Fred Dillon served during WWII with No. 7 Canadian Light Field Ambulance, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), a mobile medical unit that served in the European Theatre in support of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division, 1st Canadian Corps. The R.C.A.M.C.’s Field Ambulance units operated in close proximity to active combat areas, and were responsible for providing medical aid and evacuation of the wounded. Dillon returned safely to Canada following the end of the war.

Content notes:
Collection materials were donated directly from the Netherlands, by a family that Dillon had stayed with while stationed in Groningen, Holland. Among the photographs are two unit-type pictures of the No. 7 Can. Lt. Fld. Amb. taken in 1945 (based on unit history for Groningen, presumably between April 22 and May 22). The photographs and message written by No. 7’s “Bill Hutt” are those of acclaimed Shakespearian actor William Ian DeWitt Hutt, CC, OOnt, MM. The collection also contains a programme for the 5th Canadian Division’s travelling show “Hold Your Hat.”

External links:
[rank unknown] Fred Dillon’s service record (Serv/Reg# unknown) is not open for public access at this time.
Corporal William Hutt’s service record (Serv/Reg# B93303) is not open for public access at this time.
The official history of the R.C.A.M.C., including information about the No. 7 Canadian Light Field Ambulance, is provided online by the Government of Canada’s Directorate of History and Heritage: Official History of the Canadian Medical Services, 1939-1945, Vol 1 Organization and Campaigns (for a general explanation of the structure and deployment of Field and Light Field units, see book-pages 186, 198; No. 7’s deployment to Groningen, pg. 289).
The Canadian Army Newsreels series includes film clips of “Hold Your Hat” – see Newsreel No. 94, just after the eight minute mark (a short description is provided on page 99 of the War Amps guide to the newsreel collection).