From the News

Dated: August 19, 1916

Opening by the Duchess of Devonshire.
The latest unit to be added to the Canadian Medical Services, the special hospital of the Canadian Red Cross Society (the Peak Hotel at Buxton), was opened on Friday of last week by the Duchess of Devonshire. Both local and Canadian interests were embodied in the wife of the Governor-General Designate, as the hospital is not far from the Chatsworth Hall estate.

Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and Defence, journeyed from Folkestone for the occasion, and among those also present were Surgeon-General Carleton Jones, Col. Herbert Bruce (Toronto), Col. George Murphy and Col. Hodgetts, Commissioner of the Canadian Red Cross Society.

The Duchess was received by Colonel Hodgetts, who presided over the short ceremony which marked the opening. Col. Hodgetts expressed his pleasure at the presence of the Minister of Militia, who, he said, had endeared himself to the hearts of all Canadian soldiers. He explained that this hospital was intended for soldiers who were suffering from gunshot wounds and shell shock, and it was hoped that the healing waters for which the town was celebrated would bring many of them back to health.

The Duchess of Devonshire, in a very charming speech, expressed her pleasure at undertaking this first Canadian ceremony since the announcement of the Duke's appointment to Ottawa. She recalled happy years formerly spent at Ottawa, and assured her hearers that she was looking forward to going into residence there again shortly. In paying tribute to the good work done by the Canadian Red Cross Society, she said she had visited the Duchess of Connaught Hospital at Cliveden, and had been impressed by the excellent management and cheerful tone and surroundings of that institute.

A Warm Welcome Assured.
Sir Sam Hughes spoke of the esteem in which the Devonshire family was everywhere held, and said that this fact, together with the fact that the Duchess was the daughter of Lord Lansdowne, who had so endeared himself to the people of Canada, would ensure a warm welcome to the Duke and Duchess when they went to Ottawa. With regard to the new hospital, he expressed his appreciation of the preparations which he had inspected, and congratulated Col. Hodgetts on the good work which the Canadian Red Cross Society was doing.

Surgeon-General Jones formally accepted the hospital from the Commissioner of the Red Cross Society as a unit in the Canadian Medical Services.
The musical part of the programme was rendered by an orchestra composed of patients in the hospital.

The hospital, which has had patients in for a few weeks past, can accommodate nearly 300 men. It is under the command of Major Guest, of St. Thomas, Ont., and the staff also includes Major Goodwell (Charlottetown), Capt. Slater, Capt. Curren, Capt. E. J. Thurgar and Miss MacAllister (Kingston), matron, who has a staff of fifteen trained nurses. The special feature of the hospital is the treatment given by mineral water baths and peat packs for nerves and inflamed limbs.