15 Field Ambulance

History

15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance's lineage originates with No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station mobilized in December 1939 as one of the medical units of the 1st Canadian Division for service overseas during the second world war. No. 4 CSS departed Halifax on 30 Jan 1940 embarked in the Empress of Britain and disembarked along the Clyde on 8 February 1940. The unit was directed to Aldershot were it spent the next three years. The medical services of No. 4 CCS during the winter of 1941–42 were provided in a large country house that accommodated 130 patients. Patients expected to be ill for more than three or four days were transferred from a field ambulance to the CCS.

During the Dieppe Raid, No. 4 CCS remained in Dorking, England. Casualties from the battle were evacuated by landing craft back to the casualty reception area at Portsmouth and No. 4 CCS handled the walking wounded.

In 1943 No. 4 CCS was sent to Sicily and operated in Catania providing care for sick and injured Canadian soldiers. The unit followed the battle of the I Canadian Corps through Ortona to the Gustav Line, on to the Hitler Line and Northern Italy. In 1945, the unit moved to Marseilles, France, and to Belgium and finally into the Netherlands. No. 4 CCS opened with attached surgical and transfusion units in Brakkenstein, near Nijmegen.

At war's end, No. 4 CCS returned to Canada and was re-designated No. 36 Casualty Clearing Station in the Militia. In 1954, the unit was once again re-designated No. 23 Medical Company (Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps). 23 Med Coy trained to achieve the highest standards and won the Ryerson Trophy each year from 1961 to 1964, and 1972 to 1974.

In 1978 No. 23 Medical Company was once again redesignated as 15 (Edmonton) Medical Company. In 1991, 14 Medical Platoon of 14 (Calgary) Service Battalion was reassigned and became 15 (Edmonton) Medical Company Detachment Calgary. In 2004, subsequent to the reorganization of all Canadian Forces medical and dental units into the Canadian Forces Health Services Group, the militia medical companies were re-designated and organized as Reserve field ambulances and the unit became 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance with its detachment 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance Detachment Calgary.

Present day

15 (Edm) Fd Amb is a unit of 1 Health Services Group and under operational control (OPCON) of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, consisting of all Alberta Army Reserve personnel. As a Canadian Forces (CF) Primary Reserve unit, members may serve on a full or part-time basis. Deployments are voluntary, and personnel continue to serve alongside Regular Force CF members. The Edmonton unit is based at Brigadier James Curry Jefferson Building, and in Calgary at the Mewata Armoury. The current commanding officer (September 2016) is LCol Marie E. Lubiniecki of St Albert.

Past commanding officers (incomplete list)

Commander Robert Briggs, CD, (2013-2016)

Lieutenant-Colonel Roger Scott, CD, AdeC, MN, NP (2007-2013)

Lieutenant-Colonel Ross Purser, CD, MD, CCFP(EM) (2004-2007)

Lieutenant-Colonel Louise Leslie, CD (2001-2004)

Lieutenant-Colonel J.W. Cutbill, CD, MD, MSc, CCFP (2000-2001)

Major Steve Merrette, CD (1999)

Major Louise Leslie, CD (1998-1999)

Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Hennessey (1997-1998)

Major Jim N. Slauenwhite, CD (1994-1997)

Lieutenant-Colonel M.L. Quinn, OMM, SSStJ, CD, RN (1991-1994)

Lieutenant-Colonel Jacqueline McLellan (1985-1991)

Lieutenant-Colonel Hudson (1982-1985)

Lieutenant-Colonel Scotty Lamb (1980-1982)

Major Bob Salzman (1979-1980)

Major Donna Lynch (1977-1978)

Lieutenant-Colonel E.S.O. Smith (1977)

Major Wilfred Berry (1975-1976)

Lieutenant-Colonel Frank C. Haley, CD, MD (1969-1974)

Lieutenant-Colonel E.S.O. Smith (1968-1969 TBC)

Lieutenant-Colonel H.A. Schwarz, CD, MD, CCFP (Date TBC)

Lieutenant-Colonel MacPherson (Date TBC)

Lieutenant-Colonel Downs (Date TBC)

Lieutenant-Colonel M. Weinlos (Date TBC)

Past regimental sergeant-majors

Chief Warrant Officer Rudy Schmidtke (2016-present)

Chief Warrant Officer Mark R. Noble (2011-2016)

Master Warrant Officer Linda M. Weidmann (2006-2011)

Master Warrant Officer Dwight B. Fudge (2005-2006)

Vacant (2002-2005)

Chief Warrant Officer Bob L. Page (2001-2002)

Chief Warrant Officer T.D. (Dick) Greuter (1997-2001)

Chief Warrant Officer Cecil F. Shaver (1995-1997)

Chief Warrant Officer Carson G. Woodman (1991-1995)

Warrant Officer T.D. (Dick) Greuter (1990-1991)

Warrant Officer Linda M. Wheeler (Weidmann) (1982-1990)

Vacant (1981-1982)

Warrant Officer R. Short (1980-1981)

Vacant (1979-1980)

Warrant Officer Vic Mottershead (1978-1979)

Vacant (1977-1978)

Sergeant Dave Vicen (1975-1977)

Warrant Officer Jim Beauchamp (1970-1975)

Master Warrant Officer J.D. Newel (1965-1970)

Regimental Sergeant-Major W. Radulski (1963-1965)

Vacant (1962-1963)

Regimental Sergeant-Major W. Kendall (1961-1962)

Regimental Sergeant-Major A.C. Duncan (1959-1961)

Regimental Sergeant-Major L.S. Hooper (1953-1959)

Regimental Sergeant-Major R. Miller (1945-1953)

Past honorary colonels

Colonel Stewart Hamilton, MD, FRCSC, FACS (2015-201x)

Vacant (2012-2015)

Colonel the Honorable Allan H. Wachowich (2008–2012)

Colonel James Donald Johnston (2003–2006)

Colonel Kenneth Angus Munn (1993–2003)

Colonel Harald A.J. Schwarz

Past honorary lieutenant-colonels

Lieutenant-Colonel Gord Steinke (2012-201x)

Vacant (2011-2012)

Lieutenant-Colonel Sandra J. Munn (2005–2011)

Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Angus Munn (1991–1993)

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert James Sinclair Gibson

Lieutenant-Colonel R.C. Bray

Lieutenant-Colonel Harald A. Schwarz

Post 1945

Colonel H.A.J. Schwarz

Corporal Michael Starker – born January 1, 1972, died May 6, 2008, Pashmul Region, Zhari district (25 km west of Kandahar) Afghanistan – was both a soldier and a Calgary Emergency Medical Services paramedic.

Awards

2014

75th Anniversary of the unit (1939-2014)

Freedom of the City of Edmonton and Calgary.

St John Ambulance Alberta Council Provincial First Aid Competitions

2013

Best Emergency Responder Team - Corporals T. Woroniuk, B. Warick, C. Livesy and J. Augustyn.

2012

Best Standard First Aid Team Captain – Private J. Fillion

Best Novice Team – 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance: Privates Fillion, Dorrance, Behnke and Waite.

2010

Best Emergency Responder Team Captain – Sergeant K.N. Porlier

Best Novice Team – 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance: Sergeant K. Porlier, Corporal C. Amberley, Corporal E. Lau, Private A. Nichols.

2007

Best Emergency Responder Team Captain – Sergeant V.E. Churchill

Operations

15 Field Ambulance members have deployed in many domestic and international operations including:

Operation Provision (Syrian Refugee Response)

Operation Lentus (Southern Alberta Flooding)

Operation Athena (Afghanistan)

Operation Podium (2010 Olympic Games, British Columbia)

Operation Archer (Afghanistan)

Operation Peregrine (2003 British Columbia Forest Fires)

Operation Danaca (Golan Heights)

Operation Palladium (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) (Egypt)

Royal Canadian Army Cadets

15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance is affiliated with 2995 Medical Company RCACC, based in Lac La Biche, Alberta.