Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force

[J11]

My great uncle joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in March 1916 from Winnipeg.  I was wondering if anyone can direct me to any useful sites that might give me an indication of what engagements he was involved in if any.

Jenny

[*Sandra*]

Hello Jenny,

Have you been on the link below to locate Great Uncle's Attestation Papers ?

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-100.01-e.php

All of the details that you need to order a copy of his file should be where you found his attestation papers at the LAC website. The information is located on the same page as the links to the images of his attestation papers and should include:

Name: _________
Regimental number(s): _________
Reference: _________
Date of Birth: ________

Here is a link to the instructions on how to order the file:


http://www.rootschat.com/links/06nn/

You will  need to give them a credit card number before LAC will make copies and send it. You can also order the file online at this link:


https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/copies/secure/005010-5100-e.php

Sandra

[JDC]

Hi Jenny,

This might be of interest to you as well - the wat diaries.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/020152_e.html

JDC

[J11]

Sandra and jdc, thank you both very much for the information.  Just what I was looking for.  The LAC really are organised when it comes to WW1 records.  The National Archives in London are a nightmare.  I was down there recently and made a half-hearted attempt at finding the War Diaries for my Canadian Great Uncle's brother, my grandfather who joined the Royal Scots in 1914, and was buried in index volumes.  I couldn't even work out his battalion.  Fortunately, that wasn't the primary reason for going.  None of the British diaries are on-line yet as far as I can see.  I suppose it's the numbers, the Canadians were fewer than the Brits.  I was researching the war of my other grandfather in 1942 Malaya and, purely by chance while looking for something else in Box 49 of General Percival's papers in the Imperial War Museum, came across the War Diary for the unit of sappers that Grandpa, as a civilian engineer, was attached to.
God help anyone looking for that! The papers aren't even indexed.

Jenny

[JDC]

Hi Jenny,

If yoou are looking for anyone that died in the Great War, there is a site for that as well.

JDC

[J11]

No, he survived Gallipoli; wounded, but alive.  I believe the war diaries for the three Royal Scots battalions from that campaign are in the NA at Kew.  I just need to settle down and work out which battalion and then spend an afternoon and a fortune in photocopying!  Thanks anyway,

Jenny

[valeriec]

If you order the full military file for your great uncle that served in the CEF, you will get his attestation papers, next of kin, his full medical records, which battalions that he served with and his taken on/struck off strength info. Many of the battalions were absorbed by other units on arrival in England and France. Using his battalion information and the war diaries that are available at LAC you may be able to find the exact battles that he was at. Also, if he was injured, all the medical information will be in the file including injuries, field hospitals, etc. His return to Canada info will also be in the file and where he was going on release. It is well worth the money to buy the file. If you want to give your great uncle's name, we may be able to find out more information for you.

[J11]

Thank you so much, Valeriec.  His name was William Charles Middleton Grant born 1888.  I have his attestation papers.  That bit was easy, he was the only one with that name!  His regimental number was 532198.  What I haven't worked out yet is how to go from regimental number to battalion so that I can view the appropriate war diary, or do I need his full papers to do that?  I'm in England and am not familiar with Canadian records so am probably missing the obvious link.  How much is it likely to cost me roughly to get his full record?

Jenny.

[JDC]

Hi Jenny,

The regiment and battalion number that he was first assigned to should be on attestation paper. If he was transfered to another one while serving, that info would be included in his service file. Without double checking I think that is what happened with my g-uncle - the reg & Bn number he was assigned when he joined the CEF was shown on his attestation and the change in hi his group was shown in a doc in his service file. From his service file, I found out when he fought in France and that he died. From the War Diaries link of the National Archives,  I found out where his unit was and what they were doing. I found out where in France he is buried from the Commonwealth War Graves website.

Hope this helps, JDC