12 (Vancouver) Field Ambulance

Last updated

12 (Vancouver) Field Ambulance
Active1914–present
Country Canada
Branch Canadian Army
RoleMedical
SizeCompany
Part of Canadian Forces Health Services Group
Garrison/HQJericho Garrison
Motto(s) Latin: militi succurrimus, lit.  'we hasten to aid the soldier'
March"The Farmer's Boy"
Engagements World War I
World War II
War in Afghanistan
Commanders
Colonel in Chief The Princess Royal

12 (Vancouver) Field Ambulance is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve medical unit in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Contents

History

This unit has a long and distinguished history that lives up to the medical corps tradition of being faithful in adversity. It is the latest in a line of Vancouver army medical units dating back to 18 Field Ambulance of World War I.

World War I

This unit started out initially as a local militia unit. In World War I, the field ambulance was sent to the 5th Canadian Division and stationed with the 72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada), CEF, for a period of time. After the war, it was set up as a reserve unit and renamed 12 Field Ambulance. The unit was called to active service in World War II in 1939.

World War II

In 1942 the unit, now known as 12 Canadian Light Field Ambulance (the term "light" indicated that it was equipped to be particularly fast moving and so able to keep up with a swiftly advancing armoured division), sailed to England with the 4th (Canadian) Armoured Division. [1] Providing medical support to the Division as they participated in operations within Europe. One of the unit's most significant action was in support of the 4th Armoured Division during the battle of Hochwald Forest. Captain Nathan Kaufman was Section Officer. His OBE award states that "On 2 March 1945, Captain Kaufman sited the most forward casualty collecting post in the Hochwald Gap and its position was responsible for the fact that early medical attention was given to the wounded in that sector. Through all operations this officer has shown a consistent devotion to duty combined with an ability to get forward and complete his job despite the personal risk involved. His willingness to serve and his efficient handling of casualties has been an inspiration to all ranks of his unit."

12 Field Ambulance made Canadian medical corps history becoming the only field ambulance to engage the enemy in combat. This occurred one morning in April 1945 in the German town of Sogel. German soldiers approached, and fired upon the casualty treatment facility under cover of darkness. The commanding officer quickly organized two platoons, and placed them at the approaches to the dressing stations. They held off the enemy for two hours; with weapons borrowed from the wounded –at the time medics did not carry weapons –until a squadron of tanks arrived to relieve them. During the fighting the dressing station continued treating patients. The commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A.D. MacPherson received the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership in this action; Corporal F.F. Thompson was awarded the Military Medal, and Captain Harry Jolley was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

Post-World War II to 1999

After the war, 12 Field Ambulance was reverted to the Army Reserve (Militia) and moved to Jericho Garrison in 1947. The unit was then renamed 24 Medical Company following another move to Bessborough Armoury. In 1969, the medical unit became attached to 12 Vancouver Service Battalion. [2] In the early 1970s, the unit was disbanded along with all militia medical units across Canada. After existing as a medical station at 12 Service Battalion for several years, the unit was raised as 12 (Vancouver) Medical Company in 1980 and is relocated back to its present location at Jericho Garrison later that year. During this period, the unit participated in numerous peace keeping missions and served on tours in Bosnia, Croatia, Cypress, Aviano and the Golan Heights.

2000 to 2007

12 Field Ambulance was involved with local operations ranging from G8 Security in 2002 to fighting BC Forest Fires in the year 2003. Recently, the unit was awarded Freedom of the City from the city of Vancouver in 2007. In addition to domestic operations, the unit participated in operations overseas, most recently in Operation Athena in Afghanistan.

2020 - COVID-19

12 Field Ambulance collaborated with Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver Coastal Health, St John Ambulance and Canadian Red Cross, setting up the COVID-19 field hospital in Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC). The VCC was set up with 271 beds along with the PHSA Mobile Medical Unit as its resuscitation room. The field hospital never received any patients and was stood down on 13 July 2021.

Notable members

World War II

Post World War II–1999

Awards

Freedom of the City of Vancouver was given to the 12 (Vancouver) Field Ambulance on April 14, 2007. [4]

Operations

12 Field Ambulance had members deployed in many domestic and foreign operations, including:

World War II

Post World War II to 1999

2000 to Current

Related Research Articles

Corps is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was first named as such in 1805. The size of a corps varies greatly, but two to five divisions and anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 are the numbers stated by the US Department of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">49th (West Riding) Infantry Division</span> Infantry division of the British Army

The 49th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army. The division fought in the First World War in the trenches of the Western Front, in the fields of France and Flanders. During the Second World War, the division fought in the Norwegian Campaign and in North-western Europe. After the Second World War, it was disbanded in 1946, then reformed in 1947. It remained with Northern Command until finally disbanded in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Canadian Division</span> Canadian Joint Operations Command formation based in Kingston, Ontario

The 1st Canadian Division is a joint operational command and control formation based at CFB Kingston, and falls under Canadian Joint Operations Command. It is a high-readiness unit, able to move on very short notice, and is staffed and equipped to meet Canada’s military objectives to counter any potential threat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Canadian Division</span> Formation of the Canadian Army

The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. The division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. During the Second World War the division was reactivated as the 4th Canadian Infantry Division in 1941 and then converted to armour and redesignated as the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division. Beginning in 1916 the division adopted a distinctive green-coloured formation patch as its insignia. In 2013 it was announced that Land Force Central Area would be redesignated 4th Canadian Division. It is currently responsible for Canadian Army operations in the Canadian province of Ontario and is headquartered at Denison Armoury in Toronto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Canadian Division</span> Canadian Army formation

The 5th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of most army units in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador; as well as some units in Kingston, Ontario. The division is recognized by the distinctive maroon patch worn on the sleeve of its soldiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Grenadier Guards</span> Military unit

The Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG) is a reserve infantry regiment in the 34 Canadian Brigade Group, 2nd Canadian Division, of the Canadian Army. The regiment is the oldest and second-most-senior infantry regiment in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army. Located in Montreal, its main role is the provision of combat-ready light infantry troops in support of Canadian regular infantry. It is a Household Foot Guard regiment and also provides soldiers for public ceremonial duties, performing similar ceremonial duties as the Guards regiments of the British Army. This primarily entails mounting the guard at Government House, the King's and Governor General's residence, and performing the "Changing the Guard" ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, a task it shares with Canada's senior Household Foot Guard regiment, the Governor General's Foot Guards of Ottawa. The Canadian Grenadier Guards is an allied regiment to the British Grenadier Guards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)</span> Military unit

The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance (recce) regiment of the Canadian Army; the regiment is subordinate to 39 Canadian Brigade Group of the 3rd Canadian Division. Established in 1883, it is the oldest military unit in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It parades at the Beatty Street Drill Hall at the corner of Dunsmuir and Beatty in Downtown Vancouver. The regiment has been variously designated as garrison artillery, rifles, infantry, and armoured, but has been reconnaissance since 1965. It has received 41 battle honours in its history, and has been a unit of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps since 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln and Welland Regiment</span> Military unit

The Lincoln and Welland Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army based in St. Catharines, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fusiliers de Sherbrooke</span> Military unit

Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, with a sub-unit in Granby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">41 Canadian Brigade Group</span> Brigade of the Canadian Army

41 Canadian Brigade Group is a Canadian Army formation of the 3rd Canadian Division. The formation is composed of Army Reserve units within the province of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The headquarters of the brigade is in Calgary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">31 Canadian Brigade Group</span> Brigade of the Canadian Army

31 Canadian Brigade Group is part of the 4th Canadian Division, under the Canadian Army. It encompasses the southwestern portion of Ontario, and is headquartered in London, Ontario. The 31 CBG area of responsibility stretches from Hamilton to Windsor. The brigade has approximately 2,400 soldiers. Colonel Chris Brown, CD is Commander of 31 Canadian Brigade Group. The brigade sergeant-major is Chief Warrant Officer Mike Coit, CD.

15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve medical unit headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, with a detachment in Calgary. The unit's mission is to attract, train, force generate and retain high-quality health service personnel to provide health service support to the 41 Canadian Brigade Group and to augment CF's domestic and international operations. An additional and important activity is to participate in activities that will raise its profile in Edmonton and Calgary.

16 (Regina) Field Ambulance is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve medical unit in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12 (Vancouver) Service Company</span> Military unit

12 (Vancouver) Service Company is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve combat service support unit of the Canadian Forces that can fight in a defensive role and provides logistical support to the units within 3rd Canadian Division's 39 Canadian Brigade Group, which consists of all Primary Reserve units in British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">127th (Parachute) Field Ambulance</span> Military unit

The 127th (Parachute) Field Ambulance was a Royal Army Medical Corps unit of the British airborne forces during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">225th (Parachute) Field Ambulance</span> Military unit

The 225th (Parachute) Field Ambulance was a Royal Army Medical Corps unit of the British airborne forces during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">224th (Parachute) Field Ambulance</span> Military unit

The 224th (Parachute) Field Ambulance was a Royal Army Medical Corps unit of the British airborne forces during the Second World War.

11 (Victoria) Field Ambulance is a unit of the Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) Group assigned to 1 Health Services Group in support of 39 Canadian Brigade Group, a component of 3 Canadian Division, and Maritime Forces (Pacific). The unit charged with conducting individual, platoon and collective training and provides medical support to other units undergoing training, as well as operating a Brigade Medical Station (BMS) for brigade- level exercises in various training areas in British Columbia and Washington State. Operating the BMS is done in conjunction with 12 (Vancouver) Field Ambulance, which illustrates the close cooperation that exists between the two units.

The following is a hierarchical outline for the Canadian Armed Forces at the end of the Cold War. It is intended to convey the connections and relationships between units and formations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Razing of Friesoythe</span> World War II battle and war crime

The razing of Friesoythe was the destruction of the town of Friesoythe in Lower Saxony on 14 April 1945, during the Western Allies' invasion of Germany towards the end of World War II in Europe. The 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division attacked the German-held town of Friesoythe, and one of its battalions, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, captured it.

References

  1. ↑ "Canada in the Second World War". Juno Beach Centre. February 21, 2014.
  2. ↑ "British Columbia". Canadian Forces Liaison Council. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  3. ↑ "Heritage and Traditions". Canadian Forces Medical Service: Introduction to its History and Heritage. Canadian Forces Health Services. Archived from the original on 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  4. ↑ "12 (Vancouver) Field Ambulance receives Freedom of the City". City of Vancouver (Press release). 26 December 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.