A First War Pair to Captain Fortin of Lord Strathcona's Horse

1914-15 Star (CAPT: C.E. FORTIN. LD: S'CONA'S H.); and Victory Medal (MAJOR C.E. FORTIN.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, light contact, spotting on the VM, very fine. Accompanied by a reproduction/printed photograph (with a group of thirty officers including a seated Major Fortin in the front row), along with copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Officers' Declaration Paper, Service Records, Medical Records and Pay Records. Footnote: Claude Edward Fortin was born on April 17, 1879 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. When he was 21, he sustained an injury while playing hockey in 1900, leaving him with a permanent scar over his left eye brow. He was a Physician and served as a Captain with the 100th Regiment, Winnipeg Grenadiers, Non-Permanent Active Force from 1910 as a Lieutenant, later becoming a Captain in 1912. He was transferred to the CEF on September 21, 1914 and attached to Lord Strathcona's Horse on September 22nd. Fortin embarked for England on October 3, 1914 aboard the S.S. Bermudian. He signed his Attestation Paper on October 25th, at David Town, England, at the age of 35, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Octave Fortin D.D., stating that he had five years' previous military service, that he was married (Ethel Ross Fortin) and that his trade was that of Physician. He had one child, a daughter, Marian Elizabeth Fortin. He proceeded to France on May 4, 1915 and after almost six months in the field, he was admitted to No. 1 British Red Cross Hospital with "Cystitis" (a urine infection in the bladder) on October 30, 1915. He was invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Brighton, taken on strength at Headquarters, Canadian Training Depot at Shorncliffe (sick) and hospitalized at Royal Free, Gray's Inn Road, London, W.C on November 2nd, where it was noted he had an "irritable bladder". After eighteen days treatment, he was discharged from hospital on the 20th. In his Proceedings of a Medical Board Report, dated December 8, 1916, it documented his encounter with the Cystitis: "This officer while on Active Service in France had an attack of sub-acute cystitis. He was admitted to hospital and his condition considerably improved. He was evacuated to England for cystoscopy, a congestive patch at the base of the bladder was discovered. Under active treatment there had been some improvement, now the condition is stationary. The bladder will tolerate not more than three ounces." The two doctors who signed the report agreed that Fortin's condition was caused by "Exposure to wet and cold" and that he would be incapacitated for about three months. He was granted sick leave to Canada from December 8, 1915 to March 7, 1916, which was later extended to June 1, 1916. He was retained in Canada for duty on May 1, 1916 and promoted to Temporary Major, returning to service two days later. He signed his Officers' Declaration Paper on May 3, 1916 in Winnipeg, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Octave Fortin D.D., stating his collective previous pre-war and WWI service and his profession as that of Physician. Five weeks later, he was attached to the 11th Field Ambulance on June 9th and returned to the French theatre on August 10th, disembarking at Le Havre on the following day. A week after he arrived in France, he was attached to the 4th Field Ambulance for instruction from August 17th to 19th. He spent the Fall and Winter months in France and was then struck off strength of the 11th Field Ambulance on being posted to the Canadian Army Medical Depot at Shorecliffe on March 27, 1917 for transfer to Canada. He proceeded to Canada on April 4th and was detailed for duty of the Deputy General Medical Services (DGMS) in Ottawa on May 4, 1917. He followed that up with a return to Winnipeg, where he was detailed for duty as Assistant Director Medical Services (ADMS) at Military District No. 10 on June 12th. In the new year, he was detailed for duty as Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services (DADMS), Administration at M.D. No. 10 on February 28, 1918. Five months later, he was appointed officer in charge of Venereal Disease Work at M.D. No. 10 on July 19th, before being transferred two years later to the No. 10 Detachment CEF General List on July 1, 1920. He was employed as a part time Medical Officer from March 16, 1920 to April 30, 1922 under Assistant Director Medical Services (ADMS) at M.D. No. 10. Fortin was discharged from the CEF upon demobilization on April 30, 1922, with the rank of Major, credited with having served in Canada, the United Kingdom and France and entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 26558. He died on August 9, 1948, at the age of 69.