Lincoln and Welland

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[Bill Miller]

Hi Brad,

I don't know how much you know already, but a few basic things can be sought online.

From the Veterans Affairs Website (Virtual War memorial)
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/s...sualty=2663327

Lieutenant WALLACE OLDING FRASER who died on January 26, 1945

Military Service:
Age: 28
Force: Army
Unit: Lincoln and Welland Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Additional Information:
Son of Wallace Olding Fraser and Isabel Fraser; husband of Elizabeth Fraser, of Westville, Nova Scotia.
Commemorated on Page 516 of the
Second World War Book of Remembrance.
Burial Information: Cemetery: GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

The Lincoln & Welland have (had?) a museum, the website has not been updated since 2004!! And it states it was closing for the rest of that year. There are links there to email addresses for "research". Hopefully they still work?:
http://www.lwmuseum.ca/


For really detailed information you could order the man's Service Record with the above information? KIA files are open to the public. Service records are not that detailed typically, mostly facts and figures on postings, appointments, awards, medical history, etc. Not too much personal data to give you any sense of a person's personality. Also, in his service record you probably won't find much, if any, detail on the circumstance of his death unless there was an official inquiry. Except for unusual accidents or circumstances, there were not inquiries into the deaths of front line combatants.

You could order the L&W War Diaries/Part 1 orders for details on actions/movements/daily orders (If not available through the L&W Museum?).
The National Archives Website:
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/04/0...l#registration

Just be aware that there is a long waiting list for getting records through written request. If your research is urgent, it may be better to go to the archives yourself or hire a freelance researcher to get specific information for you.


You might just want to start with basic information that can be had in the two Regimental history Books I found online. These could be purchased from ABEbooks.com if not available at your local Library or through Inter-Library loans:

HISTORY OF THE LINCOLN AND WELLAND REGIMENT.
Author: Rogers, R.L., Major.
Book Description: Privately printed, 1954., 1954. 465 pp, large 8vo (9 1/4" H), hard cover (red cloth with black lettering on spine/front board) - no dust jacket. B&w photos, maps. Contents: The Lincoln Militia in the War of 1812; The Organization of the 19th and 44th Battalions; 1867-1914; The G reat War of 1914-1919; 1919-1939; Mobilization; Service in Canada; Service in Newfoundland; Training in the United Kingdom; Operation "Overlord"; The First Fortnight; The Falaise Gap; The Pursuit into Belgium; The Drive to the Maas; The Winter on th e Maas; Kapelsche Veer; Operation "Blockbuster"; Operation "Haymaker"; Operation "Eclipse"; Reallocation; Demobilization; Appendices: Commanding Officers; Allocation of men of the C.E.F. Battalions perpetuated; Regimental Staffs and Company Commande rs, to the Great War 1914-19; Service in the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870; Order of Battle, 4th Canadian Armoured Division; Decorations Awarded to Personnel while on Strength of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment; Table of Casualties, by Periods; Nom inal Roll of Officers and Men who Served with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment between 26th August, 1939, and 29th January, 1946.

THE LINCS;A HISTORY OF THE LINCOLN AND WELLAND REGIMENT AT WAR
Author: HAYES, GEOFFREY
Book Description: 1986. Maple Leaf Route, 139pp, ills, plates, maps, inscr, d/j, fine, quarto, hb. This Canadian Regiment comprising of men from the Niagara region of Ontario h as a proud history dating from 1812. Re-activated in 1936 and after intensive training, it landed on the Normandy bridgehead on July 25, 1944 - its missio n was to support the Allied advance from Caen to Falaise. Traces the regiment s combat exploits from its first battle at Tilly-La-Campagne to encounters we ll into the heart of Germany, describing the heroic action of Major Lambert M .C. who won his decoration during the Battle of Bergan op Zoom, where he was a Company Commander. Details its operations up to April 1945 including "Block buster" - the Battle of the Rhineland.

Well, that's a start anyway!?

Bill.