CANADIAN ARMY-WW2
Private Researcher for hire can supply information on the following.
- SERVICE FILES The National Archives of Canada holds service files on all persons who served in the Canadian Army during WW2. Militia information is sometimes found on Active files of personnel who enlisted direct from a Militia unit for war
service. Files continued for those remaining with the Active Military post war. Officers who returned to civilian life but remaining with a Militia unit can be traced while enlisted men are a challenge especially those remaining only a few years. Unfortunately the Governments 'Old Policy"
resulted in many pre & post war Militia files being destroyed once a person would have reached their 70th birthday . Old Government policy had service files for Militia destroyed on his/her 70th birthday. If the person was Active Force and had no War Service then the file would be destroyed
on their 90th birthday. Those who served in a conflict there files were never destroyed and sometimes RELEVANT militia documents were placed on this file. This policy was in effect from approx. 1950 to 1984 and thousands of files were destroyed. Researcher must prove death more than 20 years
to view entire WW2 file. Without proof of death National Archives will release information such as medal entitlements, postings sometimes other non protected information but documents are vetted to remove protected information.
Often much of the information deemed "protected" by National Archives can be located in other areas such as Directorate of History, National Defence; Provincial Records; Newspapers; City Directories etc. Those Killed in Action or where proof of death can be supplied showing more than
20 years total file is available.
- GALLANTRY CITATIONS Most citations are available for all awards even though many were not published in the London or Canada Gazette.
- PHOTOS A large selection of photos of service personnel, units are available but unfortunately they are not indexed by family name in some instances and much time and effort is required to search data bases.
- WAR DIARIESWar diaries are available for most units, some on microfilm, others still hard copy. Hard copy diaries have additional information such as newspaper articles, photos and other documents.
- ARMY & MILITIA ORDERS These can confirm all Long Service and Canadian Decorations, Colonial Auxilliary Decorations/Medals, Efficency Decorations/Medals and Meritorius Medals.
- BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE A full coloured page from the Book of Remembrance is available showing name and date.