Resources
The following provides links to some of the relevant sites for primary materials that may be useful in your research. This is not an exhaustive list of what is available.
These first sites are the basic starting points for research on First World War Canadian soldiers:
The Canadian
Letters and Images Project
These are part of your required materials for your assignments.
Canadian Expeditionary Force Attestation Papers
These are the attestation papers for every Canadian who served (including
nurses).
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
This provides information about the location of cemetery or memorial for every
Canadian who died in the war. It provides useful information such as the
date of death and sometimes other useful personal details.
War
Diaries
These are the written records of each unit during the war. The diaries
provide a physical location for the activities of each soldier. Very
useful in ascertaining what was happening when soldiers were wounded or killed.
Circumstances of Death Register
These files provide additional information about how a soldier died. They
vary in content from simply "killed in action" to more detailed circumstances
and locations.
Lest We Forget Information
Package
Produced by Library and Archives Canada, this is a very valuable resource.
It demonstrates how to read a CEF service file, provides a list of abbreviation
used, divisions of the Canadian forces, and a listing by year of battles and
engagements in which Canadian forces participated.
Researching Canadian Soldiers of the First World War
Another valuable resource produced by Michael O'Leary. It is very
comprehensive, beginning with a discussion of service records and their content.
As well there are sections on the war diaries, battlefield locations and maps,
and much more, each with further links. A good starting point for these
topics.
The C.E.F. Paper Trail
A comprehensive guide to the type of records you might find in the service
records. An excellent resource for identifying the different documents.
Service Records
This is a discussion forum from The Canadian Expeditionary Study Group which
focuses on service records. Some of the discussions may be relevant to
your own research.
The 1901
Canada Census
An important starting point for all soldiers.
The 1906
Prairie Census
This applies only to the three prairie provinces.
The 1911
Canada Census
An important starting point for all soldiers.
The 1916
Prairie Census
This applies only to the three prairie provinces.
Peel's Prairie Provinces
City directories for cities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
British Columbia
City Directories
Online directories for selected BC cities.
Ontario City Directories
Links to over eighty online directories for various Ontario cities.
Toronto City Directories
City directories for selected years.
Veterans Death Cards
If your soldier survived the war, this will provide information about the date
and circumstances of his death following the war.
The National Inventory of Military Memorials
A listing of military memorials (cenotaphs, etc.) across Canada created by the
Directorate of History and Heritage, a part of National Defence. This can
be searched by province and community, and the results can include photographs
of the memorial and names on that memorial.
Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group
An online forum for those interested in the First World War. There is a
wealth of information and research that can be found. Certainly one of the
sites you need to spend some time with.
Websites for The Great War
This is a very comprehensive and very useful list of relevant WWI websites,
compiled by the CEF Study Group.
Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War: Canadian
Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919.
This is the standard history of the CEF by Nicholson. Very useful.
Regimental and Battalion Histories
A starting selection available through Internet Archive.
War and
Military
A link to the relevant section of Library and Archives Canada, which
includes links to their own internal collections as well as extensive links to
relevant external sites.
Canada and
The First World War
Resources from The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa
Ship Passenger List Index
Compiled by the Nanaimo Family History Society, this list
passengers arriving in Quebec port from 1903 to 1910. This might be useful
as many members of the CEF had only recently arrived in Canada.
Our
Future Our Past
Online newspapers for Alberta from the Alberta Heritage Digitization Project
Canada
Online Historical Newspapers
A range of newspapers from across Canada
Newspapers at Library and Archives Canada
Scroll down their list and there is a very good range of newspapers available
online.
These sites are also very useful depending on the research you are doing:
Great War Forum
A British online forum with some useful and interesting discussions.
Ottawa
(Lisgar) Collegiate Institute in the First World War
This is a fascinating project which has mapped the location of former students
who had died, along with some personal information where available.
No Man's Land:
The Battlefield Paintings of Mary Riter Hamilton
An exhibition from The University of Manitoba