Name:
 Clarence Alfred Brisco 
Location served:
 Chatham  
Years in Practice:
 1913 to 1924
Area of Specialization:
Family Physician and Surgeon  

Biography:

Dr. Clarence Alfred Brisco was born near Napanee, Ontario on the 6th of May, 1892.  Dr. Brisco was the youngest of 7 children born to Robert McIntyre Brisco and the former Mary Esther Ham.  His parents were farmers and his siblings were; Norris Arthur Brisco, Frederick Ham Brisco, Nellie Grace Brisco, Robert, Ira Benjamin Brisco and Ernest Clayton Brisco.  The Brisco family moved to Chatham around 1906.  His father died on the 12th of January, 1906 and he was buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.  Dr. Brisco graduated from Chatham Collegiate Institute.  According to the 1911 census, the Brisco family resided at 188 Lacroix Street in Chatham and Dr. Brisco was listed as a student at medical college.

Dr. Brisco graduated M.B. in 1913 from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and he returned to Chatham to practice medicine.

Dr. Brisco enlisted in Kingston on the 30th of March 1915 and he saw active duty during World War I.  He was promoted to Captain on the 28th of May, 1916.  Dr. Brisco received the Military Cross with the following excerpt, “Captain Clarence Brisco, Royal Army Medical Corps, who after twenty-four hours tending wounded, without sleep or rest conducted stretcher parties over shell-swept ground with total disregard for his own safety.”  He was promoted to the rank of Major on the 28th of February, 1918.   His unit was demobilized on the 7th of March, 1919 and he was discharged from the Royal Army Medical Corp.  Dr. Brisco returned to Chatham at that time.

According to the 1921 census, Dr. Brisco was living and working as a physician in Timmins, Ontario.  He was a member of the Golden Beaver Lodge (Timmins).

Dr. Brisco died at the age of 31 on the 24th of January, 1924 enroute to London, England.  His funeral wasn’t held until March 19, 1924 in Chatham.  Dr. Brisco was buried at the Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.

Tombstone Photo credit: Anne F.

*Dr. Brisco is also featured on the Gathering Our Heroes website.

**Dr. Brisco’s brother, Norris Arthur Brisco served with the United States Military during WWI.