No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station organized in Winnipeg in June 1915 initially under the command of Lt-Col Robert Johnstone Blanchard. Left Montreal aboard SS GRAMPION on 1 July 1915, arriving later in England on 10 July 1915 with a strength of 8 officers and 97 other ranks. Stationed at Moore Barracks Military Hospital, Shorncliffe until 6 February 1916 when attached to 2nd Army Troops, BEF at Remy-Siding.
The war diary of No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station a valuable, and unique narrative of casualties in the British Army. Unlike other CCS war diaries in the CEF, the adjutant strived to mention every casualty by name, a daunting task, given that 85,543 patients admitted during 1916-1919.
Demographics
Canadian-born members a minority in the unit on departure to England. However, the Nursing Sisters later added to the unit came from the C.A.M.C., and most Canadian-born.
- 40 England
- 19 Canada
- 12 Scotland
- 9 Ireland
- 2 Wales
- 1 France (Pvt Paul Barbe 2304)
- 1 Russia (Pvt Morris Ghitterman)
- 1 U.S.A. (Pvt Edgar St Croix Hammett)
- 1 Isle of Man
A Matron and several Nursing Sisters later attached for duty with No. 3 CCS. Their identities revealed in the daily war diary.
Commanding Officer
LtCol R J Blanchard, formerly of the Canadian Field Artillery. Major William Arthur Gardner (79th Regt), Major Frederick Armstrong Young (34th Horse). Captain Charles A Hunter, Captain William Gratton Lyall, Captain William Lawson Mann, Captain Oliver Sayles Waugh and Hon Captain John Stanley Ward, all of the CAMS. QMS Herbert George Bayes, SMG Alfred Paull. Lyall had been with Borden’s & Eaton’s MG Battery as Medical Officer. Alfred Paull a 44 year-old Sanitary Inspector, had 25 years previous service in the RAMC.
Officers Commanding: Lt-Cols R. J. Blanchard, June 1915-Nov 1917; J. L. Biggar, Nov 1917-June 1918; F. A. Young, June 1918 to closing of hospital.
England
Shorncliffe
SS GRAMPIAN, 1 July 1915 from Montreal. Arrived in England, 11-7-15.
1916
On 4 February 1916, No. 3 CCS withdrew from Shorncliffe and replaced by No. 7 CSH under Col Stewart.
France
No. 3 CCS moved to France on 5 February 1916. Promotions of Sgt Budge to Major-Sergeant, Cpl Clark to Sergeant, Cpl Milne to L/Sgt on 24 March 1916. Captain Mann mistaken for a spy at night.
MIKAN No. 3395025
Le Havre
Advance party of Captain Oliver S Waugh and Hon Captain John Stanley Ward and 20 OR left Southhampton on 3 February 1916. Acting Sgt-Maj Paull promoted Quartermaster, with rank of Hon Lieutenant, 21 February 1916. QMS Bayes to Sgt-Major confirmed on the 28th. Moved to Rouen on 1 April 1916, and the following date to Remy Siding, opposite 10th CCS (Imperial).
Remy-Siding
Fifteen German wounded received on 4 April 1916. Interpreter Levy Romanos order to Bouolgne on the 10th. Col Bridges ADMS, Canadian 3rd Division visits the camp. White tents sprayed with stain.
Nurses expected, but did not arrive on 22 April 1916. LtCol Blanchard visited his son at Dickebusch. Bombs dropped within 200 yards of officers mess at 4 am on 25 April 1916. Nursing Sisters expected again on the 30th, but finally arrive on 6 May 1916.
Original Nursing Sisters of No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station
Acting Matron Catherine Margaret Hare, 41-year-old NS Kathleen Shaw, NS Annie McInnes Forrest, NS Hilda Corelli, NS Blanche Eugenie Ledoux, ToS 6 May 1916. Later NS Carrie Ethel Greenwood, and NS Elsie Hogg Leslie arrive.
Ann McInnes Forrest’s military service began on 14 April 1915 at the age of 40, although she claimed to be 34 when joining the C.A.M.C.
NS Demographics
Only NS Corelli born in England (Birkenhead, Cheshire). Matron Hare born in Saint John, New Brunswick, with Ledoux and Leslie born in Montreal. Shaw, Forrest, and Greenwood from Ontario.
Pvt William George Couch 2312 (RCR) twice reprimanded for insubordination in April 1916.
On 20 April 1916, Matron C M Hare Menitoned in a despatch from C-in-C for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field.
On 16 May 1916, Pvt John Bond, 13th Battalion, CEF treated at No. 3 CCS, where he died 30 minutes foillowinfg admission. Buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Captain French, RC Chaplain ToS 30 May 1916.
Lijssenthoek
The village of Lijssenthoek situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery first used by the French 15th Hopital D’Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces.
The bed capacity of Remy Siding varied from 200 to 900. On 4 June 1916, Gen (Sir Anthony) Bowbly and Col Galloway visited station. Many wounded had been lying out for two days and gangrene appearing.
Inspection by the King
H.M. the King at a Casualty Clearing Station at Remy near Reningelst, 14th August 1916. With him Surgeon-General Porter. Note Red Cross in coloured stones on the ground for the information of aircraft. No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. © IWM (Q 1020)
Inspection by His Majesty the King and the Prince of Wales on 14 August 1916.
King George V conversing with officers at a Casualty Clearing Station at Remy, 14th August 1916. (Acting Matron Catherine Margaret Hare on left).
Captain William Gratton Lyall attached to Borden’s & Eaton’s MG Battery as Medical Officer, joined No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 3 October 1916. Lyall later joins Captain Francis Scrimger VC’s surgical team in March of 1917.
NS Kathleen Shaw fell ill in early December 1916, and granted leave back to Canada, when she returned briefly to Perth, Ontario. She resumed duty at No.2 Canadian Stationary Hospital in April 1917.
1917
On New Years Day, 1917, Matron C M Hare awarded the decoration of the Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class.
NS Carrie Ethel Greenwood SoS to England on 24 January 1917. NS Greenwood would demobilize on 17 March 1919 in Toronto.
Captain Sandwidth rejoins unit after operation for gall stones, 27 February 1917.
Matron C M Hare SoS to Westenhanger Granville Canadian Special Hospital, Ramsgate on 10 February 1917. Matron Hare would serve onboard ARAGUAYA until SoS to Canada in October 1917. She resigned her commission the following month.
Major Francis Scringer VC
Major Francis Scrimger VC ToS No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 3 March 1917, Remy Siding. Scrimger awarded the Victoria Cross over two years earlier at Ypres. Here at No. 3 CCS, Scrimger falls in love with his future wife, NS Ellen E Carpenter.
“On the afternoon of 25th April, 1915, in the neighbourhood of Ypres, when in charge of an advanced dressing station in some farm buildings, which were being heavily shelled by the enemy, he directed under heavy fire the removal of the wounded, and he himself carried a severely wounded Officer out of a stable in search of a place of greater safety. When he was unable alone to carry this Officer further, he remained with him under fire till help could be obtained. During the very heavy fighting between 22nd and 25th April, Captain Scrimger displayed continuously day and night the greatest devotion to duty among the wounded at the front.” Supplement to The London Gazette of 22 June 1915. 23 June 1915, Numb. 29202, p. 6115
Submarine Warfare
News recieved the American ship SS ALGONQUIN sunk by U-62 on 12 March 1917. Carrying foodstuffs to London without munitions, attacked without warning by shellfire and bombs 65 miles west of the Scilly Islands. Fortunately, her entire 26-man crew survived. News of German retirement from Peronne, on the 19th.
NS Kathleen Shaw MiD SoS Westenhanger Granville Canadian Special Hospital, Ramsgate on 2 April 1917. Major Gardner, NS Forrest and Pte Turner on duty to No. 1 CCS in anticipation of a push at Arras, 5 April 1917 (returning 24 May 1917). News received of the capture of Vimy Ridge on 10 April 1917.
Col Almond (Chief of Chaplain Services) visited the camp on 23 April 1917. Captain J O Murray (Church of England) reports for duty on 2 May 1917. Captain F Williamson (C of E) leaves for duty with Canadian Corps on the 5th.
Fully staffed
Nursing Sisters E M Best, N J Enright, L L Gillis, D E Sampson and M Cockshott attached 2 June 1917. NS Annie McInnes Forrest awarded the Royal Red Cross, 1st Class on 4 June 1917. With 20 Nursing Sisters on staff, the unit admitted for 230 hours during the month of June. 590 operations performed.
During September 1917, 1,028 operations performed. NS Blanche Eugenie Ledoux (debility) admitted to No. 16 Canadian General Hospital, Orpington on 4 October 1917. Granted permission to resign in England on 12 September 1918, whereupon she married Dr/Major Charles Arthur Baragar.
LtCol J L Biggar
On 17 October 1917, LtCol James Lyons Biggar arrives as prospective OC. 1,553 operations during the month of October.
Corporal William Bracken Brandon (3rd Div. Supply Col., CASC), formerly of No. 3 CCS, died 7 November 1917 and buried at OXFORD ROAD CEMETERY. Bill had been one of the popular boys during his time with the unit. NS Charlotte Younghusband, with No. 3 CCS for six months, replaced by NS Halley.
LtCol R J Blanchard transferred to England, LtCol J L Biggar takes command, 14 November 1917.
The original officers left No. 3 CCS in late 1917, LtCol Blanchard, Major Gardner, and Captain Mann. All three specialized in surgery, and were MOs of the highest standing. Lt Col J L Biggar succeeded as Commanding Officer ot the unit. Biggar a clever MO, but also a keen administrator. NS Annie Jane Coulter and NS Helen Mary Wilberforce Nesbitt also left No. 3 CCS.
NS Kathleen Shaw Mentioned in Despatches, LG No. 30448, 28 December 1917. By Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Command-in-Chief of British Forces, “for gallant and distinguished services in the field”.
1918
A total of 2,163 admitted during January 1918, with 292 operations performed. Nursing Sisters Ellen E Carpenter, NS Lilly Naomi Gray, NS Anne Saumarez Morewood, NS Thompson, NS Pauline Arnoldi, NS Ethel Frances Bradley and NS Hilda Napier Stevenson recently attached to No. 3 CCS.
MIKAN No. 3366358
Frévent
On 3 March 1918, No. 3 CCS transferred from the 4th Army to the 2nd Army. About 20 shells fell in the vicinity of the hospital on 18 March 1918. Promiscuous shelling of neighbourhood continued 20-22 March 1918.
LtCol J L Biggar proceeded to No. 3 CSH to take over temporary command, 7 May 1918. Major F A C Scrimger VC assumed temporary command of No. 3 CCS. NS Marie McLeod reported for duty from No. 2 CGH on the 9th, and NS M Brankin proceed to No. 2 CGH on the 11th. NS H M Mastin reported for duty from No. 7 CGH on the 17th. The following day, NS E K Cotter proceeded to A/Principal Matron, Boulogne. LtCol J L Biggar rejoined the unit on 27 May 1918.
NS Ellen E Carpenter, Scrimger’s future wife, Mentioned in Depatches, LG 30756, 30 May 1918.
Captain R J Moore (RC Chaplain) evacuated sick pm 2 June 1918. NS Lilly Naomi Gray awarded the Royal red Cross, 2nd Class, 3 June 1918 (LG No. 30716, dated 22-6-18).
Ligny-sur-Canche
Orders received to move the hospital from Frévent to Ligny-sur-Canche, 3 km away, on 6 June 1918. LtCol J L Biggar recalled to England on 11 June 1918. Hon Capt R J Moore (RC Chaplain) to 11th Can Rly Tps, and Hon Capt B Doyle reported for duty from same, 20 June 1918.
The cemetery begun at the end of August 1918 by the 3rd Canadian, 19th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations then posted at Frevent. The last burial took place two weeks later.
Major F A Young reported for duty on 22 June 1918 and assumed command of No. 3 CCS. Captain H A Stewart, CADC, reported for duty on 26 June 1918.
NS Ellen Eeason Carpenter permitted to resign her appointment on 31 August 1918. Two months following the Armistice, Ellen and Dr Francis Scrimger VC married in England. They would have three daughters, and their only son, Captain Alexander (Alec) Carron Scrimger, killed in action in the Netherlands on October 28, 1944, at the age of 22.
Varennes
No. 3 CCS at Varennes from 1 September 1918. Varennes Military Cemetery laid out by the 39th Casualty Clearing Station in August 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, but the first burials made during August and September by more mobile divisional Field Ambulances.
The 4th and 11th Casualty Clearing Stations then used the cemetery from October 1916, joined by the 47th from December 1916, but by May 1917 Varennes was deserted and remained so until the Germans launched their offensive in this quarter in April 1918.
The cemetery extended by the 17th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions by the addition of plots II and III, and at the beginning of September 1918, the 3rd Canadian and 59th Casualty Clearing Stations arrived at Varennes.
Ytres
The month of October spent in Ytres for No. 3 CCS.
In October 1918, Acting Matron Kathleen Shaw took command of CAMC nursing sisters aboard the Hospital Ship “Araguaya”, one of five ships used to repatriate wounded and sick soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).
Le Quesnoy
No. 3 CCS moved to Le Quesnoy on 1 November 1918.
November 1918
Rumours that two Canadian Divisions will form part of IV Corps reach the station on 28 November 1918. Sister St. Jean leaves Le Quesnoy for Arneke on account of her father’s illness.
The King at Le Quesnoy on 3 December 1918. He visited the ramparts and paid particular attention to the civilians.
Celebration of New Year’s Day developed some excitement. Some French petrol and wine was stolen and three lorries burned, but there was not riot. During the month of December 1918, 27 operations performed. 888 admitted, with 281 still remaning in the station.
1919
On 3 January 1919, the Corps Commander (XIII Corps) censured Captain S G Mills for overstaying leave eleven days, not considering the given excuse as satisfactory. He also admonished the OC for too great leniency in his view of the case.
Russian born Private Ghitterman protested against unwarranted arrest from which he had been released by the OC in the morning of 11 January 1919. The OC being absent, Major Stephens postponed consideration. On ther 15th, Private Ghitterman complained of unjust arrest, being convinced that the release from arrest wiped out the matter – his complaints dismissed.
On 31 January 1919, Pte Lawrence (Venereal Convalescent) refusing to obey an order to duty in a ward, a summary of evidence was taken and sent with him to his base. 603 admitted during January, with 244 still remaning.
Also in January 1919, while serving on the “Araguaya”, A/Matron Kathleen Shaw officially promoted to ‘Matron’ Nursing Officer-in-Charge.
On 5 February, the first man from our strength (one of the Immatures) sent for demobilization. On the 17th NS Gertrude Catherine Creswell called to see her brother (Lt Arthur Austin Creswell, 5th Battalion, Western Cavalry) who is dangerously ill at No. 20 General Hospital. February saw 419 admitted (many influenza), with 117 remaining in the station.
As of 1 March 1919, no Canadians left in Bonn or Cologne. Hon Cap Doyle (RC Chaplain) ordered to No. 6 CSH, Dunkirk on 3 March 1919.
Deserter
In August 1918, Barbe had his first FGCM, for AWOL, losing his kit and clothing. He went AWOL again in December 1918, and following his punishment, attached to HQ, 1st District, CFC in France.
Pvt Paul Barbe AWOL from 19-4-19 to 11-5-19 and having been illegally absent by a court of enquiry is SoS as a deserter.
No. 3 CCS Closes
On 13 March 1919, the duties of No. 3 CCS taken over by No. 12 CCS at Le Quesnoy. The total statistics for two years, 10 months, and five days rather staggering:
- 85,543 Admitted
- 2,278 Deaths
- 12,677 Operations
Demobilization
On 10 March 1919, Hon Capt & Chaplain A M McColl ordered to 1st Canadian Infantry Works Company at Courcelette (currently working in the War Graves Detail). On 24 March 1919, movement of troops – leave and demobilization commenced. The unit left Le Quesnoy on 29 March 1919 at 11:30 am, passing through Cambrai, Rosel, Peronne, Chaulnes, Amiens, and arriving at Abbeville at 23h00.
The unti continued the following day to Etaples, and arrived at Boulogne at 18h00 on 25 March 1919. The last entry of the war diary finds No. 3 CCS awaiting evacuation to Witley Camp in England on 3 April 1919.
Nursing Sister Hilda Corelli
NS Hilda Corelli left No.3 and posted to No. 16 Canadian General Hospital, Orpington on 8 October 1917. Later to Canadian Special Hospital, Lenham, and in June 1918, awarded the Royal Red Cross, 1st Class.
Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing Graduating Class, 1909
Service aboard HMAT ARAGUAYA. SoS of the CEF on 19 August 1919, and Brought to notice of Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered in connection with the war, 9 February 1920.
NS Kathleen Shaw MiD awarded the Royal Red Cross, 1st Class, LG No. 30716, 3 June 1918.
Major Francis Scrimger VC SoS No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 2 October 1918 and reposted to No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in relief of Lt-Col Alfred Turner Bazin DSO.
Demobilization
Matron C M Hare MiD SoS in the British Isles on 15 January 1919.
NS Pauline Arnoldi awarded the Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class, 3 June 1919.
NS Annie McInnes Forrest SoS CEF in Ottawa on 30 July 1919.
Captain (Quartermaster) Alfred Paull left the CAMC on 21 July 1921.
Casualties
No war dead among the members of No. 3 Casualty Clearing Unit.
Epilogue
Blanche Eugenie Ledoux
Blanche Eugenie Ledoux (Baragar) predeceased her husband on 4 October 1930 (aged 43). Dr Charles Baragar died 8 March 1936. They are buried at Edmonton Municipal Cemetery. Their son Charles David Bruce Baragar served on CAMC Hospital Ships in WWII.
LtCol James L Biggar, CMG
James Lyons Biggar, Toronto, Ont., Canada: University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, 1903; served in the Boer and both World Wars; national commissioner of the Canadian Red Cross Society; aged 60; died, 2 June 1938. Survived by his wife Helen Louise McMurrich.
Dr William Lawson Mann
Dr Mann had married Amy Mary Argue while in England during 1916. He died on 31 May 1947 (aged 62), survived by his wife (1884-1979), and four children, Marjorie Nuytten, Kathleen Mackey, Amy Mary Grobb, and William Argue Mann. Daughter Dorothy Ida Mann passed away in 1927, aged 9.
Dr William Gratton Lyall
Captain William Gratton Lyall died 22 August 1953 in Colinton, City of Einburgh, Scotland. Buried at Colinton Parish Churchyard.
LtCol Charles A Hunter
Dr. Hunter practiced in Winnipeg from 1904 until his retirement in 1952. University of Manitoba professor of medicine – First to describe ‘Hunter syndrome’ in 1917. He died at Winnipeg March 18, 1955.
Captain Alfred Edwin Paull
Alfred Edwin Paull died 9 November 1955 (aged 91). Buried in Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg.
Ann McInnes Forrest
Ann McInnes Forrest (aged 81) buried on 7 April 1956 at Carleton Place Union Cemetery, Ontario, Canada.
Matron Kathleen D Shaw
Shaw lived in Perth until the summer of 1921 when she returned to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She retired in 1924 and, according to her obituary, “… returned to Perth … and devoted her life to her family and her garden”.
Katherine Dowsley Shaw never married and died in Perth in 1958. Buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
Dr Oliver Sayles Waugh
Major Waugh died at the Deer Lodge Hospital on 12 January 1964 and buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. He returned to Winnipeg following the war and appointed to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. In 1939 he became Professor of Surgery and served as Director of the Department of Surgery at the Winnipeg General Hospital until 1946. Regarded as a pioneer in neurosurgery in Western Canada and responsible for neurosurgery at the Deer Lodge Hospital from 1930 to 1961. In 1957, he joined the Winnipeg Clinic and organized its Department of Neurosurgery. President of the Western Society of Clinical Surgeons (1941), President of the Winnipeg Medical Society, and Life Member of the Canadian Medical Association. In 1915, he had married Helen Alloway Champion and they subsequently had four sons, two of whom became physicians.
Hilda Corelli
After the war, she took courses in child welfare work and received certification issued by the Central Midwives Board, while working in East London.
In 1921, Hilda returned to Winnipeg where she worked until her until her retirement in 1952 when she returned to England. She died in Sussex, England on July 3, 1963.
Dr Frederick A Young
Frederick ‘Fred’ Armstrong Young died 26 August 1964 (aged 89) in Winnipeg and buried at Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery, Old Kildonan, Greater Winnipeg, Manitoba. Pre-deceased by his first wife Martha Landon Wright in 1931. Survived by his second wife, L’Anna Matilda Fisher Young (1881-1970).
Dr William Arthur Gardner
William Arthur Gardner died at his Winnipeg home, 1158 Grosvenor Avenue, on 25 September 1967 and was buried in the St. James Cemetery. He served as Treasurer of the Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons, President of the Manitoba Medical Association (1924-1925), and President of the Canadian Orthopedic Association. His honorary pallbearers Dr. P. H. T. Thorlakson, Dr. Lennox Bell, Dr. Reeve Morrison, J. S. H. Arnold, J. R. Murray, Dr. K. C. McGibbon, Dr. J. S. McInnes, Arthur E. Johnston QC, Dr. D. F. McIntyre, Dr. John A. Hillsman, Dr. M. R. MacCharles, Dr. Ross B. Mitchell, Dr. N. C. Carmichael, W. Culver Riley, Dr. F. A. L. Mathewson, Dr. A. E. Deacon, Dr. R. T. Ross, H. W. Manning, W. A. Johnston QC, G. S. Rutherford QC, E. Gurney Evans, S. L. Cock, D. J. Jessiman QC, and Dr. Emmett Dwyer.
Gardner’s son, William C Gardner saw action in the Second World War. After his ship torpedoed and sunk in the Denmark Strait, he survived enemy fire and icy waters, staying afloat by clinging onto pieces of the wreckage. Many years later, he chaired the Winnipeg General Hospital Board before founding the HSC Foundation in 1976.
“HSC is in my DNA. My dad and my grandfather cared deeply about health care, and so do I.” – William S. Gardner, K.C.
Carrie Ethel Greenwood
Carrie Ethel Greenwood died in 1972 (aged 87) at the Church Home for the Aged, Toronto. Her brother Pvt Leonard F K Greenwood had survived the war and died in 1931, aged 42.
Gertrude Catherine Creswell
Creswell died 20 October 1972 (aged 93) in Vancouver and buried at Mountain View Cemetery. Her brother Austin survived the war, and died in 1982 (aged 90). Buried at Royal Oak Burial Park Cemetery.
