---

U. S. VETERINARY HOSPITAL NO. 9 AT ST. NAZAIRE, FRANCE WW1

Veterinary Hospital at St. Nazaire, France WW1

Headquarters Stall Officers, Major. William J. Ratigan commanding and commander of Hospital No. 9 St. Nazaire, France WW1. Note: About the little boy in the picture wearing the uniform. At first I could not quite understand why this little boy is in the picture, but my research has lead me to several cases where I have seen this. Usually a French orphan boy or a boy whose father was killed during the war sometimes took a liking to a unit and sometimes a unit took a liking to a boy and they would kind of adopt him. And I am guessing that this is the case in this picture. The men probably tried over and over to tell him to go home but he always kept coming back. He would become the unit's mascot.

These buildings were designed by Major Ratigan to accommodate three thousand animals. They have often been over crowded. Fifteen tons of hay and the same amount of grain have been fed daily. Veterinary Hospital No. 7 and Base Veterinary Hospital No. 2 were assigned after the Armistice was signed. Animals from the front were affected with various wounds, Mange, Influenza, Pneumonias, etc. In the operating Theatre upwards of forty major operations have been performed in 24 hours. Veterinary Hospital No. 9 perhaps returned more horses to action before the Armistice was signed than any other organization.

Note: I while ago I received this email from Major Ratigan's family:

About Major William Ratigan. I cannot believe what you have put together. There is more information on my grandfather's war history than I ever knew. I will never be able to thank you enough. He died as a veterinarian in New Orleans when my mom was a child. He had many civilian accomplishments and I knew he was accomplished in the military. If you could lead me to more information I would be more extremely grateful, but I am already extremely grateful.
May God
Bless you!!!
David Brisolara

Return to The Army Veterinary Service During the Great War, WW1 homepage:

THE ARMY VETERINARY SERVICE DURING THE GREAT WAR, WW1
Click on the below link:
The Army Veterinary Service During the Great War, WW1

OTHER AREAS OF RESEARCH WHICH WE ARE ENGAGED IN:

Click on the below Homepage links:

LEONARD PATRICK MURPHY U.S. ARMY VETERINARY CORPS, A.E.F., WW1
Click on the below link:
Leonard Murphy in WW1

NEVERS FRANCE AND U.S. ARMY HOSPITALS IN THE AREA DURING WW1
Click on the below link:
Nevers France and U.S. Army Hospitals in the area during WW1

FORT ORD STATION VETERINARY HOSPITAL U.S. ARMY HORSE c1941
Click on the below link:
Fort Ord U.S. Army Station Veterinary Hospital (Horse) WW2

TRIBUTE OF HONOR: SGT. ALLAN MACDONALD U.S. ARMY HORSE SOLDIER
Click on the below link:
Tribute Of Honor: Sgt. Allan MacDonald U.S. Army Horse

FORT ORD STATION HOSPITAL, c1941 WW2
Click on the below link:
Fort Ord Station Hospital c1941

11TH CAVALRY PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, 1919 TO 1940
Click on the below link:
11th Cavalry Presidio of Monterey, 1919 to 1940

CAMP LOCKETT ARMY HORSE DEFENDING THE BORDER WW2
The 11th, 10th, and the 28th Cavalry, Camp Seeley, Camp Morena and Camp Lockett
Click on the below link:
Camp Lockett Army Horse Defending the Border WW2

76TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, 1922 TO 1940
Click on the below link:
76th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion

EAST GARRISON/CAMP ORD 1940's ARMY BUILDING DOCUMENTATION
Click on the below link:
East Garrison/Camp Ord 1940's Army Building Documentation 2013

FORT ORD U.S. ARMY POST STOCKADE IN IMAGES
Fort Ord U.S. Army Post Stockade in Images

BRIEF HISTORY GENERAL ROBERT C. RICHARDSON, COMMANDER: VII ARMY CORPS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DEFENSE SECTOR AND CONNECTION WITH FORT ORD WW2
Click on the below link:
General Richardson Fort Ord Defense of West Coast

7TH DIVISION HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, FORT ORD, 1941 WW2, GENERAL STILWELL
Click on the below link:
7th Division Headquarters Buildings, Fort Ord, 1941, General Stilwell

THE CONSTRUCTION OF FORT ORD 1940-1942
Click on the below link:
The Construction of Fort Ord 1940-1942

FORT ORD BUILDINGS, COMPLETION REPORT IMAGES 1941-1942
Click on the below link:
Fort Ord Buildings, Completion Report Images 1941-1942

250TH COAST ARTILLERY CAMP MCQUAIDE CALIFORNIA 1941
Click on the below link:
250th Coast Artillery Camp McQuaide California 1941

U.S. ARMY VETERINARY CORPS HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GROUP

Motto: "Illic est Vires in Numerus" There is Strength in Numbers

"Working Hard to Preserve Our Country's History wherever it is being lost".

U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group is a group of individuals that are concerned about the preservation of the History of the Veterinary Corps, Remount Service and Cavalry or wherever our country's history is being lost in conjunction with our beloved "Horse and Mule". There is no cost to join and membership is for life. We believe by uniting together in numbers we will be a more powerful force to be heard. Our membership list is private and only used to contact our members. Email us and become a member.

Greg Krenzelok
[email protected]

FACEBOOK: U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group

Click on the below link:

U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group