CANADIAN ARMY FILM & PHOTO UNIT PERSONNEL

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1. Good Morning,

   I am just trying because you may know the answer.
   We in Holland are trying to get pictures of all the fallen Canadians at the Groesbeek War Cemetery. We do have a lot but still miss a bundle.
   Do you know whether at the time of enlistment pictures were taken ? If so where can one find them ? They must be with the military, somewhere ?
   You can check the work at https://www.facebook.com/FacesToGraves
   Thanks for your help
   Bob Smiet working for this group as well as for http://www.project44.ca

   Reply

   • Hi Bob – thank you for contacting me. First of all, congrats on your projects initiative, putting ‘Faces to Graves’. I will reply in more detail with a follow-up email, but for now I can say this; due to the enormous amount of photographs, negatives and prints taken during WWII, it has created a huge challenge to process these in a manner to enable easy public access. This goes for DND (Department of National Defence), as well as LAC (Library & Archives Canada). What I can tell you here, is that all of the Canadian military personnel files who were killed in action (KIA) during WWII, are currently available at LAC; https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/help/kia (Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947). And in those files, sometimes there is a photograph. Sometimes. But for those looking for more information regarding those lost during the war, this can be a good place to start. I will be in touch with. Dale.

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2. Hi Dale,

   Anything on Barney Gloster. I am looking for his cine partner on March 24th, 1945 near Xanten as the Airborne aircraft crossing the Rhine were captured. Believe they were on a hill just south of Xanten.

   See here:

   http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/a-xanten-crash-%E2%80%A6.102083/page-4#post-1035275

   Regards … Chuck (Cee)

   Reply

   • Hi Charles – thanks for reaching out – I have made a note to look into searching more in depth on what I can find on Barney Gloster – have you had a chance to search through the Army Numericals for any of his photos; https://canadianfilmandphotounit.ca/2020/04/12/library-archives-canada-army-numerical-series-110-albums-now-available-online/ – Dale

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3. Thanks Dale,

   Will check it out.

   Merci … Chuck

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4. I now have a photo of Ernie De Guire. Please let me know how to upload it if you are interested. Thanks

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   • Hi Michael, I have followed up with a reply on your last comment.
     Please stay in touch.
     Dale

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     • Hi Dale:
       Thanks for the reply, I just happened on your note above today. I don’t know where to find the reply you mentioned. I checked my email and didn’t find anything there either. I have another fantastic photo from Ernie of a young boy in Holland smoking a fag 🙂 that I suspect was never published. He obviously was very talented. Some of his shots I’ve seen were of my old unit the Camerons of Ottawa. I noticed that he is not listed in your list of army photographers. My friend & I are going out to his grave on Monday. It isn’t marked as a veteran but we are hopefully in the process of getting that changed through the Last Post Fund. You can text me if my email does not work.

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       • Hi Michael – I must admit I am behind in updating the list if military photographers – I will check to ensure Ernie DeGuire is there. As a matter of fact if you want, I did an interview with Jack and Harold Williamson that was posted today and in it there is a photo of three Film Unit cameramen; Sgt. Anderson, Williamson, and Lt. DeGuire. I will be at the Cenotaph Monday with friends. Dale.

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