Library and Archives Canada announced yesterday it has digitized and posted 76,300 WWI service files online. Regular uploads of about 5,000 files will take place every two weeks. All digitized files are searchable by name, regimental number and rank.
In January 2014, LAC announced it plans to digitize 640,000 Canadian Expeditionary Force personnel service files as part of the First World War commemoration activities of the Government of Canada. Doing so provides free access to high-quality digital copies of all service files in PDF format — and helps preserve them by limiting future handling of the brittle records.
While some of us thought the service files were being digitized in alphabetical order, it appears they are being scanned by box. I found Allans, Greens, and Youngs about the newly digitized records, but not one Dever.
Intially, I found it difficult to figure out which files were digitized. Then, I discovered that if I chose Yes next to Digitized File, only the digitized records appear, narrowing down the search. This saved a lot of time and needless clicking on names that had not yet been digitized.
When you find a name, click on it. In the middle of the next screen, you will see a thumbnail image of the attestation papers. To the right, you will see Digitized Service Files — PDF Format (see image below), and this is where you will find the high-quality images of the service file, including both sides of the envelope. Downloading the images can take a wee bit of time, but the wait is worth it. If you are unsure if Harry Green is your Harry Green, first look at the attestation papers to save time.
In these early stages of the digitization project, knowing which files have been digitized is a bit hit and miss. Nevertheless, I am glad LAC is uploading a batch at a time, rather than making us wait until the project is completed. I have already found the records for two of my ancestors.
You can start your search by clicking on The Database on Soldiers of the First World War: 1914-1918.
Thanks Gail for the helpful steps to save us time and improve our chances to find records.