Nov. 11 is Remembrance Day, a national day that marks the anniversary of the end of the hostilities of the First World War (Nov. 11, 1918).
Armistice Day, or Poppy Day, as it is sometimes called, brings our thoughts around to those who have served our country in conflicts around the world. But locating records pertaining to our ancestors who served in the military can be difficult.
Start at Home
Begin your search in the town or community where your ancestor lived, or signed up for service. Check regional genealogical societies for information along with local newspapers of the day that may contain an announcement of those injured or killed in certain battles. Many of these small-town papers can be found at the British Columbia Historical Newspapers website - http://historicalnewspapers.library.ubc.ca .
Regimental Records
Next, search for the armed forces website that your ancestor served with. Many of these regiments are still in existence and may have records that have not yet been digitized. You can also query them to find out what records they have pertaining to your solider. A decent listing of Canadian army units can be found on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_units_of_the_Canadian_Army - with links that take you to regimental websites for more indepth information.
Veterans and More
Veterans Affairs Canada - www.veterans.gc.ca - offers more than assistance to our veterans; their website can also provide you with an index of medals and decorations, information about women who served and those who worked on the home front, along with some fascinating diaries and letters, which provide a poignant first-person look at war in the 20th century.
The Mother Lode
The Library and Archives Canada - www.bac-lac.gc.ca - has a treasure-trove of information. Their records pertain to the War of 1812, the rebellions, South African War, the First World War and the Second World War, and include war diaries, muster rolls, medical registers, service files and photos. More digitized files for the First World War are being added to the site every two weeks with completion expected sometime in 2018, so keep checking back.
Run For the Border
Another thought: consider reviewing the Canadian military records that the U.S.-based genealogy organization Family Search - https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Canada_Military_Records
- has. These include military records from the Loyalist Era, and conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries. Family Search also has indexes and links to national census records, which could prove helpful.
The final lines of Major John McCrea’s poem, In Flanders Field applies aptly to genealogists:
"The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields."
Let’s keep their stories alive as we observe Remembrance Day.
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Joy Neighbors writes the weekly cemetery culture blog, A Grave Interest http://agraveinterest.blogspot.com/ and speaks on history, genealogy and folklore around the country.
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