125 years of reserve service
Maj (Retd) Michael McFarlane, CD
25 Field Ambulance can trace its origin back to 1st August, 1899; No. 4 Field Hospital was localized, organized and recruited under the officers of the Canadian Militia Army Medical Services in Toronto, under the command of Captain A.Y. Scott. The unit performed excellent service, and carried out the syllabus of training at No. II Divisional Camp, Niagara, in a very satisfactory manner according to the Director General Medical Services Report for 1900.
In 1906, a re-organization of the units of the Canadian Army Medical Corps was made to place the units on an equal footing with the Royal Army Medical Corps. The Army Medical Department now consisted of the Permanent Army Medical Corps and the Army Medical Corps . The organization of field ambulances to replace bearer companies and field hospitals was made. No. 4 Field Hospital became No. XI Field Ambulance under the command of Major J.T. Clarke.
Another re-organization of the Canadian Army Medical Corps occurred in April 1920 when No.
XI Field Ambulance was re-organized as No. 2 Field Ambulance.
In 1921, General Order 159, titled “Canadian Army Medical Corps, Non-Permanent Active Militia – Organization” disbanded No. 2 Field Ambulance for the purpose of reorganization with effect from 15th February, 1921. For each unit of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, Non-Permanent Active Militia, a corresponding Reserve Unit was authorized with the same establishment authorized.
Once again, a re-organization of the Canadian Army Medical Corps occurred in 1929 with effect 1st January, 1930 saw No. 2 Field Ambulance localized in Toronto. The reserve unit continued to be authorized.
The Peace Establishments of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, Non-Permanent Active Militia were amended to make the Field Ambulance strength 116 personnel, including 15 attached from the Canadian Army Service Corps.
In 1936, His Majesty the King approved extending the title “Royal” to the Canadian Army Medical Service Corps Non-Permanent Active Militia. Later that year there was a Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (Non-Permanent) disbandment, reorganization, designation and localization of units. 2 Field Ambulance was authorized to reorganize on the Peace Establishments of Military District No. 2 (Toronto).
World War II saw the organization of the Canadian Active Service Force, and the Minister of National Defence called out the Militia on Service including No. 2 Field Ambulance for Coast Defence and Vulnerable Point Duty. Military District No. 2 were protecting the hydroelectric installations in the Niagara Peninsula and the Welland Canal locks.
On 19 November, 1940, by order in council, the Canadian Militia was renamed the Canadian Army (Reserve).
1 April, 1942, saw Military District No. 2 redesignated as 32nd (Reserve) Brigade Group with No.
2 (Reserve) Field Ambulance under its’ command.
In 1946, 32nd (Reserve) Brigade Group was reverted to No. 2 Military District and placed under Central Command, which commanded the Regular Army and the Reserves.
On 1 October, 1954, No. 2 Field Ambulance amalgamated with No. 7 Field Ambulance and No.
47 Casualty Clearing Station to be converted and redesignated No. 2 Medical Battalion. A short two years later on 17 April, 1956, No. 2 Medical Battalion was redesignated as No. 26 Medical Company.
On 15 January, 1959, the Navy, Army and Air Force medical services were merged to create the Canadian Forces Medical Service placed under the direction of the Surgeon General of the Canadian Forces. The unification of the three branches of the medical services resulted in the Regular Force, but the authority did not extend to the Reserves, whose training, promotion and employment continued to be controlled by the Army.
A reduction of the militia in 1965 saw its’ effective strength of 45,000 to 30,000 all ranks. The medical companies saw their unit establishments drop from 155 to 60 personnel and were amalgamated into service battalions. 26 Medical Company was part of 2 Toronto Service Battalion lodged at Falaise Armoury (located at the bottom of Bathurst St., east of the former, Tip Top Tailor building), but moved to Moss Park Armoury when it first opened in 1966.
Following the 1967 Canadian Forces Reorganization Act, the unification of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force to merge into the Canadian Armed Forces went into effect on 1 February, 1968. Mobile Force Command controlled all land force units based in Canada and the Militia was the primary reserve of Mobile Command.
The entire Militia was reorganized in 1968/1969 with Toronto Militia District falling under Central Militia Area. The two Toronto service battalions merged to form Toronto Militia Service Battalion on 1 April, 1970, located at Denison Armoury (located on Dufferin Street just north of Hwy 401).
On August 24, 1977, 25 (Toronto) Medical Company was authorized and formed as an independent unit in the order of battle and was located at Moss Park Armoury.
On 1 September, 1991, Canada was reorganized into four separate Land Forces Areas. Land Force Central Area was located at CFB Toronto and commanded Regular and Reserve units. 1 April, 1997, saw the re-establishment of 32 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters located in Toronto, replacing Toronto Militia District Headquarters.
On 1 April, 2001, all medical, dental, reserve and associated civilian assets were placed under the Director General Health Services control for the very first time. On 1 October, 2004, 25 (Toronto) Medical Company was redesignated as 25 (Toronto) Field Ambulance.
As you can see, the organization of the Army within Canada is a complex subject, made moreso by reorganizations and changes in designation over the years. Reserve units were known as belonging to the Non-Permanent Active Militia, the Canadian Army (Reserve), Canadian Army Reserve Force, Canadian Army (Militia) and simply the Militia at different times throughout history. The Medical Branch Reserve component being variously known as Militia Army Medical Corps, Canadian Army Medical Corps, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Canadian Forces Medical Service, Canadian Forces Medical Group, Canadian Forces Health Services, and the Royal Canadian Medical Service.
Toronto medical units
Maj (Retd) Michael McFarlane, CD
The earliest militia, also referred to as reserves, paraded at armouries or drill sheds. The Toronto Armouries, which became the University Armouries (photo), were built in 1894 and were located on University Avenue and Armoury Street, which is between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West, on the east side. This is where the earliest medical units operated out of in Toronto. The Permanent Force operated out of Stanley Barracks, which was located on Strachan Avenue in the present Canadian National Exhibition grounds.
In 1922 the medical units were relocated to the College Street Armouries, which were located at 35 College Street (Bay St. and College St.). It was an elegant villa that had been built in the 1840’s. The two-storey brick home featured an elegant porch. The home was sold in 1869 and became the Bishop Strachan Ladies School. When the school moved to a new location, it became the Central Military Convalescent Hospital that treated injured veterans of the First World War. Following the war, it became an armoury. In 1928, demolition started for the building of the new T. Eaton Co. department store.
The units were relocated to Spadina House in 1928 until 1934 when they moved back to University Avenue Armouries. Historical records indicate that 2 Field Ambulance, 7 Field Ambulance, 16 Field Dressing Station and 47 Casualty Clearing Station all relocated to 204 St. George Street, which is indicated as Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) Armouries in 1947. These units were amalgamated and reorganized into 2 Medical Battalion in 1954 and continued to operate out of the RCAMC Armoury. On 17 April 1956, 26 Medical Company was authorized on the redesignation of 2 Medical Battalion and remained at the RCAMC Armoury. In 1959, 26 Medical Company relocated to College Street Armouries now located at 507 College Street.
26 Medical Company became a sub-unit of 2 Toronto Service Battalion in 1965 and relocated to Falaise Armoury which was located at 429 Lakeshore Blvd West (by Spadina). The unit moved to Moss Park Armoury when it opened in 1966. In 1970, when 2 Toronto Service Battalion amalgamated with 1 Toronto Service Battalion, the unit moved to Denison Armoury which was located at 3621 Dufferin Street, just north of highway 401.
On 24 Aug 1977, 26 Medical Company was redesignated 25 Medical Company and relocated to Moss Park Armoury where we have remained, although redesignated 25 Field Ambulance on 01 September 2003.
Toronto military hospitals
Maj (Retd) Michael McFarlane, CD
During World War One, many hospitals were partially closed as staff were depleted with physicians and nurses enlisting with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Not all went overseas, however; some were assigned to the Military Hospitals. Unforeseen high numbers of soldiers who were sick and injured would require treatment. Initially, injured soldiers were provided treatment in large residences provided rent free by their wealthy owners such as Euclid Hall (now the Keg Mansion) owned by the Massey family with 40 beds, and the Longwood Military Convalescent Hospital with was lent to the Commission by Mrs. Beatty with 25 beds.
It became evident that this was not sufficient, so on 30 June 1915, the Military Hospitals Commission was established to provide convalescent homes and medical treatment for returned soldiers. The commission also provided functional and vocational re-education of returned soldiers who were unable to carry on in their former occupations. The medical institutions in Toronto that were taken over by the Militia Department included:
· The old Toronto General Hospital which had 700 beds became the Military Base Hospital,
· Knox College which had 272 beds was known as the Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital,
· The Bishop Strachan School had 170 beds became the Central Military Convalescent Hospital,
· The Salvation Army’s Booth Memorial Hall became the Military Orthopaedic Hospital with 400 beds, and
· The Ontario Government was building the Ontario Hospital for the Insane in Whitby, which the Government of Canada had arranged to take over to create the Whitby Military Convalescent Hospital (photo) which had 400 beds with the intention to accommodate 1500 beds.
To compensate for financial hardship incurred as a result of injuries received, a permanent Board of Pension Commissioners was appointed by the government on 03 June, 1916. Pensions were to be awarded in direct proportion to the disability incurred, which was based on 6 classes of disability with payments based on rank. To receive a pension, veterans had to prove their post-war injuries were linked to their service in an active theatre of war. Later, in 1919, the legislated Pension Act formally established the Board of Pension Commissioners.
As some veterans were frustrated with the bureaucracy of the government, in 1917 The Great War Veterans’ Association was established. In 1925 it joined forces with other veterans’ organizations to create the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League, now known as the Royal Canadian Legion.
During 1918 the number of soldiers in the medical institutions had quadrupled within a year due to the heavy fighting. In late January 1918, the Commission purchased a relatively new building from the National Cash Register Company to create the Christie Street Military Hospital. To further assist in meeting the increased demands on the medical service, an arrangement was made between the Department of Militia and Defence and the Military Hospitals Commission to have military physicians employed in the institutions. To facilitate this, an Assistant-Director of Medical Services Invalids was appointed under the Director-General of Medical Services. Also in 1918, a new government department was established, known as the Department of Soldiers Reestablishment. This new department transferred most of the Military Hospital Commission’s medical facilities to the army to focus on rehabilitation. It operated a large artificial limb and surgical appliance factory in Toronto, mainly employing disabled ex-servicemen.
With members of Canada’s military returning from overseas during the Second World War, their medical and health care needs began to exceed the ability of the existing military hospitals to provide care. The Government of Canada would need a dedicated department entirely devoted to the needs of the ill and injured veterans and created the Department of Veteran Affairs in 1944. The Department of Veterans Affairs commissioned an architectural firm to build Canada’s largest centre of veteran’s health in Toronto. During the time of construction, an agreement was struck between Sunnybrook Military Hospital and the University of Toronto, to create a parallel relationship, which was like the one that existed between the university and Toronto General Hospital to have an intern system established. The first 100 patients were transferred from Christie Street Hospital on 26 September, 1946. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King announced the official opening of Canada’s largest veteran’s hospital on June 12, 1948.
Lewin company
Maj (Retd) Michael McFarlane, CD
Lewin Company is named in honour of Colonel Peter Lewin, who was a former Commanding Officer of 26 Medical Company and was an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of 25 Field Ambulance.
Colonel Lewin was born in Jerusalem on 22 August, 1935, and grew up in Alexandria, Egypt. He graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, University of London, England, in 1959. As a national serviceman in the United Kingdom, he transferred to the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps as a medical officer in August 1960. He served as a medical officer to the Royal Canadian Regiment in Ipperwash, Ontario for a year and was transferred to Canadian Forces Europe as part of the NATO component during the Berlin Crisis. While in Germany, he served with the Brigade Field Ambulance and was attached to the Canadian/British military hospital in Iserlohn from September 1961 to August 1962. He then served as the medical officer in charge of the family clinic in Soest until September 1963.
In 1964, he transferred from the Regular Force to the 26 Medical Company, the militia unit in Toronto. Upon settling in Toronto in 1964, he established himself as a staff physician at the Hospital for Sick Children, was an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Toronto and was a private practitioner. In July 1969, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took over command of 26 Medical Company. LCol Lewin was the last CO of 26 Med Coy when it was disbanded in March 1970. Following the disbandment of the medical company, the unit became the medical section of 1 Toronto Service Battalion. LCol Lewin remained the commanding officer of the medical section and was also the medical advisor to the Commander of the Toronto Militia District Headquarters. LCol Lewin relinquished command in March 1974.
In June 1974, LCol Lewin was appointed Honorary Physician to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, during her visit to Toronto. LCol Lewin also organized the last official function for the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, during which the Queen Mother, who was the Honorary Colonel of the Corps, bade farewell to the Corps on its’ disbandment.
LCol Lewin took a leave of absence from the Hospital for Sick Children from June 1978 to June 1980 and was assigned to the Canadian Forces Hospital in Europe as chief Paediatrician.
In May 1982, he was appointed as the Area Surgeon for Central Militia Area until 1990 when the organization became Land Forces Central Area. He was promoted to Colonel on 01 October 1990 and became the first reserve officer since World War II to command a total force medical formation (Regular and Reserve). After 31 years of service, he retired on 01 September 1992.
Col Lewin was instrumental in assisting the Physician Assistant program getting recognized and authorized to be conducted at the Canadian Forces Medical Service School.
He was the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of 25 Field Ambulance from 15 March 2002 to 14 March 2005. Colonel Lewin passed away on 07 June, 2005.
Ryerson company
Maj (Retd) Michael McFarlane, CD
Ryerson Company is named after Major General (Dr.) George Ansel Sterling Ryerson. Ryerson was a soldier, regimental surgeon, a Colonel-in-Chief of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, founder of the Red Cross Society in Canada, founder of the St. John Ambulance Association in Ontario, and a politician.
He was born in Toronto on 21 January, 1855 and studied in Galt (Cambridge) and then at Trinity Medical School in Toronto, where he received his Medical Degree in 1876.
His military career began as a Private with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada in 1870, and he served in the Fenian Raids. Upon receiving his medical training, he demonstrated an interest in what he called “military medical affairs”. In 1881, he was appointed as assistant surgeon to the 10th Battalion of Infantry (Royal Grenadiers) and saw action during the North-West Resistance in 1885, was present at the Battle of Batoche and used a flag marked with a red cross to protect his horse-drawn ambulance.
In 1892, Ryerson initiated the formation of the Association of Medical Officers of the Militia (later to be the Defence Medical Association), which he became elected president of in 1908 and 1909. He served during the First World War and later became an Honorary Surgeon-General of the Canadian Army Medical Corps in 1917.
Also in 1892, Ryerson had been appointed as an honorary associate of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England. In 1895, with the support of Lieutenant Governor George Kirkpatrick, he created the St. John Ambulance Association in Ontario, which he guided as general secretary for 15 years.
In 1896, Ryerson organized a Canadian branch in Toronto of the British Red Cross Society, becoming its commissioner to the Canadian forces in South Africa in 1900 and became president in 1914. In 1909, the Federal Government passed the Canadian Red Cross Society Act which legally established the Red Cross as the corporate body responsible for providing volunteer aid in Canada in accordance with the Geneva Convention. His experience was again put to use during the First World War when he was sent overseas in 1915 to investigate the needs of hospitals and review the work of the Red Cross.
In 1913, Colonel Ryerson donated a trophy to the Association of Officers of the Medical Services of Canada to be awarded at an annual competition.
He retired in 1920 from his medical practice and died of a heart attack in Toronto in 1925.