Library and Archives Canada

[chaudiere1944]

I will be visiting Ottawa on business for a couple days at then end of the month and while there want to go for my first Visit to the Library and Archives Canada.

I have my User Card and I have roughly 34 items that I want to access that I found from their website. Any advice that anyone can offer for my LAC visit to make it more fruitful?

Best,
Mike

[Bill A]

Hi Mike, I believe you can pre-order these items. I would certainly investigate that option. Many records are not kept on site, and have to be ordered in.
What are you researching? Personell files or regimental material?

[chaudiere1944]

Hi Bill,

I was hoping to access the War Diary of Le Regiment de la Chaudiere and additionally I want to view and perhaps have reproduced a number of Photographs that do not have a link on their website (approx. 30 items). I will also try and have a look at my Grandfathers service file.

I just finished chatting with someone at LAC and she suggested that due to the amount of info I was looking for, that rather than try to do it all at once that I do a bit at a time because according to her you are only allowed to access/order 10 items from their website at a time. I think that is what I will do...having never been there before I better not try to 'bite off more than I can chew".



Mike

[Bill A]

Hi Mike, IIRC, the war diaries are not on site and have to be ordered in. I wonder if they may be worth copying in their entirity for your research? That can be ordered, rather than examined.

[Recce]

Mr Bill is correct many documents can't be viewed on LAC. As example CHMQ Reports many need to order. Many documents you must apply to get permission, can't Photo Copy as war diaries can only be viewed and read by Appointment as other documents, while others they have available on the LAC site,.

You can also put the pieces together form D-Day to The Breskens Pocket and so on, like I did for The Black Watch. Took me years to gather Primary Source accounts all the Maps of Canadian advances as battles throughout Normandy, Belgium, Netherlands as Germany and the Italian campaign. Every Year on remembrance day I talk to my Regiments WWII Vets, or check the Legion Le Chaudiere vets many hang out at one legion they have many vets the beer is cheap and you get first hand accounts from The Second World War.


See Juno Beach Center.

Whoever Le Régiment de la Chaudière
Le Régiment de la Chaudière was a French Canadian regiment from the province of Quebec. Their task on D-Day was to pass through the Queen's Own Rifles (QOR) and head south until they ran into the Germans. They landed near Bernières at 8:30. Coming in on the rising tide, many of the landing craft struck concealed mines. 'A' Company had four of its five LCA's damaged. The occupants had no option but to throw off their equipment and swim to shore. The Chaudière's reorganized behind the beach wall while the QOR cleared the remaining German resistance in Bernières. They then moved to their assembly area in the wooded area on the south edge of Bernières . Along the way they were greeted by the locals who were surprised and delighted to learn they spoke French.


http://www.members.shaw.ca/junobeach/juno-4-3.htm


trying to cut round the rear, had encountered the Regiment de la Chaudiere, resulting in an enemy loss of many men
and seventeen half-tracks, and their final withdrawl for the night.

http://www.junobeach.org/e/2/can-eve-rod-nor-bur-e.htm



Canadian Participation In The World War II Battle To Win The Breskens Pocket: Army, Part 35
March 1, 2001, by Terry Copp

This manoeuvre caught the enemy by surprise. The Queen’s Own Rifles took over Biervliet and launched a powerful thrust that cracked through the enemy. Joined by the North Shores and Le Régiment de la Chaudière, the QORs advanced rapidly linking up with 4th Div. on Oct. 15. The divisional engineers immediately went to work clearing minefields, exploding obstacles and improving road beds. The forces inside the pocket could now be guaranteed adequate supplies.

http://www.legionmagazine.com/en/ind...eskens-pocket/


Canadian Regiments stationed in Worthing Area one was, Le Régiment de la Chaudière.


Theres a Book Called "Le Regiment de la Chaudiere"
Castonguary, Jacques and Armand Ross.
Beauceville, Quebec: Imprimerie L'Eclaireur, 1983



Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière moving through the village, 6 June 1944.


.

[chaudiere1944]

Thanks Bill for the advice...I will see if I can order the War Diary and have it copied in its entirety.

I also e-mailed the Canadian War Museum today...specifically the Curator for Dress/Insignia asking whether I could visit and inspect privately their collection of Chaudiere artifacts...I am awaiting a reply. Anyone know if this is even possible or am I dreaming in technicolour?

Recce...thanks for your post. I actually plan on piecing together their history as you did with the Black Watch using the War Diary and information I already have in my collection including the book you recommended by Castonguay/Ross (1983) and also I have the rare (only 2000 copies) Le Geste du Regiment de la Chaudiere (1945) by Ross/Gauvin. I wish I was able to go to the Legion's in Quebec and converse with the Veterans but alas 2 things make it very difficult...one being I live in the Toronto area and two, in spite of being half Acadian my French language skills are very primitive.


Mike

[servicepub]

Originally Posted by Recce

.. As example CHMQ Reports many need to order. Many documents you must apply to get permission, can't Photo Copy as war diaries can only be viewed and read by Appointment as other documents, while others they have available on the LAC site.

Not quite.
First, CMHQ Reports are specific historical summaries assembled/written by the CMHQ Historical Section. These are all on-line at the DHH site. Originals can be viewed and self-copied (free of charge) at DHH. Public access is only Tuesday and Wednesday and they are in an obscure building on Holly Lane, In Ottawa's East end.
All Second World War War Diaries are available, but require 24 hours to order as they are off-site. In fact, nearly everything requires 24 hours. The War Diaries can be photocopied by LAC bt the cost is high per page and there are a lot of pages. If you bring a digital camera though, you can take a photo of every page. You can complete a form that allows you to do this in the evening also.
If you wish to view photos go to the Special Collections area (on the 3rd Floor) and ask to see the "Red Books". There are 110 volumes of contact sheets and, again, you can use your digital camera to take copies of these. The first 10-12 volumes are 35mm and don't photograph well but the remainder are large format contact sheets and you can get decent images for your private use.
If you order 10 items prior to your visit then on the first day you go to LAC order the remainder right away. These will be available to you the following day. You can get storage lockers which will hold these while you are in town. They also allow you to go in for evening work.
I may be out of town at the end of the month but call/PM me and I can guide you around the vagaries of LAC (I work just a couple of streets away.)
Clive