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Letter, August 28, 1916
Item
1 pages
Herbert Alexander Bruce was born on September 28, 1868, in Blackstock, Ontario.
He was a physician, educator, and politician who served as the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (1932-1937). He was educated at the University of Toronto (M.D., 1893), Vienna and Paris. Specializing in surgery, he rose to the top of his profession. In 1911, he founded the Wellesley Hospital in Toronto and became a professor of surgery at the University of Toronto. During World War I, he was appointed Inspector-General of the Canadian Medical Services. He produced the Bruce Report on the Canadian Army Medical Service, a frank criticism of medical care provided to Canadian soldiers serving overseas. The report was disowned by the government, and he was dismissed from his duties. Dedicated to public service, Bruce was appointed the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (1932-1937) and served as the Conservative member of Parliament for Parkdale, Toronto (1940-1946). In 1934, he condemned the state of Toronto's poorer neighbourhoods and was a vocal member of the Opposition during World War II. Bruce championed cancer care in the 1920s, social housing in the 1930s, better health care for the military and veterans, and the introduction of contributory health insurance in the 1940s. His autobiography "Varied Operations" was published in 1958.
In 1919, He married Angela Hall (1895–1982). He died on June 23, 1963, in Toronto, Ontario.
Letter to William Osler from H.A. Bruce, Department of Militia and Defense, Canada, Cleveland House, St. James Square, London, England. Bruce explains that he was commissioned by the Honourable Minister of Militia of Canada to make an inspection of all hospitals and institutions to which the Canadian Government is contributing. He hopes to carry out an impartial enquiry into the organization and administration of the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Bruce did not take Osler's letter as an improper threat, but would have did he not respect and admire Osler as he does.
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Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (correspondence)