World War, 1914-1918 -- Canada; World War, 1914-1918 -- Nova Scotia
When preparations were made for the final victorious Canadian drive
which commenced at Amiens on August 8, 1918, this Unit was moved to that
sector and followed the Canadian Corps through those strenuous days to
final victory and accompanied the 1st Canadian Division on its
victorious march into Germany. At Bonn No. 1 Canadian Stationary
Hospital took over the famous St. Martin’s Hospital, which was located
on one of the loftiest hills in Bonn, and but two weeks before had dukes
and scions of the leading aristocracy of Germany as patients, for it had
been one of the most exclusive hospitals in Germany. Now it became the
haven of the sick Canadian Tommy.
It seemed like the realization of a fantastic dream to the medical Staff
and nursing sisters, as well as the rank and file, to find themselves in
a modern and well-equipped hospital with luxurious appointments and
surroundings, as compared with four long years of mud and mire under
canvas, in huts, and often broken-down buildings on the edge of the
battle-fields of the Somme, Ypres, Vimy, Passchendaele, Amiens, Bourlon,
Cambrai and Valenciennes, Mons, and then glorious victory.
The following is an incomplete list of the battle casualties of this
Unit:—
KILLED IN ACTION.
Major Walter Maclean; Nursing Sisters Mae B. Sampson and Minnie
Follette, both killed on Hospital Ship _Llandovery Castle_; Pte Proctor,
Pte. Vere Mason.
WOUNDED.
Lieut.-Col. F. S. L. Ford, seriously, by piece of bombshell (fracture
base of skull); Capt. E. C. C. Cole, seriously; Capt. R. H. MacDonald,
Sergeant M. Neilly, seriously.
NO. 7 CANADIAN STATIONARY HOSPITAL.
(Dalhousie Unit.)
Dalhousie University was early inspired with patriotic fervor. Within a
month after the outbreak of war between Great Britain and Germany,
Dalhousie University offered to the Government the personnel of a
Casualty Clearing Station. This offer was renewed in the spring of 1915.
It was not known until later that this type of Unit was not in demand,
and it was decided to offer the personnel of a Stationary Hospital.
[Illustration:
COL. JOHN STEWART, C.B.E.]
So anxious was Dalhousie to have a definite, tangible part in the more
strenuous service of the nation in this great struggle, that a
delegation was sent to Ottawa on August 13, 1915, representing the
Governors and Faculty of the University. So well were the claims of
Dalhousie presented that the offer was now accepted of a Stationary
Hospital, to be known officially as “No. 7 Canadian Stationary
Hospital.” Definite authority for this was received on September 27,
1915.
When it came to the selection of a Commanding Officer everybody turned
instinctively to that great outstanding factotum in Medicine and Surgery
in Nova Scotia, Dr. John Stewart, whose name inspired enthusiasm,
confidence and respect.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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