Francis Alexander Caron Scrimger

Wie was Francis A. Scrimger?

Francis Alexander Caron Scrimger werd op 10 februari 1881 geboren in Montreal in Quebec in Canada. Hij studeerde geneeskunde aan de McGill University in Montreal. Scrimger werd opgedragen als Captain in het Canadian Army Medical Corps op 13 april 1912. Bij het uitbreken van de Eerste Wereldoorlog, was hij een chirurg en docent. Hij werd toegewezen aan de Canadian Army Medical Corps en diende eerst voor de No. 2 Field Ambulance en later als dokter voor de 14e Battalion canadian Infantry, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).

Tijdens de Tweede Slag om Ieper, op 25 april 1915, kreeg de captain de leiding over een geavanceerde dressing station in Shelltrap Farm. Shelltrap Farm was de benaming voor Chateau du Nord, wat later Mouse Trap werd, en lag in Wieltje (in de huidige Hogeziekenweg). De hulppost kreeg het zwaar te verduren door de Duitse artillerie. Kapitein Scrimger liet alle gewonden evacueren. Zijn patient was een zwaar gewonde Captain, namelijk Captain Harold F. McDonald van de 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, die echter niet kon getransporteerd worden. Scrimger bleef bij zijn patient en beschermde McDonald met zijn lichaam tot zij werden gered. Voor deze daad, kreeg Scrimger de Victoria Cross. In de Londen Gazette van 22 Juni 1915 staat het volgende vermeld:

"On the afternoon of 25th April, 1915, in the neighbourhood of Ypres, when in charge of an advanced dressing station in some farm buildings, which were being heavily shelled by the enemy, he directed under heavy fire the removal of the wounded, and he himself carried a severely wounded Officer out of a stable in search of a place of greater safety. When he was unable alone to carry this Officer further, he remained with him under fire till help could be obtained."

Hij diende nog als chief chirurg voor de No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station nabiuj Boulogne en werd uiteindelijk Lieutenant Colonel. Na de oorlog deed hij zijn beroep als chief chirurg verder in de Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal en stierf in 13 februari 1937 en werd begraven op het Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal op een leeftijd van 56 jaar oud.

Sources: - Wikipedia

- V.C.s of the First World War - The Western Front 1915" by Peter F. Batchelor and Christopher Matson.

- Londen Gazette

Who was Francis A. Scrimger?

Francis Alexander Caron Scrimger was born on February 10, 1881 in Montreal, Quebec in Canada. He studied medicine at McGill University in Montreal. Scrimger was commissioned as Captain in the Canadian Army Medical Corps on 13 April 1912. At the outbreak of the First World War, he was a surgeon and lecturer. He was assigned to the Canadian Army Medical Corps and served first for the No. 2 Field Ambulance and later as a doctor for the 14th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).

During the Second Battle of Ypres, on April 25, 1915, the captain was in charge of an advanced dressing station in Shelltrap Farm. Shelltrap Farm was the name for Chteau du Nord, wich become later Mouse Trap Farm, and it was located near Wieltje (in the current Hogeziekenweg). The Germans bombed the first aid dressing station hanrdly. Captain Scrimger had all the wounded evacuated. His patient was a severely injured Captain, namely Captain Harold F. McDonald of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, which, however, could not be transported. Scrimger stayed with his patient and protected McDonald with his body until they were rescued. For this act, Scrimger received the Victoria Cross. In the London Gazette of 22 June 1915 reports:

Scrimger served later as chief surgeon for the No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Boulogne. and become Lieutenant Colonel. He servived the war and was again chief surgeon for the Royal Victoria Hospital. He died in Montreal on 13 February 1937 with an age of 56, and he was buried on the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.

Wie was Francis A. Scrimger?​

Who was Francis A. Scrimger?

Wie was Francis A. Scrimger?