Canadian WWI platoon diaries / service files

[RedMystic]

Hi Chatters

Is there a searchable means to find a battalion / platoon diary? I'm particularly interested in 1916.

This is the info I have:
- Canadian WWI soldier 716058.
- His battalion on his attestation papers is 106 Rifles.
- His platoon was #12 as per provincial photographic records.

While I await a service file, is it possible to track down the platoon diary to find out when this group shipped out, where they went, and if there were any defections from the platoon in 1916?I've been to the Canadian Libraries & Archives page, but I'm not seeing a means to narrow the search.

Also, it looks like some copy on LAC indicates some service files are uploaded for public access.  Is this the case, and if so, what is the link for that?

Thanks in advance for your guidance. 

[bleckie]

Hi RedMystic

You may find something in the links below or they may lead to something else:

http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/020152_e.html

Yours Aye
BruceL

[RedMystic]

Good morning & thank you for your response, BruceL

The 2nd link is the one I'd  been looking at. Is there a way to search it to get to a platoon level?

The first link looks like an interesting one. I'm on my phone so haven't delved into it as yet. It doesn't appear to have any deserter info.

I know there is a list of Cdn deserters who were executed. I'm looking for info on one who War Graves says deserted & disappeared. I'd like to find confirming documentation.

I thought the platoon diary might help me, but I'm not seeing a way to search the platoon.

I'm open to any other suggestions re how to confirm the developments for the fellow I'm searching.

[newburychap]

Did platoons keep war diaries?

[RedMystic]

I don't know, newburychap. I can't even find the 106th battalion for the Mar 1916 until it's 16 July 1916 departure.  Hopefully, something will pop out at me if I look again & again.

[polarbear]

Hi there.

About the uploading of records ....

It is my understanding that LAC is working on digitizing the complete military records for WW1. No particular completion time frame that I am aware of. It is also my understanding that if one purchases the complete file it can be a digitized version that will concurrently be placed on line for that particular soldier. Can't tell you where I gathered this info from, though, and I haven't tried it out yet.

That thread about the Lovett Cemetery is absolutely fascinating!

PB

[RedMystic]

Thanks PolarBear.

My understanding was that the war diaries were scanned, but if what you say is correct, then that explains why the Battalion records are hit & miss. I'm a novice at military research so I'll keep poking 

I keep thinking that there must be a list of WWI defectors somewhere, but all I can find is a list of those who were executed.

Thanks for the comment on the Lovett Cemetery tread. You are correct that this post pertains to one of the burials in that ghost town.

Hi Bleckie, I heard back from the Great War Project site. They directed me to LAC as well. Thanks again for trying. I have a message in to LAC to see if I'm simply missing seeing an on-line diary for the 106th.

[polarbear]

Hi again.

I was actually directing my comments above to the individual service files for each soldier. Didn't mean to confuse things  . Entire service records for each individual soldier are slowly being added to the online Attestation papers. You access them from the same webpage as the Attestation papers.

According to the LAC website, the digitization of the war diaries is still in progress. I do have experience with these and they are a bit hit and miss and very difficult to sort through.  I found what I was looking for in the medical diary of the particular unit I was looking for. The actual war diary for the unit wasn't on line yet.

PB

[cashew]

Disappeared,...but tried in absentia perhaps. ?

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C1026693

C.M. = Court martial  G.C.M. = General Court Martial  F.G.C.M. = Field General Court Martial