12 ( Vancouver ) Field Ambulance 12 ( Vancouver ) Field Ambulance is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve medical unit in Vancouver , British Columbia . History . This unit has a long and distinguished history that lives up to the medical corps tradition of being faithful in adversity . It is the latest in a line of Vancouver army medical units dating back to 18 Field Ambulance of World War I . World War I . It started out initially as a local militia unit . In World War I , the field ambulance was sent to the 5th Canadian Division and stationed with the Seaforth Highlanders for a period of time . After the war , it was set up as a reserve unit and renamed 12 Field Ambulance . The unit was called to active service in World War II in 1939 . World War II . In 1942 the unit , now known as 12 Canadian Light Field Ambulance ( the term " light " indicated that it was equipped to be particularly fast moving and so able to keep up with a swiftly advancing armoured division ) , sailed to England with the 4th ( Canadian ) Armoured Division . Providing medical support to the Division as they participated in operations within Europe . One of the unit ' s most significant action was in support of the 4th Armoured Division during the battle of Hochwald Forest . 12 Field Ambulance made Canadian medical corps history becoming the only field ambulance to engage the enemy in combat . This occurred one morning in April 1945 in the German town of Sogel . German soldiers approached , and fired upon the casualty treatment facility under cover of darkness . The Commanding Officer quickly organized two platoons , and placed them at the approaches to the dressing stations . They held off the enemy for two hours ; with weapons borrowed from the wounded - at the time medics didn ' t carry weapons - until a squadron of tanks arrived to relieve them . During the fighting the dressing station continued treating patients . The Commanding Officer , LCol A . D . MacPherson received the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership in this action ; Cpl F . F . Thompson was awarded the Military Medal , and Capt Harry Jolley received the Member of the Order of the British Empire . Post - World War II to 1999 . After the war , 12 Field Ambulance was reverted to the Army Reserve ( Militia ) and moved to Jericho Garrison in 1947 . The unit was then renamed 24 Medical Company following another move to Bessborough Armoury . In 1969 , the medical unit became attached to 12 Vancouver Service Battalion . In the early 1970s , the unit was disbanded along with all militia medical units across Canada . After existing as a medical station at 12 Service Battalion for several years , the unit was raised as 12 ( Vancouver ) Medical Company in 1980 and is relocated back to its present location at Jericho Garrison later that year . During this period , the unit has participated in numerous peace keeping missions and served on tours in Bosnia , Croatia , Cypress , Aviano and the Golan Heights . 2000 to Present . 12 Field Ambulance have been involved with local operations ranging from G8 Security in 2002 to fighting BC Forest Fires in the year 2003 . Recently , the unit has been awarded with the Freedom of the City from the city of Vancouver in 2007 . In addition to domestic operations , the unit has participated in operations overseas , most recently in Operation Athena in Afghanistan and have members that are currently training for further deloyments . Awards . Freedom of the City of Vancouver was given to the 12 ( Vancouver ) Field Ambulance on April 14 , 2007 . Operations . 12 Field Ambulance has had members deployed in many domestic and foreign operations , including :