How does one go about accessing Canadian records

[Bardess]

I am researching the Smethwick RoH and have 19 Canadians with only their Attestation forms. I understand that folks in Ottawa can request files and they are then digitised.

[Waggoner]

Diane,

When you look at the APs, there is a link to how you can order the actual service files. You can either use the LAC services to send you the files or hire a researcher who can look at the file and weed out the unneeded material. In either case, LAC will be the ones to make the actual copies. The other option is to hire a researcher to make digital copies of the files. $$$ are involved in all of these scenarios. If you are interested, I can recommend a good researcher who charges reasonable rates. Plse let me know.

All the best,

Gary

[Bardess]

Hi Gary. Thanks for the info.

I am a little stunned actually; I thought that it would be a case of how NZ handle their records - a request in person to digitise and then, voila, available to all and sundry.

I may have to sit on this and wait for a lottery win

[Moonraker]

At least the Canadian attestation papers can be viewed on-line for free, which put them ahead of us. But Australia seems to be ahead of everyone, with service papers and war diaries readily available via one's PC. As for the USA, I don't think anything is available on-line.

Moonraker

[EastSurrey]

Canadian unit war diaries are also available,free,on line,in addition to the attestation papers.I have looked at some for Passchendaele and they were very detailed,with a lot of appendices.

Michael

[Moonraker]

Oops, yes, I should have included the Canadian war diaries, as I've consulted them so many times. And there's a goodly number of books available on-line about Canadians in the Great War, including the Official History by Duguid.

Moonraker

[clive_hughes]

Last year I had a researcher take digital photos of 18 Canadian files, plus where applicable the "death certificate". All he left out was the (repetitive and unnecessary) pay details.

The images were put onto DVD and mailed to me. Any blurred shots were promptly rephotographed and mailed as before. The whole exercise took about 3 weeks and if memory serves I still had change from £50.

Clive

[Bardess]

Hmmm... that wouldn't break the bank

[Guest]

That sounds like a good price. I too had some service records sent on DVD, and was happy with the price, well worth it. Perhaps you could do some work for a researcher as payment. You appear to be very good with spreadsheets/excel-a skill not everyone has mastered. excel 'pure does ma heid in'

Mike

[Bardess]

I like your thinking, Mike

[Broznitsky]

All he left out was the (repetitive and unnecessary) pay details.

Except for the proven fact that occasionally the pay sheets contain a vital biographical or next of kin detail, unavailable anywhere else. The consensus on the CEF Study Group is to always get the pay sheets, it will only be a few cents more, and you just never know what snippet of vital data will be found therein.

Peter in B.C.