The Masonic Ambulance Corps
All images used with permission of the Henry W. Coil Library & Museum of Freemasonry except where otherwise noted.
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The Masonic Ambulance Corps was formed in May, 1917, by brothers from Alta Vista Lodge No. 464 and Bethlehem Lodge No. 453 in San Francisco, CA.
On 4 August, 1917, the volunteers left San Francisco for training at Camp Lewis in Washington.
By late 1917, following the United States declaration of war, the group of volunteer Masons were officially inducted into the army as the 364th Ambulance Company, one of four such units in the 316th Sanitary Train of the 91st Division.
The Oakland Tribune, 11 October, 1917
On 11 October, 1917, the Corps was honored at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of California in San Francisco, during the final entertainment session of the Communication.
The Masonic Ambulance Corps departed for France from New York City, aboard the U.S.S. Olympic, on 12 July, 1918.
Image courtesy of fold3.
They docked in South Hampton, UK on 18 July and crossed the English Channel to Cherbourg, France on 21 July, 1918.
American Soldiers in front of the train station in Saint-Nazaire.
On 26 July, 1918 the Corps became separated from the 91st Division and became “lost” in Saint-Nazaire until 24 August by taking the wrong train.
On 30 July, the Corps attended a banquet at the Masonic Club.
On 4 August the Corps held their first anniversary dinner at the Hotel Fontainbleau.
During this time in Saint-Nazaire, each member of the Corps was made an honory member of the Masonic Club of Base Section No. 1.
4 September 1918: The Corps is “found”, departs Saint-Nazaire and rejoins the 91st Division in support of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
9 September - 15 September, 1918: Battle of St. Mihiel. The Corps earned their first Battle Star.
24 September. 1918: Parios, France.
26 September, 1918: Opening Day of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
October 1918 through December/January 1919: The Corps is billeted in Flanders.
They departed France aboard the U.S.S. Virginian on 7 April, 1919, sailing out of Saint-Nazaire. They landed in Hoboken, NJ, on 20 April, 1919.
Image courtesy of fold3.
The Corps arrived home to the Bay Area on 9 May, 1919 to a very happy and welcoming city.
Oakland Tribune, 9 May, 1919.
Oakland Tribune, 9 May, 1919
Shortly after returning from overseas, members of the Corps formed a permanent organization with headquarters at the Masonic Club at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.
The Palace Hotel. Image courtesy of Kiwi Collection.
The Oakland Tribune, 13 July, 1919
The Oakland Tribune, Friday, 1 August, 1919.
On 1 August, 1919, members of Corps threw their first annual ball in the large ball room at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco.
It was followed by a banquet at The Palace Hotel on 2 August, 1919.
They held their 50th Reunion on 4 August, 1967 at the Hotel Claremont in Oakland, CA.
Oakland Tribune, 16 July 1967, Pg 4-A.
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