1945: 25K Cdn Troops "lost" through gov't folly

Discussion in 'Canada' started by Jimmie Sigs, Nov 11, 2011.

  1. Jimmie Sigs

    Jimmie Sigs Junior Member

    I have a problem. I've lost a sheaf of notes dealing with SNAFU WITH post WW2 demobilization of returning Canadian troops.

    Tis major SNAFU resulted in 25,000 Cdn. military personnel - mostly from European Theatre -:

    (a) being told to go on home as there were not enough personnel to immediately process and document their return. "We'll call you after we
    increase our clerical staff. . ."

    (b) after a few years, the returning troops, having somehow re-entered civilian post-war Canada, tended to forget all about the bureaucratic requirements of demobilization.

    (c) however, the government personnel didn't forget. But they realized that there were now up to 25,000 military personnel who werel, for all intents and purposes, deemed to be A.W.L. (or A.W.O.L. u.s. version.)

    (d) realizing the potential for bad optics and insane costs, the government decided against hunting down, arresting, detaining, Courts Martial and inevitable punishment - anything from incarceration to a firing squad the 25,000.

    (e) the problem, however, would not go away. Government Solution? Destroy ALL Service Records of these 25,000 combatants, effectively eliminating them and their families from any possible Veterans' Benefits.

    (f) it took 15 to 25 years before this horrific injustice came to light and was the subject of some public scrutiny. There remain about 10,000 to 15,000 individuals and descendants still outside the net.

    (g) All 'net references & citations found 8 to 10 years ago, regarding this affair, seem to have been eradicated. Or, at least I have not been able to find anything about this. Not one iota, not a scintilla.

    Anyone have any clues, hints, pointers? Help.


    many thanks,

    Jimmie Sigs

    t.e.& o.e.

    :poppy:
     
  2. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Jimmie,
    Where do you hail from?
    I have used a researcher based in Ottawa to obtain service records. If you want his email address, please send me a PM with yours.

    Cheers from Toronto
     
  3. marktwain

    marktwain Member

    Jimmie,
    Where do you hail from?
    I have used a researcher based in Ottawa to obtain service records. If you want his email address, please send me a PM with yours.

    Cheers from Toronto
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    I'd like to see some sourcing for the story..

    I do know thaty a number of service records were sealed for men & women who had not been able to cope with the Theatre they were dispatched to, the events they had witnessed , etc., & had gone AWOL.
     
  4. marktwain

    marktwain Member

    Jimmie,
    Where do you hail from?
    I have used a researcher based in Ottawa to obtain service records. If you want his email address, please send me a PM with yours.

    Cheers from Toronto
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    A one time poster & member!~

    We tried ...:D
     

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