Genealogy Chat

Hi were could i get a death cert for some one that was born in canada & died in the vimy war in 1918 in france, I have his death date & what he did in the war.

gilbert

Gilbert

Was he in a British Unit or Canadian?

For British yes, they are on Findmypast - if you have access look under GRO WAR DEATHS ARMY OTHER RANKS (1914 to1921) or GRO WAR DEATHS ARMY OFFICERS INDICES (1914 to 1921)

If you don't have access I'd be happy to look for you if you can provide his name, regiment, rank, number - the last three are key if a more 'commom' name

MB

If he fought in the Cdn Expeditionary Forces, he will be included in the Books of Remembrance maintained by the govt of Canada.

The Books are kept in the Peace Tower at the top of the main building on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and a page is turned each day.

You can search and view the books here:

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem

and download/print a copy of the page your man's name appears on -- very gilt and ornate.

I don't know that death certificates were issued in these cases. But you can order a copy of his service record, which would presumably include something along the lines of an official death record.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/cef/001042-100.01-e.php

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=help/generalfaq#obtain

How to order a copy of a complete service file:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/cef/001042-130-e.html#h

Hi MB His service no, is 690050 he was in the army canadian machine gun corps he was born in canada & his name was David elliott, I got the page from canada of his death.He died 9/4/1918.
thanks gilbert

Dear Gilbert,

I presume you followed up on Kathryn's links, so have seen his attestation papers, and know his dob and nok and also his 1915 civvy address. Just in case you don't know, the census for 1911 (in particular Hamilton ON) is free, online and indexed (as is 1901) from:
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/index.html
1881 (transcriptions only - no images) is online at:
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp

Beat me to it ... I kinda wondered whether my post had been invisible. ;)

Gilbert, I don't imagine there are death certificates for people killed in action in WWI. But if you follow the link to "How to order a copy of a complete service file" and contact that office, if that's not something you have already done, I'm sure they'll be able to tell you.

Is there something in particular you're looking for / wanting to know about him?

Extract from CWGC records: Please note spelling differs.

ELLIOT, DAVID
Initials: D
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Machine Gun Corps
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 09/04/1918
Service No: 690050
Additional information: Son of William and Elizabeth Elliott, of Hamilton, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. L. 6.
Cemetery: ECOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY, MONT-ST. ELOI

British casualties have death certificates, although quite abbreviated if overseas. It seems possible the same would apply in Canada.

Denis