Donald Ross McCrimmon, born 20 November 1908 at Huntingdon, Quebec, was a physician and pediatrician who served as an officer of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps during the Second World War. A graduate of Huntingdon Academy and McGill University, he received his M.D.C.M. in 1934 and practised medicine in Montreal. Appointed Lieutenant on the RCAMC General List on 9 December 1939, he was promoted Captain on 10 March 1940, Acting Major on 26 March 1943 and substantive Major on 28 June 1943. He married Eva Margaret on 4 January 1941; their son Donald Ross Jr. was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Montreal on 15 January 1942. McCrimmon served as Medical Officer to the Canadian Grenadier Guards, with No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station and 11 Field Ambulance, commanded 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station from October 1944 to May 1945, and then served as Deputy Director of Medical Services. His overseas service included the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire and also received the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939-45. He returned to Canada in July 1945 and retired from active service on 30 November 1945, returning to reserve status. After the war he resumed his medical career in Montreal; his 1993 obituary records later service as Chief of Pediatrics at St. Mary's Hospital and Director of Professional Services at the Montreal Convalescent Hospital.
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
NA
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
Battalion:
11 Field Ambulance / 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station / Medical Staff
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Huntingdon, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
31 years
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
37 years
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
84 years 5 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Physician
Next of Kin:
Norman McCrimmon (Father), Huntingdon, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
772 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
Height:
6 ft 2.0 in / 188 cm
Weight:
165 lbs / 75 kg
Chest:
38.0 in / 97 cm
Expansion:
4.0 in / 10 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Montreal South, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Struck off strength Canadian Army (Active) at Montreal South, Quebec, 30 Nov 1945 under K.R. (Can) 270(a), returned/placed on the Reserve of Active Officers in the rank of Major. Intended post-discharge residence: 5715 Cote des Neiges Road, Apartment 2, Montreal, Quebec.
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
2183 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Major |
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps |
Army |
11 Field Ambulance / 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station / Medical Staff |
|
|
|
| Substantive Major effective 28 Jun 1943. |
| WW2 |
Acting Major |
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps |
Army |
11 Field Ambulance |
|
|
|
| Acting Major effective 26 Mar 1943. |
| WW2 |
Captain |
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps |
Army |
General List / Canadian Grenadier Guards |
|
|
|
| Promotion effective 10 Mar 1940; attached as Medical Officer to Canadian Grenadier Guards from 10 Jun 1940. |
| WW2 |
Lieutenant |
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps |
Army |
General List |
|
|
|
| Initial commissioned appointment. |
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) |
In recognition of extremely valuable services while serving with the Canadian Army. |
|
|
Honours and Awards / Army correspondence |
| In recognition of extremely valuable services while serving with the Canadian Army. |
| WW2 |
1939-1945 Star |
|
|
|
Awards card / Certificate of Service |
| WW2 |
France and Germany Star |
|
|
|
Awards card / Certificate of Service |
| WW2 |
Defence Medal |
|
|
|
Awards card / Certificate of Service |
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp |
|
|
|
Awards card / Certificate of Service |
| WW2 |
War Medal 1939-1945 |
|
|
|
Awards card |
Service Chronology
1939-12-09 — Appointed to commissioned rank in the Canadian Army (Active).
1939-12-09 — Appointed Lieutenant, General List, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps.
1940-03-10 — Promoted Captain, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps.
1940-06-10 — Attached for duty as Medical Officer to the Canadian Grenadier Guards.
1941-01-04 — Married.
1941-12-31 — Ceased attachment as Medical Officer to the Canadian Grenadier Guards.
1942-01-01 — Posted to No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps.
1942-01-15 — Son Donald Ross Jr. born at St. Mary's Hospital.
1942-02-06 to 1942-02-19 — Granted 14 days annual leave.
1942-03 — Began overseas service.
1942-03-19 — Struck off strength Canadian Army in Canada for overseas service.
1942-03-20 — Taken on strength Canadian Army Overseas.
1942-03-29 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom.
1942-10-26 — Taken on strength in transfer sequence from No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station toward 11 Field Ambulance.
1943-03-19 — Granted seven days privilege leave.
1943-03-26 — Appointed Acting Major while serving with 11 Field Ambulance.
1943-04-12 to 1943-04-16 — Course / temporary duty associated with advanced wounds/injuries training.
1943-05-09 to 1943-05-26 — Granted leave.
1943-06-28 — Promoted substantive Major, 11 Field Ambulance.
1944-02 — Completed Tropical Medicine course in London.
1944-06-23 — Embarked from the United Kingdom for Northwest Europe.
1944-06-28 — Disembarked in France.
1944-10-04 — Struck off strength 11 Field Ambulance for 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station.
1944-10-05 — Assumed command of 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station.
1944-10-05 — Taken on strength 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station and assumed command.
1945-05-04 — Relinquished command of 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station and appointed Deputy Director of Medical Services.
1945-05-04 — Taken on strength for appointment as Deputy Director of Medical Services after leaving 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station.
1945-07-10 — Army notified Mrs. D. R. McCrimmon of his appointment as MBE for valuable services.
1945-07-14 — Overseas service terminated / struck off strength overseas.
1945-07-16 — Struck off strength Canadian Army Overseas / No. 1 Non-Effective Transit Depot for repatriation.
1945-07-17 — Taken on strength No. 4 District Depot after return from Canadian Army Overseas.
1945-07-17 — Taken on strength No. 4 District Depot on return to Canada.
1945-07-26 to 1945-08-24 — Granted disembarkation leave.
1945-08-26 — Posted from No. 4 District Depot to No. 4 District Depot Staff; recommended for medical employment at Montreal Military Hospital and Army Demobilization Centre.
1945-09-17 — Next-of-kin address changed from 45 Aberdeen Avenue to 5715 Cote des Neiges Road.
1945-11-06 — Applied to retire from Canadian Army (Active) and be placed on Reserve of Active Officers; stated overseas service included England, France, Holland and Germany.
1945-11-20 — Authority granted for return to reserve status as Major.
1945-11-30 — Struck off strength Canadian Army (Active) and returned to reserve status.
1945-11-30 — Medical board found no disabling disease or injury; approved fit profile and no treatment indicated.
1945-11-30 — Struck off strength Canadian Army (Active) under K.R. (Can) 270(a), granted allowances and returned to reserve status.
1946-01-26 — Certificate of Service sent in connection with retirement.
1947-05-12 — Administrative memo records transfer to Reserve of Officers (General List) in rank of Major, effective 1 Dec 1945.
1948-05-25 — Grant of Dignity for appointment as MBE forwarded to McCrimmon.
Notes
Service file contains identification photographs (pp.2-3). Initial medical examination: 6 ft 2 in, 165 lb, chest 38 in with 4 in expansion, blue eyes, fair hair, Category A (pp.121,125). War Service Gratuity records show 2,184 qualifying service days, including 1,212 overseas days. Awards documentation confirms MBE, 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939-45 (pp.111-115). Employment interview records English and some French; he intended to resume professional practice as a physician and surgeon in Montreal after release (pp.135-136).
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
Major Donald Ross McCrimmon was a Canadian Army officer during World War II who served with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) and was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on June 30, 1945. He was associated with the 1st Canadian Field Dressing Station (1 CFDS). Born Huntingdon. Attached Canadian Grenadier Guards, C.À..S.P. 1st Battn.
M.D, OBE, and member of the R.C.AM.C overseas who was included in the Department of National Defence new list of honors and awards announced this week. Donald McCrimmon known to all as a Huntingdon boy, is fast becom- ing an outstanding doctor, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman MacCrimmon and brother of Dr, FP. G. McCrimmon, Huntingdon, Mrs. D. R. McCrimmon, his wife lives at 45 Aberdeen Ave. Westmount.
ATIP Request confirmation number EA2026_0170896
Additional Service Notes
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps officer. Appointed Lieutenant, General List RCAMC, 9 Dec 1939; promoted Captain 10 Mar 1940; Acting Major 26 Mar 1943; substantive Major 28 Jun 1943. Attached as Medical Officer to the Canadian Grenadier Guards from 10 Jun 1940; posted to No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station effective 1 Jan 1942; later served with 11 Field Ambulance. He commanded 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station from 5 Oct 1944 to 4 May 1945 and then served as Deputy Director of Medical Services. Overseas service ran from Mar 1942 to Jul 1945 and included the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He returned to Canada in Jul 1945 and was struck off strength Canadian Army (Active) on 30 Nov 1945, returning to reserve status as a Major. Awarded the MBE and the principal Canadian campaign medals.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
At appointment in December 1939 McCrimmon was single and named his father, Norman McCrimmon of Huntingdon, Quebec, as next of kin. He married Eva Margaret on 4 January 1941. Wartime records later identify Mrs. Eva Margaret (Eva M.) McCrimmon, 45 Aberdeen Avenue, Westmount, Quebec, as his wife/next of kin, and record their son Donald Ross Jr., born 15 January 1942 at St. Mary's Hospital, Montreal. On 17 September 1945 the next-of-kin address was changed to 5715 Cote des Neiges Road, Montreal. The 1993 obituary names wife Joan and children Roslyn, Ross and Ron; these are retained as later-life external evidence and are not used to rewrite the wartime service-file relationships.
Research Notes
Education and medical career: Huntingdon Academy (1914-1925); McGill University (1925-1934), Arts and Medicine; B.A., M.D.C.M.; licensed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Quebec. Professional qualification forms record internship/experience at Montreal General Hospital and Children's Memorial Hospital, postgraduate pediatric training at Buffalo Children's Hospital, and civilian pediatric practice in Montreal. Service employment summary describes him as a fully qualified senior RCAMC officer with professional and executive duties, command experience with a field ambulance company and a field dressing station, and 41 months overseas service in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Postwar obituary states he was Chief of Pediatrics at St. Mary's Hospital (1959-1968) and Director of Professional Services at the Montreal Convalescent Hospital (1968-1981).
