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Second World War Service Files: Canadian Armed Forces War Dead
Search Help
- Background
- Database
- Search Screen
- How to interpret the search results
- How to consult a file or order a copy
- Other Resources
During the Second World War, approximately 709,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the Canadian Army, 200,000 in the Royal Canadian Navy and 250,000 in the Royal Canadian Air Force, 55,000 were wounded and 44,093 lost their lives: 24,531 served in the Army, 17,393 in the Air Force and 2,269 in the Navy.
Library and Archives Canada holds the service files of those who served with the Canadian Armed Forces from the South African War (1899-1902). Records for the South African War are indexed and can be searched in our Soldiers of the South African War database. References to those who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force can be found in our Soldiers of the First World War database. Restrictions apply to the release of personal information from most military service files after 1918. For complete details about how to submit a request, please consult What to Search - Topics: Military: Canadian Forces after 1918.
Only the files for those who died in service during the Second World War are opened to the public and are grouped as a unique collection within the Department of National Defence Fonds (Record Group 24). In order to be included in this collection, the individual's name must appear in the:
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.cwgc.org/ - The Books of Remembrance.
www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/
books&CFID=13061604&CFTOKEN=56237905
This collection includes the service files for the following individuals who died between 1939 and 1947:
- those killed in action;
- those who subsequently died of injuries related to service; and
- those who died as a result of accident or illness while in service
The files contain documents relating to:
- enlistment;
- military units with which they served (Canadian Army);
- names of ships on which they served (Royal Canadian Navy);
- squadrons with which they served (Royal Canadian Air Force);
- medical records;
- dental charts;
- evaluation reports;
- medal entitlements;
- cause of death, burial details and estate records.
Army: Sample Documents from Elmer Brant, B37150
[PDF 3,689 KB]
Navy: Sample Documents from William Roy Smith's File, V69625
[PDF 3,611 KB]
Air Force: Sample Documents from Loise Alphonse Leon Renaud, J25372
[PDF 2,910 KB]
The files do not indicate the locations of overseas postings or list battles in which an individual may have participated. That information can be gleaned by researching relevant unit war diaries, squadron operations record books or ships' logs. Published sources may also be of interest.
This research tool provides access to 44,093 references to the files for those who died in service during the Second World War. If you cannot find a reference in the database, contact our Access to Information, Privacy and Personnel Records Division, using our online Genealogy Inquiry Form.
The database search screen contains the following search fields:
Name
Given name(s)
Service number
The search screen allows you to search by the name of individual. You can enter a surname and/or given name(s) and/or a service number. It is not necessary to enter a search term in all three fields.
Note that some entries include only an initial for the given names. Try searching by surname only. Names can also be written different ways. The entries reflect the spelling of names as they appear in the files.
Note that some entries include only an initial for the given names. Try searching by surname only. Names can also be written different ways. The entries reflect the spelling of names as they appear in the files.
The wildcard character * replaces a string of character(s) or letter(s) e.g. CUMMIN* for CUMMIN, CUMMING or CUMMINGS.
When entering a service number, note that they begin with a letter, e.g. B13592. If the letter is not known, you can use the ? wildcard character, e.g. ?13592
You can also search the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem
to identify a service number or confirm a name.
Army officers did not have service numbers. They were identified by their name and rank only.
If you do not find a relevant reference, try searching with only one given name instead of all given names.
When you have entered your search terms, click on "Submit." The number of hits found will be shown at the top of the results screen.
How to interpret the search results
Results List
Your search results will appear as a list sorted by column, containing information that will allow you to identify a relevant service file. You can export the results to a portable data storage device or to your own computer.
The results page contains the following details:
Name (Surname and Given name(s))
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Service number
With regard to Date of Birth, please note that some individuals may have indicated an incorrect year of birth because they were underage or overage.
The Service Number refers to the identification number assigned to the individual when he or she enlisted. Army officers did not have service numbers. They were identified by their name and rank only.
Click on the underlined name of the individual of interest to you for a more detailed description.
Detailed Description
The detailed description contains the following fields:
Name (Surname and Given name(s))
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Service number
Rank
Unit
Force
Service Number
Reference
Volume
Extra Information
How to consult a file or order a copy
Library and Archives Canada has started to add digitized copies of the files to the database to make them more accessible, to help preserve the originals and to avoid copying the same file more than once.
For files not yet digitized, you can order photocopies or scanned images. The cost is the same. When a digital copy is requested, the complete file will be scanned and the digital images will be added to the database the next time it is reloaded. In this way, all Canadians can help contribute to the preservation of our country's military heritage.
Once you have located a reference of interest in the database, you have the following options:
Option #1
You can order a copy of a complete file from our Consultation Services. Note that requests for copies must include the name, service number, archival reference and volume number. Files can include as many as 200 or more pages. Due to the large volume of requests we receive, we cannot pre-count the pages for you.
Option #2
If you are doing family history research, you can request a "genealogy package". The package will include copies of selected documents from the file that highlight/summarize the individual's service, including enlistment, units served, family details, etc. Note that requests must include the name, service number, archival reference and volume number.
Requests for a genealogy package can be sent using our online Genealogy Inquiry Form or by mail or fax to:
ATIP and Personnel Records Division
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington St.
Ottawa ON
K1A 0N4
Fax: (613) 947-8456
Option #3
You are welcome to visit Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa to consult the file on-site and to order copies of documents. Note that the files are stored off-site and can be pre-ordered before your visit.
Option #4
You can hire a local free-lance researcher to consult files and obtain copies of documents on your behalf.
These individuals are also commemorated on the following websites:
Books of Remembrance
www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/books
Veteran Affairs Canada: Canadian Virtual War Memorial
www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.cwgc.org/
Library and Archives Canada
War diaries and other operations records
Online resources
ARCHIVED - Through a Lens: Dieppe in Photography and Film (LAC)
Canada and the Second World War
(Veterans Affairs Canada)
www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/secondwar/Canada2
Links to Other Web sites (courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada)
www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=links
The Memory Project
www.thememoryproject.com/
Published Sources
Consult our Bibliography for books on the Second World War. If your local library does not hold a copy of a particular publication, you can ask your librarian to borrow a copy on your behalf from another library through interlibrary loan.
Many books have been written that tell the history and activities of specific regiments during the war. You can search for a particular title using the online catalogue AMICUS.
On the search screen, select Entire AMICUS database.
Select Title Keyword rather than Title Browse, then enter the regiment name in quotation marks, e.g. "Loyal Edmonton", "Régiment de la Chaudière". A list of titles will be generated. Click on Locations to see which libraries hold copies of those publications.
