Dr. F.H. van Nostrand

Colonel Frederick van Nostrand served in both the First and Second World Wars. He enlisted for service in the First World War on December 23, 1916 in Toronto at age 20 with the Army Medical Corps, Training Depot #2 serving from 1916-1918. He arrived in England on May 7, 1917 after sailing overseas aboard the SS Olympic. Upon his arrival in France in June, Frederick was transferred to the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance, where he served as a stretcher bearer in France and Belgium.

While on leave in England, Frederick transferred and was taken on as a Flight Cadet with the Royal Air Force on June 7, 1918 proudly earning his Pilot’s wings. Frederick was seriously injured in an airplane accident, and spent the next three months in England recovering from a broken leg. while recovering, he read the Bible cover to cover, and many of the great classics noted family.

At the end of the First World War, he remained in the army reserve as a Physician in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. When the Second World War broke out, Frederick, now 43 year of age, already had the rank of Major. He continued to serve in England, France, Italy and North Africa. He was stationed with the first Canadian Division, headquartered in Aldershot, England and the 15th General Hospital in Bramshott, England. In 1943 he was promoted to full Colonel and moved to Basingstoke as the Commanding Officer of the No. 1 Neurological Hospital. At this time he also became the Chief Consultant in both psychiatry and neurology to the Canadian Army Overseas.

He received the following medals Officer of the Order of the British Empire, British War Medal -1914-1918, WWI Victory Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, George VI Coronation Medal, Elizabeth II Coronation Medal and the Canadian Efficiency Decoration; with 2 of these medals being personally awarded by King George VI himself. 

We Will Remember Them