The details of 600,000 Canadian men and women have been added to the Lives of the First World War digital database for people to add pictures and memories.
Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War, delivered in partnership with DC Thomson Family History, launched in May this year with the records of those who served with the British Army overseas – over 4.5 million men and 40,000 women.
Now the Canadian Expeditionary Forces databases and attestation papers will be available on the site.
Family members and researchers can add details to the basic information to build up a picture of those who played a crucial role in the First World War and remember them in a digital record.
Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, said: “Library and Archives Canada’s index to the Canadian Expeditionary Forces (CEF) records is one of the institution’s most popular database.
“LAC is delighted that Lives of the First World War features CEF records. This will ensure more people are informed about Canada’s war effort and the contribution made by those Canadian citizens.”
Among those whose stories will feature online from the newly added Canadian Expeditionary Forces databases and attestation papers are two nurses, Sister Minnie Folette and Sister Alexina Dussault, who both lost their lives when the hospital ship Llandovery Castle was torpedoed on 27 June 1918 after returning wounded soldiers back to Canada and Adruenna Allen Tupper who served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps.
Since the launch of Lives of the First World War over 25,000 life stories have been remembered online and 18,181 images have been uploaded to the site.
Over the coming months, millions of additional new records will be added to Lives of the First World War – from the Royal Flying Corp/Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Forces along with the records of almost 17,000 conscientious objectors.
IWM is also seeking to include the Indian Army, Home Front workers and all others who made a contribution from across the British Empire.
A Centenary News story on the launching of Lives of the First World War is here
Posted by Mike Swain, Deputy Editor Centenary News.