WWII service records

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morrisdcode

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Looking for Canadian service records for my deceased Grandfather, served overseas.

Where to start? any help would be appreciated.

Thanks Dave
 
Request Information through the Access to Information Department/Act. If it's a reasonable request they HAVE to give it to you by law.
 
morrisdcode said:
Looking for Canadian service records for my deceased Grandfather, served overseas.
Click to expand...

In my position at NDHQ a few years ago, I used to go through WW2 and Korea era service records to answer Ministerial inquiries (from VAC or other MPs). As mentioned above, they're available from the National Archives for close family members at this time; eventually, they'll be more accessible to the general public once they've been deceased for a certain number of years (such as it is for WW1 vets).

For those servicemen who were in uniform only during the war, although interesting to look through, you may find that your grandfather's service records won't answer many of the questions you may have. For example, if he was a pilot in Bomber Command, it may tell you what airframes he was qualified on, but won't tell you what missions he flew, what squadron he was in or where he was based and at what times. It will give you rank info, pay info, medical and dental records, disciplinary action (if any), copies of ID photos and all the paperwork associated with being demobilized at the cessation of hostilities, but no action photos, maps, notes or after action reports. My uncle was a medic that served in Europe from D-Day to VE day but his records are very thin on what he did, where he did it and with whom. The medical records may provide some info if he was wounded of where he was at the time and what happened, and sometimes, in the case of aircrew, you may see copies of accident reports. Another of my uncles was a Pathfinder pilot for Bomber Command after having completed two tours. His records held minimum information; all the good stuff was in his personal flight log books (which he burnt a year before he passed in 1997, he didn't want us to know where he had been and what raids he had participated in, or led:().

All just to say that they're worth looking through, but it won't tell you about his regiment, ship or squadron, or what he did where, when and with whom. Obviously, if your grandfather served for a significant period after the war, then you'll find much more (and often better) info as they had more time to dedicate to record keeping.
 
There's a little bit of confusion for requesting records for WWII personnel on here so hopefully I can clear things up a bit. I've requested a number of files of WWII personnel with success so here is the page you need:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-909.007-e.html

This has all the information you need to retrieve the files. First off, you must have proof that the veteran is deceased (obituary, death certificate, picture of gravestone) and you will have to include this in your request. If the veteran has passed away within the last twenty years, you will need proof of relationship as well. I believe for individuals deceased less than twenty years, they also exclude some sensitive medical information.

You will have to complete the form to the best of your ability. The links that were posted earlier were for WWI and they do not have the equivalent information for WWII veterans online. As dirtytwo said, they should eventually be posted.

Once you've completed the form (the more info the better) you send off your application and wait until they reply. They send a letter confirming your request and I believe they say the backup is about six months before you get the records. Last ones I got were about five months so a bit of a wait.

Now as dirtytwo also mentioned, the records won't have everything but I find them to be extremely helpful. It also really depends on which branch he served in and the regiment as well. The files will list the transfers to which regiments and companies if applicable, his postings, etc. I know that different regiments will provide different information so this page could be one or ten pages in length. However, once you know the regiment he served in and the time period, if you are interested in a particular piece of information, it should also list the Part II Order number that accompanied the transfer, order, etc. I would really recommend contacting the museum of the regiment if they have one. I volunteer for a local museum and we have copies of Part II Orders and War Diaries and have helped people find their family members in these. Again depending on the regiment, these can be very helpful or very brief.

Hope this helps!
 
Some years back I asked for my Great Uncles records from WW1. He was KIA Sept.19 1917. I received his entire service records, attestation papers, pay records, and the war diary of the day he was killed and how ( instantly by artillery fire ) and where he was buried. The most amazing thing is that they also sent a photo that he carried with him of his father. On the back he had written" property of Archie MacLeod" along with his service number. I suppose it had some how missed being sent home and was just put in the files. I have the framed letter sent by King George V that was sent to the families. Sorry OP, I know this is not an answer to your question, but this info is available to you also.
 
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You can find out missions flown for aircrew if you get that far. PRO in Kew sent to a researcher in Canada all of the mission notes and logs for Grandads crew.
 
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