Searching for Service Records from WW2

[Perfekt]

Hi guys,

Im currently on a hunt for military service records of my Grandfather. I am guessing he served with PWOR because at the time that he joined up, he lived in Parham, and im guessing that Kingston is as close as it gets.

How would you recommend i find this data? what resources would there be? This is what im looking for:

-Details of what company he served with
-service #
-details on where the platoon went in Europe and when
-any possible photographs
Should i also point out that he was NOT killed in the war.

Any help you guys can offer would be great.

Kind regards

Perfekt

 

[Michael OLeary]

This page provides guidance on requesting service records:

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/genealogie/022-909.007-e.html

How to Send an Inquiry Concerning Your Own or Another Individual's Records

    * Your request must be signed.
    * To identify a file, we require surname, full given name(s), date of birth, and service number or social insurance number.
    * If you do not know the date of birth, service number or S.I.N. (social insurance number), secondary information (e.g., the names of next of kin, postings, dates of service, place of enlistment) can assist in identifying the correct individual.
    * Consult the section below on Access Restrictions.
    * Please specify what document(s) you require. If you are doing family history research, we recommend that you request a "genealogy package," which will include copies of selected documents from the file that highlight/summarize the individual's service.
    * We do not accept e-mail inquiries for these records.
    * We do not accept e-mail inquiries for these records. Inquiries must be sent by mail or fax.
    * Your request can be written as a letter or you can print off a blank copy of the Application Form, which should be filled in, signed and sent by mail or fax.
    * Inquiries should be sent by mail or fax to:

Personnel Records Unit
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0N3
Fax: (613) 947-8456

 

[Perfekt]

Thanks O'Leary!

just the spot, thanks a million!

 

[klambie]

Based on my experience, you will generally need to get into the war diary to extract info like Coy assignments, movement, etc.  Some of these have been microfilmed and can be borrowed, but many are still original copies that can only be accessed at the Archives in Ottawa.  Try this search tool to see what's available:

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02010502_e.html

Use National Defence - RG 24 to limit the search.

Note that diaries vary in the amount of information they preserve, so I have seen (or heard of) some that make it possible to identify the Coy assigment of every fatal casualty (presumably representative of the entire unit), while others make this virtually impossible for all but a handful.  If he joined up early and remained with the unit, that may make things easier.  Reinforcements can be hard to track.

If you haven't done so, see if there is a published history of unit.  That may have done some of this leg work for you.

Hope this helps.

Kevin Lambie

 

[jonsey1984]

you see my mother was very close to him while growing up, but i'm not sure what unit he was in, where he was stationed, or where he was while he served. i'm also trying to figure out if there are any medals or decorations to be had. anything to help would be useful.