Topic: LAC
With increasing interest in reasearch of the Canadian Expeditionary Force of the First World War, Library and Archives Canada has taken the step to share a set of research guides compiled by one of its own researchers. For research beyond the service records of individual soldier, these thematic guides provide a comprehensive instricution to the holding in the LAC for CEF units.
Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Library and Archives Canada holds multiple records and files for the First World War (1914–1918), mostly for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). It is necessary to consider all of these records together in order to fully understand the Canadian contribution to this war. The Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force is a unique finding aid that brings together references to records and files scattered throughout several fonds, which relate to almost every unit in the CEF.
The guide was originally developed over many years by Barbara Wilson, an archivist with the former National Archives of Canada, now Library and Archives Canada. The guide has subsequently been updated with more recent acquisitions from official records, private papers and diaries, and by many other contributors from Library and Archives Canada. The guide was reviewed and updated with references to the Ministry of Militia and Defence records and daily orders, which are described by Library and Archives Canada as Record Group 9 or RG9.
The guide is an indispensable starting point for researching the records that document Canada's participation in the First World War. Researchers can begin their search with the military personnel service files, but this is just the beginning. The guide can point to many other primary sources such as the daily orders, private papers and diaries.
For researchers interested in a specific unit, the guide is particularly helpful since it brings together information about the unit as well as access to the most relevant files that have been identified and listed. Please note that more information on particular units may be also found in records of higher formations (e.g. corps, divisions, or brigades) and general subject files, for example, HQ 683 – 1 – 12 in Record Group 24. Another source to consider is the publication The Canadian Military Experience 1867–1967: A Bibliography by O.A. Cooke (Ottawa, 1979, second edition, 1984).
- Artillery (PDF Version, 793 KB)
- Canadian Army Medical Corps (PDF Version, 882 KB)
- Canadian Army Service Corps (PDF Version, 370 KB)
- Army Troop Companies, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 162 KB)
- Field Companies and Battalions, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 627 KB)
- Miscellaneous Units, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 126 KB)
- Pontoon Bridging Transport Units, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 145 KB)
- Signal Service, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 218 KB)
- Tramway Companies, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 153 KB)
- Canadian Forestry Corps (PDF Version, 609 KB)
- Canadian Garrison Regiment (PDF Version, 160 KB)
- Canadian Mounted Rifles (PDF Version, 336 KB)
- Canadian Ordnance Corps (PDF Version, 131 KB)
- Canadian Railway Troops (PDF Version, 375 KB)
- Cavalry (PDF Version, 363 KB)
- Cyclists (PDF Version, 158 KB)
- Depot Battalions (PDF Version, 212 KB)
- Divisional Ammunition Column (PDF Version, 279 KB)
- Employment Companies (PDF Version, 150 KB)
- Entrenching Battalions (PDF Version, 138 KB)
- Infantry Works Companies (PDF Version, 172 KB)
- Infantry Battalions (PDF Version, 3,020 KB)
- Labour Battalions (PDF Version, 163 KB)
- Machine Gun Units (PDF Version, 548 KB)
- Miscellaneous Infantry Units (PDF Version, 136 KB)
- Miscellaneous (PDF Version, 131 KB)
- Pioneer Battalions (PDF Version, 267 KB)
- Reserve Battalions (PDF Version, 388 KB)
- Trench Mortar Batteries and Groups (PDF Version, 290 KB)
- Tunnelling Companies and Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 182 KB)
- Canadian Army Veterinary Corps (PDF Version, 176 KB)
Follow 