CANTERBURY MEDICAL CORPS HAS RECORD OF SERVICE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 193, 15 August 1931, Page 13

CANTERBURY MEDICAL CORPS HAS RECORD OF SERVICE.

Representatives Saw Service in Two Wars.

•pHE birth of the present Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Medical Corps took place in the home of Dr Crompton Parsons in Kaiapoi in the year 1898, and consisted of the 0.C., Major Parsons (who had done his training in an English Officers’ Training Corps, medical) whilst studying 'mediit was owing to the thorough training he received that made the' Canterbury Medical Corps the champion corps of New Zealand and even Australia, as it easily beat the Australian representative squad at the Christchurch Exhibition. The corps, which was then known as the Medical Staff Corps, remained a Kaiapoi unit for about a year, and then started a branch in -Christchurch, and the whole went to its camp somewhere between Burwood and North Beach, and at their first manoeuvres got a patient of about 14st with a dislocated thigh. He had to be carried three miles into camp over very rough couritry. Major Parsons took his turn carrying the stretcher. On arriving at the camp Major Parsons put his patient on the table and reduced the dislocation. About this time the corps changed its name to the Canterbury Bearer Corps,

and was called by the other troops the Christchurch Bread Co. (C.8.C.). Paid for Uniforms. The men of the unit up till this time had to pay a monthly amount to help to pay for their uniforms. With the change of name Dr Thacker was posted to the unit, and used to lecture the Christchurch men. Two men of the corps went to the South African War —Corporal W. Burke and Corporal M. Wheeler. The unit increased in strength until 1902, when it was up to full strength, fifty odd men, and by this time the Garrison Band began medical training in stretcher bearing and worked at that in the various camps. Part of the unit attended all camps, but until 1905, the whole unit went into camp with the E Battery at the Heathcote Bridge, the camp being under command of Captain J. C. Treleaven. About this time the unit had the misfortune to lose Major C.' Parsons, who returned to England, but not before he had instilled into his unit the spirit of service to humanity, and not only that, but had also started the corps in the right way with good drill and training. Well can the writer remember at a competition held in Petone being

congratulated by the then O.C. of the Wellington Bearer Corps, who said we were a credit to our O.C. He added that he had no idea that there was such a well-trained unit in New Zealand. Dr Talbot took over command of the unit when Major Parsons left, and again the corps changed its name to the Christchurch Bearer and Hospital Corps. It was in 1907 that the unit against all New Zealand and the Australian teams. A New Commander. About 1909, Dr J. Restall Thomas joined the unit and afterwards commanded it until some time during the war. In 1910 the name ofthe corps was again changed to No. 3 Ambulance and Bearer Corps, and during this year the corps again gained the New Zealand championship in Palmerston North, getting 98 points. There is a very good story told about the Sheffield camp. A well-known member of the unit who was noted for his hospitable bottle (not water) was being pressed by all who knew him for a drink, until he became “ fed up ” and he turned to his corporal, who he knew, had a water bottle, and, strange as it may seem, had water in it. The exchange had just taken place when a colonel with well-known prohibition leanings came riding up. saying he knew of one place he could get a drink of water, and that was at the Ambulance. When he was rushed by the hospitable one, the colonel said.

“No thanks, So-and-So, I know all about your water. I will have a drink from the corporal.” In 1912, when the territorial system commenced, the name of the unit was again changed to that of No. 3 Ambulance, with a section in Christchurch and absorbing the Nelson Ambulance, under Colonel Peerless, as B section, and a new section was formed in Grevmouth under Dr J. M’Brearty. In 1912, Major Talbot shifted to Auckland, and Major J. R. Thomas took command.

During this year a mounted ambulance was formed, under Colonel P. C. Fenwick, with headquarters and A section in Christchurch and B section, under Major Lougham, at Timaru The 1912 competitions were held in Christchurch, and again the old unit won the championship, carrying on the traditions of the corps. In 1913 the competitions were held in Auckland at the Exhibition, and the Christchurch section of the No. 3 Ambulance won both the drill and .the ambulance, securing 98 per cent and 96i per cent At the outbreak of war, when the call came practically every man eligible volunteered. Representatives of the unit saw service in Samoa, Egypt, Gallipoli. France. Belgium, Salonika and Palestine, taking part with the different units and serving with four

field ambulances, one mounted field ambulance, two field hospitals, three base hospitals, and two hospital ships, besides supplying details for sanitation and water duties. Since the war the corps changed its name to the Southern Depot, New Zealand Medical Corps, by which name it is still known, and has been commanded by Dr Douglas Anderson. Dr Borrie and Dr Simpson, the present O.C. The unit, past and present, is hav ing a reunion in the Veterans’ Hall on August 12. Amongst those present will be two or three of the original corps as it started in Kaiapoi, and quite a number of the earliest members of the Christchurch unit.