Those of us researching Canadian soldiers of the First World War will inevitably want to learn more about the unit in which their soldier served. Regimental histories are excellent sources of information but if you don’t have access to the printed versions you will find that some are available online for free. The unit War Diaries have been online for many years and are a popular resource on the Library and Archives Canada website. A less well known but extremely helpful resource from LAC is their “Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force“.

An example from the “Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force”

The guide consists of links to over 30 PDF documents that bring together references to primary research material related to almost every unit in the CEF. This valuable finding aid is probably the best place to begin your research even if you won’t be visiting the LAC in person. The guide provides useful background information, as illustrated in the example above. This excerpt is but a small part of the 170 pages devoted to Artillery units in the CEF.

Links to all the guides are listed below. For more information please visit the Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force page on the Library and Archives Canada website:

• Artillery (PDF Version, 793 KB)
• Canadian Army Medical Corps (PDF Version, 882 KB)
• Canadian Army Service Corps (PDF Version, 370 KB)
• Army Troop Companies, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 162 KB)
• Field Companies and Battalions, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 627 KB)
• Miscellaneous Units, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 126 KB)
• Pontoon Bridging Transport Units, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 145 KB)
• Signal Service, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 218 KB)
• Tramway Companies, Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 153 KB)
• Canadian Forestry Corps (PDF Version, 609 KB)
• Canadian Garrison Regiment (PDF Version, 160 KB)
• Canadian Mounted Rifles (PDF Version, 336 KB)
• Canadian Ordnance Corps (PDF Version, 131 KB)
• Canadian Railway Troops (PDF Version, 375 KB)
• Cavalry (PDF Version, 363 KB)
• Cyclists (PDF Version, 158 KB)
• Depot Battalions (PDF Version, 212 KB)
• Divisional Ammunition Column (PDF Version, 279 KB)
• Employment Companies (PDF Version, 150 KB)
• Entrenching Battalions (PDF Version, 138 KB)
• Infantry Works Companies (PDF Version, 172 KB)
• Infantry Battalions (PDF Version, 3,020 KB)
• Labour Battalions (PDF Version, 163 KB)
• Machine Gun Units (PDF Version, 548 KB)
• Miscellaneous Infantry Units (PDF Version, 136 KB)
• Miscellaneous (PDF Version, 131 KB)
• Pioneer Battalions (PDF Version, 267 KB)
• Reserve Battalions (PDF Version, 388 KB)
• Trench Mortar Batteries and Groups (PDF Version, 290 KB)
• Tunnelling Companies and Canadian Engineers (PDF Version, 182 KB)
• Canadian Army Veterinary Corps (PDF Version, 176 KB)