Collection MS-13-2 - Dalhousie University No. 7 Stationary Hospital collection

The Dalhousie No. 7 Overseas Stationary Hospital came into being as a result of the university's fifth-year medical students volunteering their collective services to the war effort in August 1914. President Mackenzie wrote to the War Office with an offer on behalf of Dalhousie to raise, staff and equip a stationary hospital similar to those recruited from other Canadian universities. Twice rejected, in September 1915 Dalhousie’s proposal was finally authorized and two months later the hospital was mobilized, having recruited a staff of 165. Of the twelve medical officers, most were Dalhousie graduates or faculty, while many of the 27 nurses were graduates of the Victoria General Hospital, including Matron Laura Hubley. Fourteen enrolled students and nine alumni joined the unit as privates. The newly formed unit was given the University’s former Medical College Building as training quarters, and on 31 December 1915, the No. 7 embarked from St. John, New Brunswick. Under the command of John Stewart, later Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, from May 1917 to April 1918, the No. 7 served in the “Evacuation Zone,” where patients transferred from front-line clearing hospitals were treated and stabilized before being moved to hospitals in their own countries. The medical officers and nurses nurses returned to Halifax in May 1919. The stationary hospital was disbanded by General Order 211 of 15 November 1920.