18 Field Ambulance 18 Field Ambulance is one of the 16 Royal Canadian Medical Service ( RCMS ) reserve medical units . Situated in Thunder Bay , Ontario , 18 Field Ambulance has a proud reputation among the Canadian Forces . History . The 18 Field Ambulance was formed on 1 January 1906 in Montreal , Quebec . Because of the war , the Ambulace was moved to Winnipeg , Manitoba on 7 November 1914 . On 14 April 1915 it left Winnipeg for Halifax via train . It set off to England via sailboat on 19 April 1915 and arrived six days later . In September of that year , the Ambulance traveled to Le Havre , France . World War I . Assigned as Medical unit for 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade and provided their medical needs at the following battles . World War II . During World War II , 18 Field Ambulance was assigned as Medical unit for the 1st Infantry Brigade ( Royal Canadian Regiment , Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment , 48th Highlanders ) and provided their medical needs at the following battles . Italy , 1943 - 1945 . Medical staff , who were involved early in the planning of the invasion of Italy , developed a plan to evacuate casualties back to the landing beaches where additional clearing stations and field surgical units , as well as special beach medical sections would be located . These would be available for the care of the casualties until they could be evacuated by landing craft to Sicily itself or to nearby hospital ships . The units which would put this plan into effect included a field ambulance accompanying each brigade , two field surgical units , a field dressing station and a field transfusion unit . Their role was to set up an advanced surgical center near the advanced dressing station in Reggio . All of the remaining divisional medical resources were to have crossed to Italy by D - Day + 7 . In addition , plans were made for landing strips to be made available and prioritization of those casualties who might require air transport . Malaria treatment and prophylaxis was a high priority and many proposals were put forth to reduce the incidence rate . One such proposal was to withdraw the issue of short pants from the troops as they tended to leave these on after dark when mosquitoes became active . 4 Field Ambulance was given the task of caring for the wounded being ferried to Sicily on landing craft . This tasking was in addition to the normal duties of providing medical care . The Canadians landed on 3 September 1943 with negligible opposition and secured their objectives by the end of the day . The first casualty to be treated by 4 Field Ambulance in Italy was on 7 September when the unit was set up in Delianuova along with No . 1 Field Surgical Unit and No . 1 Field Transfusion Unit . On 8 September the surrender of Italy was announced . At this time the Canadian axis of advance was moving mainly to the east coast road and soon Locri was in 3rd Brigade hands . By the 13th the Unit moved into Marina di Catanzaro and were joined by their rear - party with additional vehicles and equipment . This brought them up to war establishment for the first time since the original landing . Brief History from http : / / www . army . forces . gc . ca / 18Medical _ Company / 18med _ default . htm