WW1 soldiers research
 

Recently I was updated with some info regarding the past of my late grandfather.
He was brought to Canada undder a plan by Dr Barnardo (Home Children) and his past was very sketchy considering he passed away when my father was young.
There was a reference to him in an old letter to enlisting in around 1916-17 but that was all. I don't know if he ever went in to the service or not and if he was there he never spoke of it, at least to anyone in my family that is old enough to remember.
Is there a generic list anywhere without jumping through hoops that I could see that may have a listing of all those who served in WW1.
His name was James Vickery. I am not sure about his other given names but am looking for references to Vickerys serving in the CEF.

Chris, try these links to Archiva.net. Do a search and you'll come up with 11 Vickery home children and 42 WW1 enlistments. There's a James Vickery in the home children that was brought over by Dr Bernardo and there's three to choose from in the enlistment search.
Home Children
CEF Soldiers

A quick search of the Attestation Papers online show six James Vickerys that served in WWI.
Here is the link to the search, if you look at the attestation papers you may be able to figure out which one is your Grandfather by identifying NOK, place of residence, etc.

http://data4.collectionscanada.ca/ne...e.html&r=0&f=S
Soldiers of the First World War

Regards,
Jeff

Thanks guys, will do some checking!
As always the MLU network never ceases to amaze me... :cheers:

From the list I see that there are two possible but I will have to do a little more research first to figure it out. Turns out the one listing is simply for a James Vickery, no DOB and doesn't show a scan of the attestation papers!!! Could be him

Hi Chris,

Maybe Archivianet hasn't uploaded those pages as yet. I think that their "project" of uploading attestation papers is an ongoing one still ... but not certain of that.

I can't remember if the site shows the soldiers service numbers even if the papers aren't uploaded yet. Can people visiting the Archives in Ottawa do a lookup for you (using the service number)by checking records in person to see what info may be in that soldiers file to verify if he could be your grandfather ... just a thought ;)

:cheers:

Karmen

Chris, the James with no birth year died in 1916 so he's not the one.
James death

Here's another site that will help.
Barnardo Homes