sergeant Francis Patrick Walshe during the Second Battle of Ypres.

On the afternoon of Sunday May the 2nd, the 2nd Battery is being strafed heavily. Lieutenant Alex Helmer had left his bunk. En route, an eight inch lands on him, blowing him to pieces. As soon as the strafing stops, a couple of his men go to the burying ground and dig the grave. The others go around the area, picking up as many of the pieces as they can find to put into sand bags, which are then laid into an army blanket in the form of a body.

A small group gathered together and John McCrae recites part of the burial service, which we all are familiar with: “I am the resurrection, and the life.” John McCrae was terribly moved. Alex Helmer had been one of his close friends. Shortly after that, he went and sat on the ambulance, looking at the grave and then writing the original version of In Flanders Fields.

Bombardier Cyril L C Allinson

4 May 1915, Completion of In Flanders Fields

Allinson’s account led some to believe McCrae composed the poem in its entirety immediately afterwards. Both McCrae’s and Morrison’s accounts however, describe it having been begun at the time, and John’s dairy of 4 May 1915, two days after Lt Alexis Helmer’s funeral, reveals the opportunity for the work to be completed.

Despite intermittent shelling and some casualties the quietest day yet. But, we live in an uneasy atmosphere as German attacks are constantly being project, and our communications are interrupted and scrappy. We are running out of wire. We get o news of any sort, and have just to sit tight and hold on. Evening closed in rainy and dark. Our dugout is very slenderly provided against it, and we get pretty wet and very dirty. In the quieter morning hours we get a chance of a wash and occasionally a shave.

John McCrae, Tuesday, 4 May 1915

Bombardier Allison may have committed parts to memory on 2 May 1915, but likely the first copy of the poem given to Morrison, McCrae’s commanding officer. Or once again, as folklore has it, picked up by either Morrison or Allinson, after John had discarded it. McCrae never mentioned any regret, at any time, over writing the poem. Quite unlikely he would have thrown it away, as he always recognized this work to be among his best.

Commissions

On 19 December 1916 Sir Douglas Haig succeeded Sir John French in command of the British Armies in France. Two days after, Colonel Graham Thompson, CB, Commandant of the Etaples Administrative District, inspected the men of No 3.

Following Col Thompson’s inspection, six Fourth Year medical students, all privates, proceed to England. En route to Canada, to complete their studies at McGill.

Major Alfred Burton Wilkes

Later in the day, notice received Sergeant-Major George Lionel Dent Kennedy (d. 24/11/30), Staff-Sergeant Alfred Burton Wilkes, Sergeant Robert D Wilson 479, Sergeant Henry Kenneth Neilson. And, Sergeant George Raymond Baby, granted commissions in the Canadian Army Medical Corps and would report for further orders to the C.A.M.C. Training School, Shorncliffe, on December 30th.

Captain G L D Kennedy serves with 46th and 72nd Battalions, and No 12 Canadian Field Ambulance as Medical Officer. Capt Henry Kenneth Neilson serves with No 5 Canadian Field Ambulance and No 1 Canadian General Hospital. Captain George Raymond Baby MC (London Gazette No 31043, 2/12/18) serves as Medical Officer to the 21st Battalion, and No 4 Canadian Field Ambulance.

Family with Proud Record

Staff-Sergeant Alfred Burton Wilkes also had two brothers, and a sister serving in the Great War. On 14 April 1915, Miss Marjorie Wilkes, daughter of Colonel and Mrs A J Wilkes left Ottawa for New York. There to proceed with Lady Drummond’s party to England. Lieutenant Francis Hilton Wilkes with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. And, Lieutenant James Frederick Ransom Wilkes serving in the Royal Field Artillery. Another sister Gwendolyn Wilkes too young to enlist.

Captain Alfred Burton Wilkes, CAMC, married Miss Marie Mitchell, daughter of the late Surgeon-Major Mitchell on 26 March 1918. Captain Francis Hilton Wilkes, his brother, best man. Alfred Burton Wilkes died on Active Service in England 29 December 1943.

Christmas 1915

Divine Service held in the Operating Room of the Hospital. Stripped of all that pertained to surgery and decorated with holly, ivy, pine branches, and mistletoe. Later, the officers and nursing sisters dined together. All regretting the absence on duty elsewhere of many who had sailed with the unit from Montreal. Similarly, in the Sergeants’ and Men’s Messes, special dinners served. Those who had received commissions, or returned to Canada, also sorely missed.

Two days after Christmas Lieut-Col Elder received orders from the A.D.M.S., Etaples. Cease preparations for a move to Boulogne and to stand fast at Dannes-Camiers. On 28 December 1915 the A.D.M.S. visited No 3 Hospital to confirm his previous orders. He added No 3 would take over the lines vacated by No 22 British General Hospital. And, prepare for patients who would arrive at some date in the future.

Leave

On 29 December 1915 Captains A H Pirie and W W Francis proceeded on leave. Captain J A MacMillan following on the 30th, and four additional Final Year medical students on December 31st. At Dannes-Camiers, the staff of No 3, though disappointed at the thought of opening another tent hospital. But, prepared to obey the orders received. On 31 December 1915 Sergt C B Tinling promoted to the rank of sergeant-major. And, under his direction, beds installed in tents where No 22 British General Hospital had previously been at work.

New Year’s Day 1916

Although the War Diary of No 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) states “nothing worthy of comment occurred,” private diaries and letters note the unit at home in the Operating Room. Which, as at Christmas, decorated for the occasion. Col Thompson, Commandant of the Etaples Area, amongst those who called. Also Col Sir Allan Perry, Col Murray MacLaren, and Lieut-Cols F G Finley and Kenneth Cameron, of No 1 Canadian General Hospital.

Though the New Year’s reception held by the Matron and nursing sisters of No 3 marked for the most part by a cheerfulness suitable to the occasion, a note of regret unavoidable. Major A C P Howard leaving to resume duties at the University of Iowa, and many took the opportunity to bid him farewell. Previous to his departure on January 3rd, he rejoiced with all ranks of the unit when a telegram received by Lieut-Col Elder late on the night of the 2nd. ‘Cancel orders re Dannes-Camiers. No. 3 Canadian General Hospital will move to Jesuit College, Boulogne.’

Oxford Knight

Though delighted at this order, Lieut-Col Elder wondered how the War Office induced to abandon the Dannes-Camiers plan and revert to the Boulogne scheme. Now, for the second time, officially ordered. In a letter to Col Birkett, “I don’t know who worked the oracle for us, but I suspect the Oxford knight.” No evidence exists to prove Lieut-Col Elder’s theory. But, reasonable to suspect Sir William Osier of honourably using his great influence in favour of McGill. So, Lieut-Col Elder may have guessed aright.

HQ move to Boulogne

On 4 January 1916 a guard, under command of Major Hill, assigned to duty in Boulogne. Rudyard Kipling visited the hospital in the afternoon spoke to the men in the Recreation room afterwards.

On the 6th the Orderly Room and Headquarters of the Hospital moved to the new location. Leaving Captains Turner, Law, and Tidmarsh, with the nursing sisters and about 100 other ranks at Dannes-Camiers. On January 7th Lieut-Col Elder severed official relations with Dannes-Camiers and reported to the authorities in Boulogne.

Taking over the camp as it stood, the staff of No 3 Hospital converted the north wing of the college into barracks for the men, and the Indian operating room into a dental department. Wards of 25 beds each commissioned in the huts that existed, and linen stores, clothing stores, and disinfector established in huts amongst the ruins of the old quadrangle. Altogether, 650 beds installed within the walls, and beyond the walls, in the south-west corner of what had been the Indian convalescent camp, quarters were provided for the nurses. In the south wing of the college the Operating Staff of No. 3 established a 3-table theatre.

Forgotten Today

These changes not effected in a day, nor did they pass unnoticed by the population of Boulogne. Commenting, a local newspaper remarked.

Après les Jésuites les Hindous, après les Hindous les Canadiens, quelle page il a déjà notre vieil hameau de Marlborough dans l’histoire de ces années tragiques!

Ask anyone where No 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer situated today, very few aware of the history of Canadians in the town during the Great War, let alone one of the most famous soldiers of the war.

Officials in the Boulogne Area welcomed the McGill unit to the district and commented on the men’s excellent bearing and behaviour. On 9 January 1916 Lieut-Col John McCrae addressed a muster parade of the unit and spoke of the good name earned at Dannes-Camiers. Boulogne offered opportunity to tarnish this reputation. McCrae promised no irksome restrictions to be enforced.

Matron K O MacLatchy, RRC

On 15 January 1916 announced that, for work at Dannes-Camiers, Matron K O MacLatchy awarded the Royal Red Cross, 1st Class. Circumstances prevented formal celebration of this award, but congratulations from all ranks of the unit forwarded to the Matron, still at Dannes-Camiers.

She was the fairest and squarest matron I ever had over me.

A nursing sister from Toronto

Death of Lieut-Col Henry Brydges Yates

On the 22 January 1916 telegram announced Lieut-Col H B Yates died in England as a result of the illness contracted through exposure at Dannes-Camiers. On 16 February 1916, buried at Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal. Yates the first death in the unit. The news especially poignant, as Yates easily the most beloved man in No 3.

“We heard today that our poor old friend Col Yates died yesterday. He will be greatly missed in our unit. He was liked by everyone and I can’t think of anyone who will fill his position of Commanding Officer so acceptable to everybody.“

Sir William Osler diary, Saturday, 23 April 1916

In Memoriam

We Miss him

Not for clever word, or glorious deed

Blazoned upon a trumpet’s tongue

But for the kindly glance,

And gentle word on daily round

The 21st Westmount Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, providing the gun-carriage for his body. The 3rd Regiment, Victoria Rifles of Canada, sending its band in remembrance of his long service as Medial Officer. And, the 73rd Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada, under Lieut-Col Peers Davidson, providing the party to pay those military honours to which death in the service of the King had so abundantly entitled him.

Work Begins at Boulogne

28 January 1916 – 31 May 1916

On 27 January 1916, Surgeon-General R H S Sawyer paid an official visit to the unit, and on the 28th Surgeon-General T P Woodhouse, Director of Medical Services, Lines of Communication, inspected the newly-established wards. Lieut-Col J M Elder, Commanding No. 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) in the absence of Col H S Birkett, ordered the flags which mark a British military hospital in commission hoisted at the gate of the Jesuit College, Boulogne, and the lamps lighted at night.

On 2 February 1916, His Eminence Cardinal Louis-Nazaire Bégin, of Quebec, visited the Hospital. Then, on the 3rd, the twenty-nine nursing sisters left in Dannes-Camiers arrived. Previous to this, officers assigned to wards, and a draft of 26 privates, reported from the CAMC Depot at Le Havre, instructed in the duties required of them.

Cardinal Louis-Nazaire Bégin

Failure of kitchen arrangements delayed the reception of further convoys until 14 February, when 86 wounded cases admitted. At 11 o’clock on the night of the 15th, 144 patients arrived at No 3. Many of them requiring operation on the following day, with the result the Operating Staff on duty until 2 o’clock on the morning of the 17th.

A further convoy of 116 patients arrived at 11 p.m. on the 16th. 28 nursing sisters reported back from temporary duty in London on the 19th. With the result that Col Birkett, returning from Canada on February 21st, found his command working smoothly, with 550 patients in the wards.

The McGilliken

On 15 February 1916 the X-ray Department opened, and on the same day there appeared No 14 of The McGilliken, a unit newspaper, edited, under the supervision of Capt R St J Macdonald, by Privates Jean Henry Bieler, Archie Nathaniel Jenks, Cedric Aubrey W Gallagher, and William Wentworth Beveridge.

Following Col Birkett’s return, No. 3 Canadian General Hospital ordered to care for all sick cases in the Boulogne area, estimated at 100 a week. Captain William Willoughby Francis, appointed Registrar of the unit on 26 February 1915. Francis arranged for registration of these additional patients, in accordance with the requirements of the Boulogne Base authorities.

Departures

Previous to the return of the Commanding Officer from Canada, Capt W B Howell left the unit for England. From England he sailed to Canada and thence returned to France with No 9 Canadian Field Ambulance. Capt W G Turner also left to join a field ambulance. And, Hon Capt G C Hepburn transferred to the 8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Capt W W Francis, appointed Registrar of the unit on February 26th.

Trench Foot

On 1 March 1916 Captain R St J Macdonald left No 3 Hospital to assume command of the Sanitary Section of the 3rd CID. And, on the 3rd, Lieut E R Osier, Assistant Quartermaster, proceeded to England to take commission in Royal Field Artillery. Meanwhile, convoys arrived steadily. Several hundred wounded admitted on March 2nd and 3rd, a result of activity in the Ypres Salient.

Captain L L Reford left the unit on 8 March 1916. Replaced on the establishment by Captain G R Baby, an original private of the Hospital, who, as previously mentioned, had received a commission in the CAMC.

March 7th and 8th, 1916, remembered by the staff of No 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) for the convoys of Trench Feet cases that arrived. Stretcher after stretcher, each bearing a soldier with feet terribly swollen. Lifted from the ambulances, passed through the admission room. And, carried to the wards, until more than 200 such cases put to bed. The majority of the patients from battalions of the Royal Scots, the East Yorkshire Regiment, and the Shropshire Regiment.

Enquiry revealed new boots caused the trouble. Many of the sufferers stated that they had been forced to discard the boots. And, remain with socks alone protecting their feet until their unit could be withdrawn from the line.

Canadian Medical Association Journal

Canadian Medical Association Journal for June, 1916, Lieut-Col Elder discussed the treatment of Trench Feet and observed.

“Infection is nearly always present, but surgical treatment is indicated only when a definite fine of demarcation forms, or when the gangrene shows a tendency to spread rapidly up the leg. Strict cleanliness, warmth, and exposure of the feet to the air appear to give the best results.”

Lieutenant-Colonel John Munro Elder

Crisis Expansion

Soon after the rush of Trench Feet cases subsided, Surgeon-General T P Woodhouse visited No. 3 Canadian General Hospital officially. And, notified Col Birkett the normal bed capacity of the unit raised to 1,560. Equal to a general and a stationary hospital combined, with crisis expansion of 2,000 beds available in emergencies.

During the third week in March Captain David W McKechnie and Capt. Frederick George Logie posted to No 3. And, on the 21st of the month Surgeon-General G C Jones and Lieutenant-Colonel John George Adami paid a visit of inspection. Followed on the 22nd by Surgeon-General Sir Arthur Sloggett. And, on the 28th Col Wilberforce, Base Commandant, Boulogne, approved measures taken for the expansion which Woodhouse had ordered.

Lieutenant-Colonel John George Adami

Dr John George Adami born 12 January 1862, in Manchester, Lancashire, England. An English pathologist. In 1892, made Strathcona professor of pathology at McGill University, Montreal. With his ability to attract and inspire students, he quickly made a name for himself and his department. He was also the head of the pathological department of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal.

In 1898, elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1905. In 1912, he became president both of the Royal Society of Canada and of the Association of American Physicians. Two years later awarded the Fothergillian Gold Medal of the Medical Society of London.

Croonian Lectures

Adami served throughout the war as assistant director of medical services in charge of records at London. And, in 1919, received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire award (CBE) for his services. The same year he resigned his position at McGill University to become Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University. In 1917, he delivered the Croonian Lectures before the Royal College of Physicians. He died on 29 August 1926, in Ruthin Castle, Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales.

On 28 March 1916 Lieut-Col J M Elder received news of the death of his daughter in Canada, and two days later, amid expressions of deepest sympathy, he left No 3 to proceed to Montreal on six weeks’ leave of absence.

Most interesting cases

Amongst the most interesting of the many cases which Lieut.-Col. Elder had operated upon in Boulogne a private from the 1st Canadian Division. This man shot through the stomach and the bullet lodged in the right lobe of his liver. The stomach wound closed at a casualty clearing station and healed, but no bullet found. Capt Wilkins located it with x-ray at No 3, and Lieut-Col Elder, working from an anterior abdominal incision, evacuated a liver abscess and found the bullet in the abscess cavity. The cavity then drained through a stab wound in
the right loin, and the anterior abdominal incision closed. Success attended the operation, and the patient recovered rapidly.

Paquelin Cautery

Equally successful an unusual operation performed on a private of the Suffolk Regiment by Major W H P Hill. The man wounded by shrapnel which entered the posterior part of the apex of the right lung. The shrapnel fragment located by x-ray in the lower lobe of the left lung, slightly behind, and opposite the seventh rib. On March 16th Major Hill removed the rib and sewed the pleura together. Four days later he used a telephone probe through the opening thus created in the chest wall and located the shrapnel, where the x-ray had indicated, in the left lung. He placed the probe in contact with the fragment of shell, and, using a Paquelin Cautery, burned a track down the probe to the fragment, which he then extracted.

Shrapnel

In all reports covering the operation described above, the word “shrapnel” used to denote the shell fragment in the patient’s lung. The Germans used little shrapnel and, strictly speaking, the term, therefore, is probably inaccurate. Throughout the Medical Services, however, “shrapnel” described any fragment of a shell, or bomb, and this convenient arrangement has been followed in this book (blog).

Referring to 15 postmortems conducted on cases who had died from injuries to the brain, Captain Rhea pointed out that in one case only a fragment of shell found in the brain itself. In the other 14 cases fragments of the skull had been driven into the brain. But, the projectile had been diverted. Or, had struck only with force sufficient to fracture the skull, without penetrating it.

From examination of these cases, Captain Rhea drew the conclusion steel helmets would save many soldiers, who, lacking such protection, died from injuries of the head. Similar findings had been reported by other hospitals. And, the steel helmet for the Army in the Field the result. In the Canadian divisions, these issued in the spring of 1916. At the time, troops moved from the quiet Messines front into the Ypres Salient.

Chloroform

In a paper prepared for a medical journal, Lieut-Col Elder commented on the anaesthetics used at No 3.

“Members of our surgical staff had been ‘brought up’ on ether as the standard general anaesthetic, yet I think I am safe in saying that in 90% of our cases we have used chloroform.”

Lieut-Col Elder

Pathologists

In addition to matters of surgical interest, Captain Rhea’s report mentioned his staff continued the bacteriological work begun at Dannes-Camiers. And, had improved methods of search for tubercule bacilli in samples of sputum.

“When diseases of the lungs and bronchi are as common as they have been recently, too much emphasis cannot be put on careful sputum examination. The careful and prolonged search for tubercule bacilli in the sputum has resulted in our being able to make possible a definite diagnosis of tuberculosis in several suspected cases, and to exclude it, so far a active service laboratories can exclude it, in many others.”

Captain Rhea

In addition to carrying out this work for patients at No 3 Hospital, the McGill pathologists effected all similar tests required for patients in No 1 Convalescent Camp nearby.

Hon Captain Robert Weston Ridgeway MC & Bar

Devoted in his ministration to the seriously wounded and sick at this time, Hon Captain Robert Weston Ridgeway, attached to the Hospital as Chaplain. In the War Diary of the unit the Commanding Officer of No 3 recorded appreciation of the services this officer rendered.

“He spends the day visiting the sick and wounded, and on many occasions, with dangerously sick cases, has replaced the orderly in the ward, so that the patient might receive individual attention, often going without his meals to render to suffering patients all the service they might require.”

No.3 Canadian General Hospital War Diary

Colonel Birkett added that Captain Ridgeway had given much assistance in carrying stretchers. And, had rendered other services worthy of the highest commendation.

52nd Battalion

Later transferred to the 52nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, Captain Robert Weston Ridgeway awarded the Military Cross in recognition of his Gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field, London Gazette Supplemental No 30204, 26 July 1917 and later Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch of 1 June 1917, London Gazette No 30107. Awarded a Bar to the Military Cross for actions in the Battle of Amiens, London Gazette No 31119, 11 January 1919. He died at Kilkenny, Ireland on 11 January 1946 and buried in the family plot at St. Kevin’s Church at Clonbullogue, Ireland.

Streptococcus infection

May of 1916 marked the arrival of many convoys of sick and wounded, and also a steady flow of patients evacuated to England. Her Highness the Princess Victoria of Schlewwig-Holstein delivered a message to patients for their services from His Majesty the King, and two days later, Lt-Col J M Elder returned from leave in Canada and resumed the post of Officer in charge of Surgery.

Soon after taking up his work, Elder developed a streptococcus infection in the first finger of his right hand. On 18 May the glands in the axilla swelled, and on the 19th Major Hill opened the finger, which required further incising on 20 May. On the 21st Elder admitted as a patient, and by the 26th condition permitted return to his own quarters, but the infection had taken a deep hold and on June 5th a medical board granted him two weeks’ leave of absence.

X-ray Department

On 16 May 1916, Captain W A Wilkins who had also assisted Captain A H Pirie in the X-ray department left the Hospital to proceed to Canada. Two days later, Col Birkett announced the promotion to Major of Captain J G Browne.

Concert Party

On 24 May 1916, Surgeon-General R H S Sawyer and also S-G G C Jones formally opened a recreation hut. Erected, equipped and also presented to No 3 by the Canadian Red Cross Society. Later, the Princess Victoria Concert Party entertained guests as part of the ceremony.

The Salient and the Somme

(2 June 1916 – 31 August 1916)

Battle of Mount Sorrell

At 08h00 2 June 1916 German artillery began to bombard from Hill 60 along to Hooge in the Ypres Salient. Following five hours of concentrated fire, enemy infantry advanced. The first wounded arrived at No 3 later on 3 June 1916, a night orderly on the surgical ward wrote in his diary.

All night I washed dirty, bloody, lousy boys—lads from our own part of the world—brought them drinks, and sorted their grimy uniforms for disinfection. I finished just at dawn, and, looking out of the window, saw passing on a stretcher a still figure, covered with the Union Jack—another name added to the long roll of those who die for Canada.

A student orderly

Brothers of Nursing Sisters

Among the dead, brothers of NS Edna Jean Giffin and NS Louise Caroline Stanton McGreer, and also two brothers of NS Dorothy P Cotton. On 13 June 1916, Major-General A W Currie launched counter-attacks.

• Sergeant William Baldwin Griffin, 3rd Battalion, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
• Private Stanton Emile Thomas McGreer, PPCLI, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
• Lieutenant Charles Penner Cotton, Canadian Field Artillery, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
  • 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Order of St. George, 4th Class (Russia).
• Captain Ross Penner Cotton, 19th Battalion, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery

The boys coming in are in an unspeakable condition from the awful mud, they are a cheerful crowd, well pleased with their success.

A student orderly

More Wounded

The wounded kept pouring in.

• June 13, 9.30 p.m. Convoy of 64 patients received
• June 14, 3.40 a.m. Convoy of 94 patients received
• June 14, 1.45 p.m. Convoy of 70 patients received
• June 14, 8.00 p.m. Convoy of 45 patients received
• June 15, 10.00 p.m. Convoy of 75 patients received
• June 16, 3.00 a.m. Convoy of 86 patients received
• June 16, 7.15 p.m. Convoy of 37 patients received
• June 16, 10.15 p.m. Convoy of 43 patients received
• June 17, 9.15 p.m. Convoy of 29 patients received
• June 17, 10.30 p.m. Convoy of 57 patients received
• June 18, 4.15 p.m. Convoy of 66 patients received
• June 18, 7.00 p.m. Convoy of 41 patients received
• June 19, 9.15 p.m. Convoy of 53 patients received
• June 20, 7.30 p.m. Convoy of 34 patients received
• June 20, 11.15 p.m. Convoy of 65 patients received

No patients on the 21st, but the wounded returned on 22 June 1916.

The Battles of the Somme

As a result of the Battles of the Somme, British casualties rose sharply and averaged more than 39,000 per week.

The first week of July taxed our efforts to the utmost. Convoys and evacuations went on at the same time, the bugle no sooner sounding Dismiss than it was followed by a preemptory Fall in.

Sergeant Harold White in a letter home.

• July 3, 400 patients admitted and 472 evacuated
• July 4, 320 patients admitted and 206 evacuated
• July 5, 490 patients admitted and 117 evacuated
• July 6, 388 patients admitted and 547 evacuated
• July 7, 321 patients admitted and 243 evacuated
• June 8, 471 patients admitted and 220 evacuated
• June 9, 442 patients admitted and 356 evacuated

Plus 400 Hospital Ship admissions.

The first phase on the Somme ended on 15 July and Her Majesty Queen Amelia of Portugal visited the hospital later on 20 July 1916 at 4 pm.

Between July 1st and 15th No.3 Canadian General Hospital received more than 4,600 patients, and the grand total of operations on the Hospital books rose to over 2,300. Rapid evacuations continued, however, with the result that by the night of July 16th, all but 700 patients shipped to England.

Canadian Medical Association Journal

In a paper presented at this time for publication in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Major E W Archibald discussed the antiseptics used at No 3. Two, the hypertonic salt solution of Wright, and the Eusol (Edinburgh University Solution) of Lorraine Smith, which corresponded closely with Dakin’s hypochlorite solution, the most important additions to the stock of previously recognized antiseptic agents. As between the two, Major Archibald found Eusol the more satisfactory.

670 Patients Admitted in One Day

In the 24 hours of July 21st, 670 patients admitted and 469 evacuated, breaking the record established eleven days before. These figures not equaled on any other day in July, though once or twice the record approached. On the last day of July the Officer in charge of Surgery entered some interesting comparisons in his diary. In five months at Dannes-Camiers, he added, the Hospital had received just over 5,000 patients, on whom 513 operations had been performed. Finally, in July, 1916, alone, 7,674 patients received at Boulogne and 586 had required operation.

Visit of Sir William Peterson

On August 11th more than 1,200 patients showed on the books of the Hospital, over half being medical cases, many of whom suffering as a result of enemy gas used in the Ypres Salient. While these patients still in the Hospital, Sir William Peterson, K.C.M.G., Vice-Chancellor and Principal of McGill University, arrived to spend a week inspecting the unit and meeting those who could tell him what had been accomplished.

Best Medical Unit in France

Writing of his overseas experiences in the University Magazine, Sir William Peterson stated that, to his great joy, the highest authorities told him No.3 Canadian General Hospital “the best medical unit in France.”

That Sir William carried away vivid memories, not only of the professional work of the unit, but of the lighter aspect of its life, shown by his University Lecture of the following year, in which he referred to thoughts born of hearing the McGill yell in France.

“The McGill yell is at all times an appealing cry, but to hear it, as I heard it, on French soil, gives one to think of the far-reaching influence of a wisely-directed bequest to education. Truly, James McGill budded better than he knew.”

Sir William Peterson

Thigh Fractures

On the day following the termination of Sir William Peterson’s visit to No.3 Canadian General Hospital, Captain Shields, Surgical Specialist at No.8 Stationary Hospital, visited Lieut-Col Elder and the surgical staff and asked to see the cases of infected knee joint, in which he displayed deep interest. Then on the next day Lieut-Col Elder and Major Archibald returned the visit and shown an elaborate mechanism which No.8 had had installed for treating fractures of the thigh.

At 8 am on 27 August 1916, Lieut-Col Elder operated upon Pte K O Hutchison, an original member of the unit, who had developed an inflamed appendix. Little of outstanding interest marked the final days of August, though on the 30th Colonel Daru, Governor of Boulogne, accompanied by Lieut-Col Marin, Chief of the Medical and Sanitary Services of the town, and their respective staffs visited No. 3 and inspected carefully.

The Autumn of 1916

(1 September 1916 – 31 December 1916)

During the first week of the month, 1,368 patients admitted and 1,169 evacuated. On September 5th the Officer in charge of Surgery had under his care but 150 patients, all others medical.

Major Lawrence Joseph Rhea

Captain L J Rhea promoted to the rank of major. Col Birkett stated this promotion followed a recommendation in which the outstanding character of Major Rhea’s work as Officer in charge of the Pathological Department of No. 3 had been drawn to the attention of those commanding the Medical Services of Canada.

Lt-Col John McCrae seated between Col H S Birkett and recently appointed Major L J Rhea in the first row during November 1916.

Sunday, 10 September 1916 outstanding as the first day on which no operation performed in No.3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne. To mark the event, Lieut-Col Elder and the entire staff of the Operating Room attended Divine Service in the city.

The Battle of Flers-Courcelette

The morning of 15 September 1916, brought orders to evacuate to England all cases able to travel. Three hundred and thirty patients accordingly moved without delay, and 433 followed on September 16th, including a number from a convoy of 184 non-serious surgical cases, admitted the previous night.

2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions

Explanation of the urgent evacuation order provided by the fact that on the 15th the British at the Somme had attacked on the 15,000-yard front from Leuze Wood, west of Combles, to beyond Courcelette. Twelve divisions had taken part in the engagement, including troops from New Zealand and the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the Canadian Corps.

Two hundred and thirty-six patients, mostly from the new engagement at the Somme, admitted on September 16th, and 510 on the following day.

1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions

On 25 September 1916 nine divisions of the British Army, in conjunction with a French attack south of the Peronne-Bapaume Road, drove forward on a front of 15,000 yards between Combles and Courcelette, where the Canadian Corps, with the 1st and 2nd Divisions in line, continued the attack on September 26th.

On 31 September 1916, Gunner Percy Frank Payne joined No. 3 Canadian General Hospital. Private Payne saw service with the 35th Field Battery.

4th Canadian Division

On 1 October 1916, sharp fighting at the Somme, with the inevitable flow of wounded to hospitals at the base. Fighting continued throughout the month and into the next. A brilliant action on November 18th resulting in the capture of Desire Trench by the 4th Canadian Division, which soon thereafter moved to the Vimy front and took its place alongside the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Divisions in the Canadian Corps.

Meanwhile, at No.3 Canadian General Hospital, admission, treatment, and evacuation of patients kept all ranks busy. In a report forwarded on October 7th, Col Birkett commended the outstanding services rendered by Lieut-Col J M Elder, Lieut-Col John McCrae, Captain David Law, and also Major L J Rhea. Also in the same report the Commanding Officer mentioned the loyal services of Sergeant-Major William George Hadley and Sergeant Urbain J Gareau.

NS M I MacIntosh granted leave of absence on 14 October 1916. MacIntosh posted to the CAMC Depot in August 1917 and then serves with Ontario Military Hospital, HMHS ARAGUAYA, No. 16 Canadian General Hospital, and finally returns to No. 3 on 2 December 1917.

To mark All Saints’ Day, 1 November 1916, the British authorities combined with the French citizens of Boulogne in an impressive ceremonial at the British Military Cemetery. Less public, but hardly less impressive, a funeral, described by Hon Capt G A Kuhring, Church of England Chaplain at No.3 Canadian General Hospital.

All Saints Day

I officiated at a funeral at No. 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) at 6 o’clock this morning. I found Col Birkett ready to attend. The lad had died in Iris Hospital and, but for the Colonel, the father would have been the only mourner. The Colonel had set aside his rest and work to share the father’s sorrow.

Honorary Captain Gustave Adolph Kuhring

Lt-Col John McCrae Admitted to Hospital

On 11 November 1916, the day after the Duke of Connaught’s visit to the hospital, Lt-Col John McCrae, Officer in charge of Medicine, suffered a severe attack of pleurisy. McCrae then ordered to No.14 British General Hospital at Wimereux, by Sir Bertrand Dawson, who had been called to attend him.

No. 14 British General an officers’ hospital with accommodation which No.3 Canadian General Hospital could not provide. At No. 3, an officer, or nursing sister, might remain in quarters during a minor illness. But, when serious sickness developed the patient invariably transferred, usually to No. 14.

Sir Bertrand Dawson

Sir Bertrand Dawson always took an interest in No.3 Canadian General Hospital and its personnel. Years later, in 1925, when he had become Lord Dawson of Penn, G.C.V.O., McGill University acknowledged indebtedness for much courtesy overseas by bestowing upon him the honorary degree of L.L.D. In November, 1925, the British Medical Journal printed the speech in which Lord Dawson replied.

“The Hospital established a reputation unsurpassed for professional achievement, organization, and public spirit.”

Sir Bertrand Dawson

Sir Bertrand Dawson a physician to the British Royal Family. Also President of the Royal College of Physicians from 1931 to 1937. Dawson held the office of Physician-in-Ordinary to King George V until his death in 1936.

Death of George V

Dawson known primarily for his responsibility in the death of George V. Under his care, the King injected with a fatal dose of cocaine and morphine to hasten his death shortly before midnight, 20 January 1936.

The King’s Last Words

“God damn you”

George V to Nurse Catherine Black

Dawson told the Royal Family he had acted to preserve the King’s dignity. This way, the death could be announced in the morning edition of The Times, rather than in less renown journals.

Battle of the Ancre

On 13 November 1916 in the Battle of the Ancre, Sir Douglas Haig captured over 7,000 prisoners and also brought an end to the Battles of the Somme. The British had suffered approximately 463,000 casualties. The Ancre battle sent many wounded to No.3 Canadian General Hospital.

For a day or two following the Ancre battle, admissions to No.3 Canadian General Hospital rose to over 200 a day. Then the figures dropped again to “normal,” which meant at this time, anywhere from 500 to 1,000 a week.

Nursing Sister Nellie Josephine Enright

Autumn saw an increase in the number of those on the staff who fell ill. On 12 November 1916 Nursing Sister Nellie Josephine Enright admitted to the Princess Louise Convalescent Home, Hardelot.

On the 23 November 1916, Nursing Sister Mary Evelyn Engelke followed. Nursing Sister Hazel Noel Smith admitted to No. 14 General Hospital on November 29th. Four days after news arrived that Captain Charles Kenneth Wallace, on leave in England, admitted to No. 3 London General Hospital with para-typhoid.

Return of Lt-Col John McCrae

Lieut.-Col. John McCrae had recovered from the attack of pleurisy by this time. Granted three weeks’ sick leave to Cap Martin. Major L J Rhea and Captain J A MacMillan also recovered from illnesses.

P.U.O. (pyrexia of unknown
origin)

December 1916

The principal problem causing Col Birkett uneasiness at this time not the working of his staff. But, the diagnosis and treatment of the P.U.O. cases. On 3 November 1916, 382 of these showed on the books, and the number remained high all month. “P.U.O.” (pyrexia of unknown origin) a diagnosis which a casualty clearing station, or advanced dressing station, might tender with complete satisfaction. “Unknown origin,” however, presented a challenge, which a general hospital could not ignore. Accordingly, the medical and pathological staffs of No.3 Canadian General Hospital moved to attack the enemy which “P.U.O.” represented.

Early in December 1916, Nursing Sisters Harriet T Drake, Mrs Maud Emily Austin, and Louise Jean Brand, all original members of the unit, admitted sick to No.14 General Hospital and from there evacuated eventually to England. Somewhat later, Nursing Sisters Mary Alice Cooper and Eva D Bradley, also originals, and Nursing Sister Gertrude Seton Usborne followed. Prior to this, Captain H M Little, an original officer, had been struck off the strength to permit return to Canada. Acting Paymaster of the unit, and for the five months previous to his departure as Company Officer.

On December 14th Captain Thomas Archibald Malloch granted three weeks’ sick leave to England. On the 15th Lieut-Col John McCrae returned to duty from sick leave at Cap Martin. Two days later, three officers of the unit, Captains W T Ewing, F W Tidmarsh, and Archibald Donald Campbell, proceeded from the Hospital to duty with the 1st Canadian Division. This left No. 3 Hospital establishment 9 officers short, despite the fact that at no time during the remainder of the month did the number of patients fall below 1,100.

Christmas Day 1916

On Christmas Day just 1,100 patients in the Hospital. Most of these medical cases and the majority able to enjoy the good dinner provided in the decorated wards. In the evening officers and nursing sisters of the unit dined together in the Red Cross Hut and danced
afterwards.

As December drew to a close, the P.U.O. situation showed a measure of improvement, due to the work of the Medical Staff of the Hospital, in conjunction with Surgeon-General T P Woodhouse and Col Sir William Boog Leishman. Lieut-Col John McCrae, Officer in charge of Medicine, no novice where fever concerned and gave fearless
expression to his opinion of what should be done. As a result, certain decisions reached.

STATISTICS FOR 1916

18,943 sick patients admitted
17,198 wounded patients admitted
36,141 total patients admitted
151 deaths
0.41 percentage of deaths
3,704 operations

The Beginning of a New Year

(1 January 1917 – 31 March 1917)

Honours List

In the Honours List published on New Year’s Day 1917, His Majesty the King appointed Col H S Birkett to the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. The appointment to the Third Class, Military Division, of the Order and entitled the Commanding Officer of No.3 Canadian General Hospital to the suffix, C.B.

Recruitment

Two days after the honour had been announced, Lieut-General H M Lawson, from the War Office, arrived at No.3 with Surgeon-General R H S Sawyer, DDMS, Boulogne Base, to enquire whether women could be used in the Hospital to free men for service at the front. After a careful check, Col Birkett decided that about 50 cooks, ward-workers, and cleaners could be replaced, if women to do the work secured and properly trained.

Nursing Sister Margaret Jane Fortescue

Throughout January, changes in the personnel of No.3 occurred even more frequently than had been usual. Nursing Sisters Margaret Jane Fortescue (Llandovery Castle), Mary Forster Bliss, and also M J Ross took ill and admitted to hospital. Captain H B Rogers granted sick leave to England. Captain G Shanks also struck off the strength on proceeding to take out a commission in the Medical Services of India. Finally Captain H C Burgess left to assume duties at No.3 Canadian Stationary Hospital.

Understrength

In offset to the losses through illness and transfer in January, the staff of No 3 Canadian General Hospital strengthened by return from sick leave of Captain T A Malloch, Captain C K Wallace, and also Major J G Browne. Nursing Sisters Edith Harriet Marion Powell and Harriet Tremaine Meiklejohn also reported for duty. Finally, Nursing Sister D E Ross returned from the Princess Louise Convalescent Home.

Six officers, Captains Tillman Alfred Briggs, Daniel Rolston Dunlop, George Frederick L Fuller, James Kilborn Mossman, Arthur Allan Parker MC, and Aristide Blais, joined the unit, but five of these officers and Captain F G Logie later transferred to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Canadian Divisions, leaving the establishment of officers still under strength.

11 January 1917

On January 11th, at dawn, the 91st British Infantry Brigade attacked on the Ancre front, where quiet had prevailed for some weeks. A number of wounded from this engagement reached No 3 Canadian General Hospital, but the main flow directed elsewhere, as the mouth of Boulogne harbour blocked by a sunken vessel, and direct evacuation from the Boulogne area thereby rendered impossible.

cerebro-spinal meningitis

Two days after renewal of hostilities on the Ancre, No.3 Canadian General Hospital received a convoy of 102 medical cases, one of whom reported to have been in contact with cerebro-spinal meningitis. On the same day a member of the Hospital staff developed nasal diphtheria, with pharyngeal involvement. The source of infection could not be discovered, but all contacts isolated and measures taken to prevent the disease from spreading.

Five days later a case of cerebro-spinal meningitis arrived at the Hospital, and contacts examined. No carriers found, nor did any of the contacts show symptoms suggesting the disease had spread.

Nursing Sister Edith Crockett Anderson Monture, posted to No. 3 Canadian General Hospital on 17 January 1917. NS Monture had been ToS CASC at Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Taplow, previously on 16 November 1916.

18 January 1917

On January 18th the mouth of Boulogne harbour cleared of its sunken obstruction, and the flow of patients from No.3 Canadian General Hospital to England resumed. Orders on this date announced Col H S Birkett, C.B., had been Mentioned in Despatches, as had Matron K O MacLatchy, R.R.C., and Nursing Sisters S M Hoerner, Mary Bliss, Victoria Eastwood, Isabel Davies, and Lilian Pidgeon, all original members of the unit. Private Arthur James Quinn (d. 9-9-1970) had received a similar honour.

Four days later, Pte Arthur James Quinn also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, London Gazette No 27890, dated 4 January 1917. This fact not recorded in the official history of No.3 Canadian General Hospital.

21 January 1917

On the 21st a diarist mentioned that: “It is still very cold, and ice is bursting pails in all directions. Water taps are frozen in many huts, and more blankets have been issued to the patients.” Writing four days later, Lieut.-Col. John McCrae, Officer in charge of Medicine.

“The cruel cold is still holding. Everyone is suffering, and the men in bed in the wards cannot keep warm. For my own part, I do not think I have ever been more uncomfortable. Everything is so cold that it hurts to pick it up. To go to bed is a nightmare and to get up a worse one.”

Lieut-Col John McCrae

Visit of Japanese Army

With the cold at its worst, No.3 Canadian General Hospital visited and inspected by Lieut-Col Y Inowy, of the Japanese Army, and Major S Colo, of the Imperial Japanese Army Medical Corps. These officers called on the same day as Surgeon-General T. P. Woodhouse and Surgeon-General R. H. S. Sawyer, who came to ascertain whether any wounded in No. 3 required Carrel’s type of irrigation.

12 February 1917

On February 12th admissions to No.3 Canadian General Hospital rose to 269. Some of the wounded coming from the Ancre front, where the 11th Battalion of the Border Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and a company of the 16th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, all of the 97th Brigade, 32nd British Division, had attacked and captured a German trench, known as Ten Tree Alley.

Nursing Sisters Effie Christina Bolster and H N Smith, came down with illness which necessitated hospital treatment. Some days later Nursing Sister L Pidgeon forced to accept three weeks’ sick leave, and on the 20th Nursing Sister Margaret F S Park, whose work the Commanding Officer found worthy of the highest commendation, struck off strength on proceeding to England.

repostings

Towards the end of the month renewal of activity at the front reflected by an increase of surgical patients. Between the 24th and 28th, 777 cases admitted. A single convoy on the night of the 27th including 4 privates with broken backs, and many with severe wounds. Fortunately, at this time, the surgical staff of No.3 Canadian General Hospital strengthened by the reposting from England of Captains H M Little and L L Reford, who had sailed with the
Hospital from Canada and served previously in France.

absence of lobar pneumonia

A report by Lieut-Col John McCrae, Officer in charge of Medicine, commented on the prevalence of infections of the respiratory tract during the previous months, but stated that the absence of lobar pneumonia had been remarkable.

Most frequently, Lieut-Col McCrae stated, a diagnosis of broncho-pneumonia was made when fever continued high and when blood streaks, blood, or rose colour appeared in the sputum.

Sunlight

In concluding his remarks on the cases of disease of the respiratory tract, Lieut-Col McCrae observed that recovery of many patients seemed slower than usual. Explanation, in his opinion, to be found in the absence of clear sunlight, little of which had blessed Northern France since the summer of the previous year.

P.U.O.

After discussing diseases of the respiratory tract, Lieut-Col McCrae’s report dealt with the difficulties presented by the P.U.O. (fever of unknown origin) cases.

Patients in the P.U.O. group suffered often from myalgic pains, pain in the back, pain in the thighs, and pain in the shin bones, all these symptoms being common to a number of diseases, including typhoid, para-typhoid, and the so-called trench fever.

March 1917

On 7 March 1917 the Commanding Officer filed a report covering the activities of the previous three months. In it he mentioned that Lieut-Col Elder, Lieut-Col McCrae, Sergt-Major Frederick White, and Staff-Sergeant Bertram Auguste Fauvel had, each in his respective sphere, rendered services that were outstanding.

The following day, No 3 Canadian General Hospital visited and inspected by the Right Honourable Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister of Canada, accompanied by the Hon Robert Rogers, Minister of Public Works, and the Hon J D Hazen, Minister of Marine and Fisheries.

So ends the story of the first quarter of the year 1917. To the Hospital in this period there had been admitted 8,166 patients, of whom but 46, or a percentage of 0.56, had died. Operations had totaled 549, and post-operative deaths 18.

The Aftermath of Vimy

(1 April 1917 – 31 May 1917)

On 1 April 1917 Captain C K Wallace struck off the strength, as a result of illness, and on the 2nd Capts R B Robertson and A T Henderson granted sick leave to England. Later in the month Nursing Sister A S Morewood, an original member of the unit, sent to No. 14 British General Hospital with diphtheria, and Nursing Sister E P Babbitt permitted to resign to be married.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge

At 5.30 o’clock on the morning of Easter Monday, April 9th, the British advanced astride the River Scarpe, employing prearranged “leap-frogging” tactics for the first time in the war. North of the Scarpe, Sir Julian Byng launched the Canadian Corps, with all four divisions in line, against Vimy Ridge, famous as the scene of bitter
fighting by the French in 1915, and believed by the Germans to be impregnable. Early in the morning the Corps swept over the crest of the Ridge, driving the enemy from his entrenchments and capturing many prisoners.

10 April 1917

On the morning of April 10th the first casualties from the Battles of Arras reached No. 3 Canadian General Hospital. These came from the Vimy section of the attack and, for the most part, Canadians, slightly wounded in the opening phase of the engagement.

All night on April 10th, convoys of wounded continued to reach No. 3. Reports of the Canadian Corps’ success confirmed by the newcomers, nevertheless it became clear that Vimy Ridge had been purchased only at a price of which suffering demanded.

Continuous operating marked April 12th, when 256 patients admitted, and April 13th, when the number rose to 383. On each of these days, 30 or more serious cases operated upon, the majority for injury from machine gun fire.

30 April 1917

Nursing Sisters M J Fortescue and E J Stuart left to assume duties at No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. Corporals Charles Lightfoot Roman 439, A G Ross and M Benger promoted Sergeants.

17 June 1917

Sgt Charles Lightfoot Roman left the unit, returning to Canada to resume his medical studies. Charles marries NS Jessie M Sedgewick following the Great War.

…

3 October 1917

Nursing Sister E C A Monture left the unit for No. 15 Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Taplow on 3 October 1917. Monture eventually re-appointed to the CASC on 8 May 1918, and attached to Drummond Military Hospital, Montreal. In 1983, the veteran nurse interviewed when 93 years old.

“We would walk right over where there had been fighting. It was an awful sight — buildings in rubble, trees burnt, spent shells all over the place, whole towns blown up.”

NS Edith Monture

Fast Forward

Death of Lt Col John McCrae

23 January 1918

Two days after Prince Arthur had come and gone, Col Elder consulted with Lieut-Col John McCrae. Desiring further advice, Col Elder sought McCrae later in the day. He found him asleep in a chair in the Officers’ Mess. John complained of a slight headache. Col Elder, noticing that he appeared distinctly unwell, advised him to go off duty and to bed.

Consulting Physician to the First British Army

That night information reached No 3 Canadian General Hospital that Lieut-Col McCrae’s appointment as Consulting Physician to the First British Army confirmed. Col Elder hurried to McCrae’s quarters to offer congratulations. The news of the honour would be announced at dinner in the Officers’ Mess. Lieut-Col McCrae deeply pleased. But, but said that, as his temperature around 99° and feeling miserable, he would remain in bed until the morning.

24 January 1918

Early next morning Col Elder looked in to Lieut-Col McCrae’s room, but the Officer in charge of Medicine sleeping soundly. Judging that this better than any alternative treatment for the malaise of the day before, Col Elder left him undisturbed. Later in the morning he called again, and the patient reported that he felt much better.

No signs of pneumonia

That afternoon, however, he sent for Col Elder and stated that he feared that pneumonia developing. His sputum had become rusty and his temperature had risen to 100°. A temperature of 100° not in itself alarming. But, Col Elder knew that McCrae not the man to express ill-founded fears. He accordingly instructed Major Rhea to examine the sputum microscopically. Captain Rogers went most carefully over the patient’s chest. Major Rhea reported that the microscope revealed what appeared to be pneumococci in the sputum. But, Capt Rogers could find no sign of pneumonia in the chest.

Realizing that, despite absence of physical signs, Lieut-Col McCrae seriously ill, Col. Elder ordered Nursing Sisters Lilian Pidgeon and Mary Bliss to leave their routine duties to act as day and night special nurses.

Surgeon-General Sir Bertrand Dawson

In the evening Col Elder telephoned to Surgeon-General Sir Bertrand Dawson, who came and conducted a most careful examination. Sir Bertrand could find no physical signs of pneumonia, but agreed that an undiscoverable patch of the disease probably existed. That night the temperature rose to over 101°. The patient complained of headache, but towards morning he fell into a calm and apparently normal sleep.

25 January 1918

In the morning, with the consent of the Deputy Director of Medical Services, Boulogne Base, Lieut-Col McCrae placed in an ambulance. Under the charge of Captain D S Lewis, transferred to No 14 British General Hospital for Officers. Sir Bertrand Dawson would give him unremitting personal care. That night Sir Bertrand telephoned to No. 3 and stated that the patient seemed appreciably better.

26 January 1918

Unfortunately, the improvement not maintained. On the afternoon of January 26th the illness became more serious, and symptoms of cerebral irritation appeared.

27 January 1918

About 2 o’clock on the following morning the patient’s temperature dropped suddenly to 97°. His pulse weakened alarmingly, but responded to cardiac stimulation. That afternoon, however, the sleepiness which had marked his illness from the beginning increased to coma. All knew that the end was near. Col Elder and Major Rhea arrived, to do a blood culture and a lumbar puncture. But, as no benefit could accrue, the plan abandoned.

28 January 1918

A few hours later, at 1.30 o’clock on the morning of January 28th, Lieut-Col McCrae died.

cause of death Pneumonia and Meningitis

Confirming the diagnosis which his own professional skill had enabled him to announce in advance of nearly all physical signs, it was found that pneumonia had affected both lungs. Meningitis, too, had developed. Explaining the cerebral symptoms, which, from an early stage of the illness, had aroused his brother officers’ alarm.

Soldier, physician, poet, and gentleman

John McCrae, soldier, physician, poet, and gentleman, dead, and for him the peace and quiet of the endless years had begun. But, his message had reached the far corners of the Empire. In Flanders Fields, probably, the war poem that touched most human hearts. No man dare estimate the number of recruits that these lines. Spoken in the name of the Flanders dead. Brought to the service of the King. But, that it totaled many thousands seems impossible to doubt.

In the United States, too, the lines touched a chord which vibrated at once in sympathy. Responses numerous, but no verses so clearly expressed the sentiment stirred as R W Lilliard’s America’s Answer. In these lines John McCrae might well find a measure of his unsolicited reward.

America’s Answer

Rest ye in peace, ye Flanders dead.
The fight that ye so bravely led
We’ve taken up. And we will keep
True faith with you who lie asleep,
With each a cross to mark his bed,
And poppies blowing overhead,
Where once his own life-blood ran red
So let your rest be sweet and deep
In Flanders’ fields.

Fear not that ye have died for naught
The torch ye threw to us we caught
Ten million hands will hold it high
And Freedom’s light shall never die
We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders’ fields

R. W. Lilliard

The Funeral of Lieut-Col John McCrae

Wimereux Communal Cemetery

McCrae buried the next day in the Wimereux Communal Cemetery with full military honours. Bonfire, his beloved horse, was part of the funeral procession and General Arthur Currie in attendance.

With maintenance issues, the CWGC later decided to place recumbent stones at Wimereux.

Recumbent stones used in sites like Wimereux Communal Cemetery where the soil or weather conditions unable to support the usual standing headstones.

Nursing Sister Evelyn Verrall McKay

Nursing Sister E V McKay evacuated to No. 14 General Hospital with influenza on the 25th, and on 29 October 1918, news arrived that she was seriously ill.

Influenza sweeping a deadly path, and realized that “seriously ill” indicated a truly grave condition.

4 November 1918

As November opened at No. 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) it became clear that all hope for the recovery of Nursing Sister E. V. McKay must be abandoned. Reports from the Chateau Mauricien at No. 14 General Hospital indicated that pneumonia had developed and that the end was near. Nursing Sisters Walters and Stewart and the medical officers in charge did what was possible, but nothing could check the disease, and at 11.30 o’clock on the morning of November 4th the patient died.

Terlincthun British Cemetery

With deep regret Col. Drum and Matron MacLatchy announced the news to the staff of No. 3. Two days later, at 10 o’clock in the morning, 35 nursing sisters, with a detachment of officers and other ranks, attended the funeral at Terlincthun Cemetery.

Despite the nature of the times, no honour omitted. And, glorious wreaths from the Matron and nursing sisters of No. 3, from the staff of No. 7 Convalescent Depot. From the Matron and nursing sisters of No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital, from the Matron of the Chateau Mauricien, and from the officers of No. 3. All testified to the sorrow shared by all to whom Nursing Sister McKay had been known.

Evelyn the daughter of Mark S. and Sarah M. McKay, of Galt, Ontario.

Lt Mark Harold McKay MC

Evelyn’s brother Lt Mark Harold McKay MC (awarded 15 October 1918) with the 3rd DAC, Canadian Field Artillery. He was wounded 26 November 1915. Lt McKay embarked for England on 18 February 1919. Likely he had the chance to visit his sister’s grave beforehand.

12 October 1918

In memory of Captain Arthur Allan Parker MC, formerly of No 3 Canadian General Hospital. Serving with No 6 Canadian Field Ambulance, died of wounds, 12 October 1918. Son of Arthur H and Janet R Parker, of Humber Bay, Ontario.

Awarded the MC for actions at Hill 70. Wounded in the head and arm. He succumbed to his injuries in Arras, and buried at Bucqouy Road Cemetery.

Lifesavers and Body Snatchers

On the whole, the first month of 1919 marked in the unit by little departure from routine. Surgical work continued to decrease, but medical convoys arrived regularly and activity in and about the wards maintained. On 6 January 1919 Major William Howard Tytler instructed to act as Assistant Advisor in Pathology to the Boulogne Base. While continuing his duties as Officer in charge of Pathology at No.3 Canadian General Hospital.

William Howard Tytler

Tytler had collaborated with A Stokes and J A Ryle in work on Weil’s disease and trench nephritis. Also with Alexander Fleming in studies on bacteriology of war wounds. His work in connection with the influenza epidemic in 1918 the subject of a Medical Research Council’s Report.

Specimens for the Canadian War Museum

A week later Captain Lloyd Phillips MacHaffie proceeded to No.1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, Bonn, Germany, to collect specimens for the Canadian War Museum. And, on the same day Major Eric Charles Harry Windeler struck off the strength on reporting for duty to the Assistant Director of Medical Services, 3rd Canadian Division. Later the next day Nursing Sister M E Engelke proceeded to No.3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. Finally, on the 18th Nursing Sister E D Ross, whose service as Home Sister the Commanding Officer warmly commended, left No. 3 and crossed to England.

The book, Lifesavers and Body Snatchers: Medical care and the struggle for survival in the Great War. Tim Cook’s 14th book about Canada’s rich military history. At least 1,200 individual Canadian body parts removed from dead soldiers and sent to London. Stored, treated, and then some put on display in exhibition galleries at the RCS. After being exhibited there, the body parts displayed several times in both Montreal and Hamilton in the early 1920s.

Demobilization to be Continued

Nursing Sister Jessie Nelson King

4 April 1919

With deep regret on April 4th the personnel of No. 3 Hospital heard that Nursing Sister J N King had died of cerebro-spinal meningitis at No. 14 Stationary Hospital. NS King ill for more than a month, and received the special care of Nursing Sister G W Paget in the daytime and Nursing Sister H G Kidd at night.

On April 3rd Matron MacLatchy and Nursing Sister Hoerner visited her and had come away knowing her courageous fight for life could last but little longer.

…

Epilogue – No.3 Canadian General Hospital

Brigadier-General Herbert Stanley Birkett

Herbert Stanley Birkett (1864-1942), C.B., V.D., M.D., LL.D., F.R.S.C. (C.), F.A.C.S., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at McGill and received an honourary degree of LL.D in 1921. In 1939 he celebrated his Golden Jubilee in Otolaryngology while still active in practice.

Dr and Mrs Birkett (Margarete McNaughton) had one daughter together, named Winifred L. Birkett. Birkett buried at Mount Royal Cemetery. Winifred Lieghton Birkett died 24 October 1993 and also buried in Mont Royal Cemetery.

LtCol John George Adami

In charge of records at London and in 1919, he received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire award (C.B.E.) for his services. The same year he resigned his position at McGill University to became Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University.

Dr Adami died on 29 August 1926, and buried in Allerton Cemetery, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Pre-deceased by his wife Marie Wilkinson Monsarrat.

Col John Munro Elder

Married to Grace W. Elder, 4201 Sherbrooke St., Westmount, Quebec. Metnioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig, and later made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. Elder died 5 February 1922 following a lingering illness with some mental, and much physical disability.

His grandson, Dr John Munro Elder a pediatrician to generations of Montrealer’s, died on 14 November 2006 at Royal Victoria Hospital.

Major Edward William Archibald

Dr Edward William Archibald (MDCM ’1896), known both as Canada’s first neurosurgeon and the father of thoracic surgery in Canada. The first chair of McGill’s Department of Surgery in 1923, and established a program in Experimental Surgical to embed surgical research into the teaching hospital, advocated for higher standards in surgical training, and wrote treatises to advance neurosurgery, surgical treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis and knowledge of pancreatic diseases.

He returned to the army medical corps in the Second World War, gathering research for a book on war surgery until 1944, even though by this point well into in his 70s. He died in Montreal in 1945, recognized internationally for his dedication to medicine.

“He appreciated how easy it is to forget mistakes and remember successes.”

“‘Eddie’ as he was affectionately called, was always expected to be late. This was not due to a disorderly mind but to his unbounded sympathy and love for his fellow man. No task was too great; no patient too humble; no colleague too junior for him to give his time unexpectedly and in full measure.”

Dr. Jonathan Campbell Meakins, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

Griselda Christmas (BA ’39), Dr Archibald’s youngest daughter, passed away in January 2023 in Victoria. A recent donor to the McGill24 Challenge Fund and a $50,000 Fellowship created on her behalf in her father’s name before she died. 

Major Walter Henry Phillip Hill

Returned to Canada in July of 1916 to resume his studies. Dr Hill died 23 July 1921 and buried at Mount Royal Cemetery.

LtCol Walter Henry P Hill

Walter Henry Philip Hill a consultant physician at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada. He qualified in 1935 and gained his MRCP in 1936. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was Mentioned in Despatches.

In 1946, following his demobilisation, he joined the staff of the Royal Victoria Hospital and also became an associate professor of medicine at McGill University. He was a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the American College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians. He died 5 September 1995 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Major Allan Campbell P Howard

Mrs. Ottilie Wright Howard(wife) 141 Somerset St., Ottawa, Ontario. Dr Alan Campbell Palmer, later occupied many of the posts in Montreal previously held by his father, Dr Robert Edward Palmer.

Major John Campbell Meakins

Awarded the esteemed title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire, he also received two honourary degrees. Named Master by the American College of Physicians, Dr Meakins a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of Canada, and the Royal Society of Canada (1926). His many contributions to McGill University commemorated in The Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Major Harry Clifton Burgess

Maj Harry Clifton Burgess M.D. married Alice May Eakin in 1918. He died on 1 January 1940 at age 56.

Major John Lancelot Todd

Dr John Lancelot Todd the Canadian Pension Commissioner from
1916 to 1919 and regarded as the architect of Canadian pension administration). Following the war, he engaged in research with his colleague S. B. Wolbach, leading an expedition for the American Red Cross to stem the devastating outbreak of typhus fever that followed the departure of the Russian troops.

Todd’s work well recognized by Poland which awarded him the Order Polonia
Restituto and the Canadian Red Cross elected him a member of its executive in 1921. By 1925, due to health concerns and frustrations with administrative matters at McGill University, Todd resigned his position. Following his retirement, he served on the Associate Committee of the National Research Council, which was responsible for supervising the Institute of Parasitology at Macdonald College, finally established in 1932.

His beloved wife Marjory died in 1945 after a long illness and in 1949, on the long drive home from a fishing trip in the Gaspé, Todd lost control of his car in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, and died just short of his home in Senneville.

Captain John George Browne

NS Jessie M Sedgewick

Original Nursing Sister Jessie M Sedgewick finally SoS at Ste Anne de Bellevue Military Hospital on 17 July 1919. She later married Sergeant Charles Lightfoot Roman, also an original of No. 3 CGH. Lightfoot had returned to Canada in 1917 to resume his medical studies.

Dr Charles L Roman

Charles Lightfoot Roman the grandson of a fugitive slave, James William Roman, who had made his way from Maryland to Canada via the Underground Railroad.

Charles Lightfoot Roman had been named after his uncle, the surgeon and professor of medicine, Dr. Charles Victor Roman. Lightfoot Roman graduated as a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (MD, CM) from McGill University in 1919.

Jessie and Charles married on 25 December 1920 and eventually settled in Valleyfield, Québec. The couple would have five sons.

In Jessie’s memory, Charles commissioned a stained glass window to be mounted in the United Church attended by the family. Its inscription reads, “Her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:31)

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