Current Requirements to Access Canadian WW2 Service Records

[David Dunlop]

My Dad served with the QOCHofC from 1939 to 1945 and reenlisted with the Regimental Pipe Band in 1960, serving an additional 10 years. I have his wartime Pay Book and Service Number details and, if I remember correctly, his second tour with the Regiment was under his Social Insurance Number. He passed away in 1992.

Has anyone successfully navigated the current requirements to obtain copies of family Service Records for these situations?

From what I have read online, one must apparently apply for a ATIP Account at the cost of $5.00 Cdn, but this account appears to be nothing more than a confirmation tool for a multitude of Canadian Federal Government Departments, that you have been approved to make requests under the Freedom of Information Act.

Where do you go from there to obtain copies of a family members full, wartime Service Record, and any later postwar Service Record, and what are those costs?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.


David

[maple_leaf_eh]

I have applied for my father's papers, and am waiting. The usual $5 fee is deceiving. There is a cooling off period before all records will be released. I don't know who is being protected because reputations are often based of feelings not fact. The other restriction is who gets to submit the request. Not all heirs and successors are equal. I am my father's executor, but my siblings have no such legal authority and would not get as much information.

I am also not sure I will receive every document with his name on it. I suspect my father had a mental illness episode at some point during his service. The outcome I know was losing a command and some form of disciplinary proceedings. His medical records are the one thing I'd most like to have. But I'd be surprised if he was seen by an MO at all, and doubt the chain of command created such records. Any commentary could be masked in performance appraisals and letters on file from superiors. I just won't know until I see the contents of his personnel file.

[klambie]

Not directly applicable to your situation, but some general experiences.

ATIP requests have always been a bit mysterious, I've never been completely clear on why they push you that way rather than the 'old' way which I assume was under the Privacy Act. I've not heard of any significant difference between them other than that ATIP requires a response within a specific period. I've not seen any indication this has any effect on the ultimate result, there have still been long delays in getting a file. The automated 'got your request' response may be sufficient to meet the specified timeline. Once you've made the ATIP request, there is nothing more to do, it's in the queue. I would not expect any additional fees.

I stopped using or recommending direct LAC requests some years ago, especially when their backlog got to beyond 2.5 years, as it was as of early 2023. I've been using an Ottawa researcher who was typically able to turn around a file in a few weeks. He's Arnie Kay and has been recommended on here in the past. In the last 6 months, there are rumours LAC has hired up to clear the backlog, though details on current timelines are sparse. The last researcher I sent Arnie's way waited several months, I'm not clear if that's a change in how LAC responds to his requests or if he is just busy with other projects.

I have in the past received files for men with wartime service and who stayed in into the 60s. It all came with the same request. There didn't seem to be any differentiation re: redactions between war/post-war records beyond the standard 20 year rule. Deceased > 20 years means little to no redaction.

I've not done a file with a break in service as yours, you might want to make clear you want both and what details you know. I don't know if those are two seperate files to them or one 'linked' file as with continuous service. Service numbers are helpful but not strictly required. They can generally find the right file with just name/hometown/next of kin etc.

I almost always suggest requesting the complete file. The default response is what they refer to as the genealogical package and is a subset of documents with the key info most researchers are concerned with (attestation/units/dates/courses/promotions). The complete file may get you a lot of junk on dental records, pension info and the like, but you will occasionally get lucky with something that shows what Coy he was in or things like that.