great moment in genealogy 2007
TRANSCRIPT
In my Father's footsteps to the Western Front...
Planning a trip, and the role of serendipity
Mary Anne SharpeJune 2007
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Lieutenant Norman Edgar Sharpe, 26th Battalion (New Brunswick)
Military Cross awarded at Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9 April, 1917
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I had memorabilia...
Medal citation: "For conspicuous gallantry..."
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Map of Lens area of France, marked with locations
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Photos and Vimy Pilgrimage medal, 1936
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I had done some research...
● Attestation Paper
● Canadian Expeditionary Force Service File
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Then the research and planning went into high gear...
● I decided to: retire
attend the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and dedication of the newly refurbished monument in France on 9 April, 2007
● but more than that, I decided to try to walk in my Father's footsteps on the Western Front, beyond Vimy
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Further research included...
● trolling the 26th Battalion War Diaries● joining the C.E.F. Study Group Forum on
WWW ● obtaining the Battalion History: New
Brunswick's 'Fighting 26th'● finding a tour operator● doing some background reading
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But, the more I researched, the more I realized that I could followthe battalion, but I would never be absolutely surethat my Father had been with them atany given place...
And the more I came to realize that Iwanted to come as close to walking inhis footsteps as I could.
Then, one dark January night...
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"I am not sure if you know, but your Father's diaries were located at a flea marketsome time ago and published."
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Wow!
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Resources● Memorabilia: maps, medals, old photographs
● Attestation Papers, C.E.F., online (http://www.collectionscanada.ca/)
● Service Record (Library and Archives Canada)
● Battalion War Diaries, online (http://www.collectionscanada.ca/)
● Battalion History (www.abebooks.com)
● Web Forums:
C.E.F. Study Group (http://www.cefresearch.com/phpBB2/index.php)
Great War Forum (http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/)