Celebrating ‘Canada 150’

As Canada celebrates 150 years since confederation, it seems appropriate to remember the role played by Canadian medical services in the Macedonian campaign. I believe these were Nos. 4 and 5 General Hospitals and No. 1 Stationary Hospital, but please correct me if I am wrong.

We should also remember Lester Bowles “Mike” Pearson PCc OM CC OBE (23 April 1897 – 27 December 1972), who served in the campaign and went on to become Canada’s 14th Prime Minister from 1963 to 1968. Born in York, Ontario, Pearson volunteered for service with the University of Toronto Hospital Unit on the outbreak of war. In 1915, he went overseas with the Canadian Army Medical Corps, initially serving as as a stretcher bearer with the rank of private. He served for two years in Egypt and Greece, spending some time with the Serbian Army as a corporal medical orderly. In 1917 he was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps, undertaking flying training in Hendon. He returned home to Canada with injuries from two flying accidents.

Find out more:

• Nos. 4 and 5 Canadian general hospitals in salonika
• Medical Services in the Macedonian Campaign
• Lester B. Pearson
• Canada 150