Feb 9, 1889

Born at Alfred Ontario Canada to Daniel and Margaret (nee Allison) McCusker.

Feb 18, 1915

Attested into the CEF at the No 3 General Hospital (McGill University) Montreal Quebec 

Ø      Number 412

Ø      Next of Kin given as Mrs D (Margaret) McCusker (mother) of Box 365 Regina Saskatchewan

Ø      Previous occupation given as Medical Student

Ø      Previous military experience given as “McGill University COTC (Canadian Officer Training Corps)

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal for England

Note that he was part of the Medical Contingent that sailed along with the 21^st Battalion

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport and proceeded to London

Jun 7, 1915

Promoted to rank of Sgt

Jun 17, 1915

Embarked for France

Nov 21, 1915

Sent to CAMCTS (Canadian Army Medical Corps Training School) London for discharge

Dec 9, 1915

TOS CAMTS at Shorncliffe

Dec 30, 1915

SOS on embarking the SS Scandinavian to Canada for discharge in order to complete medical training

Jan 10, 1916

Disembarked in Canada and TOS the Discharge Depot at Quebec City

Jan 13, 1916

SOS the CEF to resume medical studies at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal Quebec

Jul 11, 1916

Sworn into the CAMC (Canadian Army Medical Corps) with the 5^th Pioneer Battalion at Montreal Quebec 

Ø      Given rank of Captain

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs D (Margaret) McCusker (mother) of Box 365 Regina Saskatchewan

o       He declared that his father was not alive and that he was the sole supporter of his mother and he was giving her $100 per month in support prior to enlistment

o       Mother’s address later changed to 2260 Garnet St., Regina Saskatchewan

Ø      Previous occupation given as “Doctor”

Ø      Previous military experience given as 10 months with No 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill)

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

Aug 7, 1916

Appointed Medical Officer 5^th Pioneer Battalion

Nov 27, 1916

Embarked for the RMS Metagama at Halifax for England

Nov 28, 1916

Attached to the 5^th Pioneer Battalion

Dec 6, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool

Feb 9, 1917

Attached to the 4^th Division Engineers

Feb 12, 1917

Attached to the 5^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling Camp

Mar 13, 1917

Admitted to Westcliffe Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Folkstone with Tonsillitis 

Ø      Tonsils removed

Mar 29, 1917

Discharged from hospital and posted to CAMC Depot and granted leave until April 19, 1917

Apr 18, 1917

Posted to DADMS at Seaford for duty with the Canadian Military Hospital at Eastbourne

Apr 20, 1917

Posted to No 10 Canadian Stationary Hospital for duty

May 5, 1917

Posted to CAMC Depot

May 9, 1917

Posted to No 3 Canadian General Hospital for duty

May 13, 1917

SOS to CAMC Gen.

May 24, 1917

Attached for duty to 5^th CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance)

Jun 2, 1917

Attached to the 21^st Battalion as the MO (Medical Officer)

Oct 18, 1917

Awarded Military Cross per London Gazette #30340 and #30561

Nov 12, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Aug 8, 1918

Reported wounded, shrapnel to both legs

Aug 9, 1918

Admitted to No 3 General Hospital at Le Treport 

Ø      Surgery performed to remove shrapnel

Aug 11, 1918

Invalided to England

Aug 12, 1918

Ceases to be attached to the 21^st Battalion and posted to the CAMC Casualty Company at Shorncliffe

Aug 13, 1918

Admitted to the Royal Free Hospital, Gray’s Inn Road, London

Aug 30, 1918

Admitted to Canadian Convalescent Officer’s Hospital, Matlock, Bath

Sep 12, 1918

Discharged from hospital and granted leave until October 3, 1918

Sep 16, 1918

Posted to No 5 Canadian General Hospital

Sep 18, 1918

Posted to the Hospital Ship Neuralia

Dec 4, 1918

SOS HS Neuralia on posting to the Hospital Ship Essequibo

Jan 13, 1919

SOS OMFC (Overseas Military Force Canada) on transfer to CEF in Canada and proceeded to MD #12, Regina Saskatchewan

Mar 3, 1919

TOS #12 CAMC Depot on transfer from #12 District Depot

Apr 9, 1919

SOS the CEF on being demobilized 

Ø      Address on discharge – Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal Quebec 

Following the war Dr. McCusker entered the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal to take a 2 year postgraduate course in eye, ear, nose and throat work and followed this by serving 18 months as a resident surgeon in the Knapp Memorial Eye Hospital in New York City.  He followed this up with a 1 year postgraduate course in Europe before opening a practice as an Eye, Ear, and Nose specialist in Regina.

Jun 30, 1920

Letter requests that medals be sent to 2260 Garnet St., Regina Saskatchewan

Jul 9, 1923

British War Medal and Victory Medals sent to above address

Sep 6, 1939

Sworn into the CASF (Canadian Active Service Force) in Regina, Saskatchewan 

Ø      Rank on enlistment Lieutenant Colonel

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Margaret McCusker, mother, Ste. 1, Madrid Apartments, Regina, Saskatchewan

Ø      Previous occupation given as Doctor

Ø      Currently attached to the RCAF

Ø      Previous war service given as February 1915 to April 1919

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

Oct 17, 1939

Promoted to rank of Colonel and appointed to the position of Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services of the 1^st Canadian Division at Aldershot, Nova Scotia.

Dec 9, 1939

Embarked a troopship in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Dec 18, 1939

Disembarked in Greenock, Scotland with the 1^st Canadian Division.

Jun 26, 1942

Granted leave until July 3, 1942

Jan 19, 1943

Granted leave until January 31, 1943

Mar 8, 1943

Attached to the Canadian Corps Headquarters in the United Kingdom.

Apr 8, 1943

Promoted to the rank of Brigadier and appointed to the position of DDMS (Deputy Directory, Medical Services) for the Canadian Corps.

Jun 14, 1943

Attended the Joint Planning Course, ending on June 25, 1943.

Oct 20, 1943

SOS the Canadian Army in the United Kingdom and TOS the Canadian Army in the Mediterranean and proceeded to Sicily.

Nov 1, 1943

Deplaned in Sicily.

Nov 30, 1943

Attached to the 8^th Army Headquarters, CMF (Canadian Mediterranean Force).

Dec 14, 1943

Ceased to be attached to the 8^th Army HQ, CMF.

Jan 3, 1944

Attached to the 5^th Canadian Armoured Division Headquarters, CMF.

Dec 12, 1944

Emplaned for England and relinquished the position of DDMS.

Dec 13, 1944

Arrived in England and placed on the No. 1 NETD (Non Effective Training Depot)

Dec 28, 1944

Departed the United Kingdom by air for Canada and SOS the NETD.

Dec 29, 1944

Arrived in Canada and granted disembarkation leave until January 29, 1945.

Dec 30, 1944

Awarded the appointment to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Military Division, Canadian Gazette #53, Page 5471.

Jan 30, 1945

Granted annual leave until February 12, 1945.

Feb 13, 1945

Granted retirement leave until July 24, 1945.

May 26, 1945

Mentioned in Despatches per Canada Gazette and CARO/5718.

Jul 24, 1945

SOS the Canadian Army and retired from the Canadian Army Reserve as being overage. 

Address on retirement, Ste., 1, Madrid Apartments, Regina, Saskatchewan. 

His medal entitlement on retirement from his WW2 service 

Ø      CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)

Ø      CVSM (Canadian Volunteer Service Medal) & Clasp

Ø      1939-45 Star

Ø      Italy Star

Ø      Defence Medal

Ø      War Medal 1939-45

Ø      MID (2) (Mentioned in Despatches)

Sep 22, 1945

Mentioned in Despatches per Canada Gazette and CARO/6074.

Jan 17, 1948

Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the Government of Greece.  The citation as signed by Colonel Th. Tsakalotos (Officer Commander, 3^rd Greek Mountain Brigade) reads: 

“I recommend the Canadian Medical Officers for the Greek Distinguished Service Medal, because, as I have personally certified, they attend the treatment of our wounded. The Medical Officers as soon as they were detailed under the 1st Canadian Corps, having assisted in any way the fighting task of the Brigade, doing their utmost for the treatment of our wounded, rendering them fit for service.” 

In 1949 Dr. McCusker was elected to the Canadian Parliament and appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of National Health and welfare in 1951.  During the period 1952-53 he served as the Chairman of the Defence Medical and Dental Services Advisory Board.

Jan 20, 1973

Died in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Regina Cemetery
Regina, Saskatchewan