Artifacts Held by the Regiment and Finding Military Records of Former Members

The Regimental Artifacts are under the care of The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment Association. Often the Regiment is asked, either in person or via our web site, about family members who served in the Regiment during peace or war. These queries are usually passed to the regimental Association that has ownership, ready access and responsibility of care for the artifacts of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment, and its predecessors.

This aide memoire is intended to answer questions on what records, documents and photos comprise the regimental collection and how to access military records of those who served in the Regiment.

Conserving our Collection

Over the years the Association has been a responsible steward of the collection:

• Annually the collection is inspected and the catalogue is updated.
• Since 1995 some artifacts are on permanent loan to Leddy Library, University of Windsor for security of irreplaceable items and storage in climate controlled facilities. These artifacts are available for public viewing.
• In 1997 the Second World War Essex Scottish war diaries were copied. These are available to the public for viewing by appointment. In 2022 PDF versions were created and specific months are available via email upon request.
• In 2006 a history of the Regiment, Duty Nobly Done, covering the period from 1800 to the present was published. All copies have been sold.
• In 2011 the Association applied and was rejected twice by the Trillium Foundation for a grant over 3 years to conserve, digitize and widely distribute visual history on DVDs.
• In 2018 the Association applied but did not receive a grant from Library and Archives Canada to digitize our collection.
• The Association received funding from Canada Summer Jobs to hire students from 2019 to 2023 for eight weeks to digitize the collection. Most items, documents, donated collections, clippings, photos and scrapbooks in the Tilston and Ansell armouries have been digitized. Work is currently underway to create an online collection which will be accessible by the public later in 2024.

The E&K Scot Collection Includes

Scrapbooks, photos, news clippings, official war diaries of The Essex Scottish Regiment, personal memorabilia, medals, personal diaries, POW trinkets, documents.

Approximately 30,000 individual items.

The collection does not include

• Personal files of soldiers who served in 18th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War; or The Essex Scottish Regiment and The Kent Regiment during the Second World War.
• Records of service for any soldiers prior to 2017. After seven years all files are shipped to National Defence Headquarters and end up in the Government of Canada archives.
• The War Diary of the 18th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.
• The War Diary of The Kent Regiment during World War Two.

Finding Military Records – General Information

• Except for the acquired collection of regimental artifacts the Regiment and its Association do not have any personal military records or rolls of those who formerly served in the Regiment and its predecessors. The best source of information is Library and Archives Canada (details below).
• Visit the Veterans Affairs Canada—Canadian Virtual War Memorial for basic info on war dead since the Korean War including where they are buried PLUS 1,500 personal accounts added by families.
• Visit the Historica-Dominion Institute for testimonials of veterans from the Second World War.
• Visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for specific details for burial site and directions for Canadians buried overseas.
• Windsor Historical Society – Veterans Memories contains memories of Windsor-Essex County veterans. This site is maintained by the Windsor Public Library.
• University of Windsor, Leddy Library archives contains limited information on those who served in E&K Scot and its predecessors.
• Windsor’s Community Museum has general info on the Regiment in Essex County.
• Windsor Public Library has census data not on the internet and extensive newspaper clippings.
• Chatham-Kent Museum has paper clippings and artifacts of the Kent Regiment.
• Chatham Public Library has census data not on the internet and extensive newspaper clippings.

Library and Archives Canada

Military Heritage Records

Canadian Forces before 1914

• Everybody has access to these records
• Militia
  • most men 16-60 served
  • search Government of Canada files database
  • search muster rolls and pay lists for regiment or county at Record Group 9
  • key words ESSEX or KENT
• Search for British military serving in Canada at Record Group 8

Government of Canada Files – samples

• File Title: 1st Regiment, Essex Militia - Regimental & Company Rolls
  Outside Dates: 1812-1814
  Finding Aid number: 9-6 3
  Reference: RG9 , Militia and Defence, Series I-B-7, Volume 32 , Reel T-10388 , Access code: 90
• File Title: 21st Essex Fusiliers 1915/03-1915/12
  Finding Aid number: 9-13 6
  Reference: RG9 , Militia and Defence, Series II-F-9, Volume 27 , Access code: 90

First World War

• go to Canadian Expeditionary Force
• go to Soldiers of the First World War
  • need surname & given name for Attestation Paper
  • everyone has access to Attestation Paper
  • only family can apply for full file, genealogy package or visit in person (cost $0.40 per page & several months)
  • some useful documents are ‘Casualty Form – Active Service’ and hospital records
  • unit war diary is available on-line, e.g. 18th Battalion

Canadian Forces after 1918 (including Second World War)

‘Open Records’ for those who died in service

• Basic info is available on-line to everybody
• Family may order full copy, genealogy package or visit. See below

‘Restricted Records' are all others who served including those who died after the war

• No access on-line at this time
• Only family may request these records
• Submit Application Form with proof of death (an obituary) & proof of relationship
• Cost is $0.40 per page & several months

For instructions and a printable copy of the application for go to Application for Military Service Information

Resources

General

• The Essex and Kent Scottish
• Military Heritage Records — Library and Archives Canada
• War Diaries of the First World War — Library and Archives Canada
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Perpetuation of the Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.), 1914-1919 — Regimental Rogue
• Canadian Virtual War Memorial — Veterans Affairs Canada
• The Memory Project

Windsor-Essex

• The Essex and Kent Scottish
• Veterans Memories — The Windsor Historical Society

Chatham-Kent

• The Essex and Kent Scottish
• contact info@gatheringourheros.ca or https://www.gatheringourheroes.ca/ for the Gathering Our Heroes Project which has an extensive database on WWI and WWII soldiers from Kent County
• Chatham Public Library at 120 Queen St., Chatham, ON, N7M 2G6 or 519-354-2940 (indexed microfilm of city newspapers from c1850)