Hi there. I’m looking for information on the 24th Canadian General Hospital, RCAMC. My father-in-law was there from Dec 44 through Apr 45. I looked through the “Official History of the Canadian Medical Serices 1939 – 1945” but couldn’t find more than a few references. Where was it located, history, any photos etc? Appreciated.
Only a possibility, but there was a Canadian Hospital at Smallfied, Surrey, which is close to Horley. GC35HG3 LHoS 1 - Smallfield Hospital (Traditional Cache) in South East England, United Kingdom created by halthornhill This shows the Canadian road names to commemorate the history: Google Maps Edit: needs more investigation, this site suggests it was the 14th and not 24th, I wonder if there really would have been two in the area: Lost_Hospitals_of_London
as per your post Was he assigned to the No 24 Canadian General Hospital ? or 24th Field Ambulance as stated in the PDF of the Canadian Medical Services Quote below First, it may be helpful to know that the numbered Canadian General Hospital (CGH) units were armed forces units like any other and were moved around to various locations throughout the war. So when Marston Green first opened it was “No. 1 Canadian General Hospital”, but this unit was relieved by the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital in 1941; other units stationed there were No. 16 CGH (1943) and No. 19 CGH (1944). In case you are interested, the 2-volume official history of the Canadian Medical Services for the years 1939-1945 (along with other Canadian Armed Forces official histories) is available online at the following link: https://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/oh-ho/index-eng.asp https://collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/arch_adv
His file shows “No. 24 Canadian General Hospital” where he was hospitalized from Dec 44 through Apr 45. Believe it was located in Horley, Surrey as noted above.
Is this on the site two miles east of Horley on the south side of the road as you enter the village of Smallfield, just before Broadbridge Lane with its western boundary against today’s M23. The area that has been redeveloped has many streets named after Canadian places. I reached out to the local historical society at Horley and they advised that the Canadians took over the site in 1941 as the 14th General Canadian Military Hospital and it later changed to the 12th. They didn’t have info recognizing it as the 24th. I’m wondering if we have the right place.
I'm pretty sure it was at Horley. Besides the books by Canadian army historian, CP Stacy, there is a book by Canadian nurse, Helen Kerr, entitled "Tender Years" which says "During the fourth week of July 1944, we were told that our unit was going to prepare for duty on the continent and that #24 Canadian General Hospital was taking over Horley" But what really clinched it was this search on the Library and Archives Canada database: http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_...94969,1094965,1094964,1094967,1078985,1097638
Thanks. That is helpful. It is odd the Official History of the Medical Services doesn’t have much on it, but agree the LAC references clinch. Thanks again.
See my earlier post. The Canadian library site has a number of documents. Archives Search - Library and Archives Canada
