Uncovering
ancestral military history has never been easier. Thanks to the
National Archives of Canada, the public can search more than 800,000
images of First World War attestation papers from the comfort of home.
And it’s free!
Although Canada had a population of less than eight million in 1914,
over 600,000 people served. At least 60,000 lost their lives.
Attestation papers can offer a wealth of information, but beware. From
researching the veterans of Guysborough County, I have discovered many
of the birth dates incorrect. The wrong date may have been recorded, or
the wrong date was given, or the recruit lied. Recruits had to be 18
years old, but few possessed official documents to prove this.
Individuals had their reasons for joining - some were patriotic, others
to keep from starving.
Be prepared when searching a common surname. There are 7,006 Smith
veterans, including 892 William Smiths. If a middle name is known, even
an initial, this can drastically reduce the number of search results.
There are only three William J. Smith veterans.
Searching with the regiment number quickly finds the veteran’s file.
Sometimes more than one veteran was assigned the same number, so don’t
be surprised if more than one search result is found.
Spelling variations can also throw a wrench into the search. Many times
the ‘Mac’ surnames were spelled ‘Mc’. Spelling problems also occurred
when a recruit was illiterate, or because he wanted to change his name.
Greencorn veterans attested as Green, and William Baker as William
Henry Anderson.
Various spellings are easier searched by using a wildcard character.
When one letter is in question, the ‘?’ is used (Sm?th for Smith and
Smyth). Names with apostrophes are searched without it (OBrien), and
two word names are quoted (“Van Horne”).
From my grandfather’s attestation papers, I learned he enlisted in
Ontario. Being born and raised in Newfoundland, I wondered why he was
there. When I told my mother, it triggered a forgotten memory. He had
been there working as a coal miner because work was scarce in his
hometown of Burin.
Because my grandfather enlisted in Ontario, he was a member of the
Canadian Forces. If he had enlisted in Newfoundland, he would have
served with British Forces. Only attestation paper images of Canadian
Forces are on this website.
Attestation papers contain the full name of the next-of-kin along with
relationship and where they lived. Also included are location of birth,
practised trade, previous military experience, marital status,
enlistment date and regiment number.
If the recruit volunteered, the back of the form recorded physical
description: age, height, weight and visible scars.
One page exists for those drafted. The Canadian government began
drafting (conscription) to bolster their forces on January 1, 1918.
Many never saw overseas service, but some were in the thick of the
action and were killed.
The website (www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020106_e.html)
explains how to request the entire military record for an individual;
or write: National Archives of Canada, Textual Records Reproduction
Services, 395 Wellington St., Ottawa, ON K1A 0N3.
Thank a veteran - we are here because
they were there.
Copyright@Diana Lynn Tibert 2006
