Durham Branch’s Nov. 3rd Virtual Meeting - Second World War : Researching the Canadians Who Served - Ken McKinlay

Join Durham Region Branch, Ontario Ancestors on Tuesday, November 3rd at 7:30 pm as we host one of our favourite speakers, Ken McKinlay.

Second World War : Researching the Canadians Who Served

Ken McKinlay's presentation delves into the wealth of records available for researching those who served Canada during the Second World War. He will explore both the poignant records of those who gave their lives in service to Canada and the rich archival resources that reveal the stories of those who survived. Whether your interest lies in uncovering military service details, personal narratives, or broader historical insights, this session hopefully provides the tools and guidance to deepen your understanding of those who served Canada in this terrible war.

Embarking on a genealogical adventure over two decades ago, Ken McKinlay's quest began

with a mission to confirm or debunk three family stories. Despite uncovering the truths behind those initial tales, Ken's passion for delving into his family's past remains steadfast, fueled by a constant stream of new questions. As a sought-after speaker by branches of Ontario Ancestors, the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, and other genealogy societies across Canada, Ken McKinlay shares his expertise through engaging talks and workshops. His topics have included researching those who have fought for Canada in the world wars, exploring the Canadian censuses, delving into the mysteries of Ontario Land Records, and an eight part series covering "Back to Basics" research for the British Isles. In 2025 he made his debut with Legacy Family Tree Webinars with his talk "Exploring Library and Archives Canada Online". His presentations also focus on genealogical methodologies and overcoming genealogy brick walls. Beyond public speaking, Ken shares his insights on his blog, Family Tree Knots (https://familytreeknots.blogspot.com/), providing a valuable resource for fellow enthusiasts.

Please pre-register at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YEQvhxYsQE2CxgKAr_Ji6w

Glenn Wright presents “Proudly They Served: Researching Canadian Men and Women in the Second World War, 1939-1945”

 

Glenn Wright

Durham Branch invites you to join on Zoom on Tuesday Nov. 2nd at 7:30 p.m. 

“Proudly They Served: Researching Canadian Men and Women in the Second World War, 1939-1945” - Glenn Wright 

 Our Annual General Meeting will begin the evening, quickly followed by the main presentation.

Researching the men and women who served in uniform during the Second World War can be a challenging, yet rewarding, experience for those interested in family history. It was an extraordinary six years in many ways, both overseas and at home, and by researching our own personal connections to the war, we can more fully appreciate the significance that the war had in the lives of our ancestors.

Following a brief overview of the war, the presentation will focus on the major sources of information and what we can learn from them, including a) service records and how to retrieve them; b) interpreting these records; c) researching unit war diaries (for the Canadian Army) and operations record books (for the RCAF); d) war dead; and e) essential websites and more. 

About Glenn Wright:

Glenn Wright was born and educated in Toronto, Ontario. Following graduation from the University of Toronto, he worked as a researcher for Pierre Berton before joining the Public Archives of Canada in 1975. During his public service career that spanned more than 30 years, Glenn worked as an archivist, historical research officer and, for many years, assistant historian with the RCMP. 

Retired since 2006, he is a frequent speaker at family history and genealogical events, especially the OGS, with a special interest in Canada’s military history and the men and women who have served in uniform. Glenn has also been associated with television programs such as “Who Do You Think You Are?”, “Ancestors in the Attic” and “Engraved on a Nation”.

He has published widely in family history, genealogical and historical magazines and journals. Glenn is also the author of Canadians at War, 1914-1919: A Research Guide to World War I Service Records (Global Genealogy, 2010) and Controversy, Compromise and Celebration: The History of Canada’s National Flag (Historical Society of Ottawa, 2017).

Glenn has been actively involved with the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa and served as the Society’s President from 2010 to 2014. 

Pre-register at the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrcuCupj8vEtJvBbszizOeqiUjSDlL5wK_

A confirmation e-mail with the join link will be emailed to you.

Durham Region Branch Website: durham.ogs.on.ca

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/durhamogs/

 

In Honour of VE Day, Findmypast Opens Photo Collection for FREE until May15th

In today's e-Weekly, Findmypast made this announcement:

I got distracted by this "Bright, Shiny Object" and started searching for photos that could represent some of my father's experiences. F/Lt. D. S. Brown RCAF served with the 10 Squadron RAF based at Melbourne, Yorkshire. He flew Wellington and Halifax Bombers over Germany 1943-1945. While these photos are not of the actual planes he flew, they are of the Handley Page Halifax Mark III type that he did fly.

I spent about 2 hours looking at all sorts of war photos at Findmypast. Enjoy this fascinating collection!

October Meeting Features Ted Barris, Author

THE DURHAM REGION  BRANCH, OGS PROUDLY PRESENTS 

  

Dam Busters:Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid against Nazi Germany by Ted Barris

It was a night that changed the Second World War. The secret raid against the hydro-electric dams of Germany’s Ruhr River took years to plan, involved an untried bomb, and included the best aircrews Allied Bomber Command could muster – many of them Canadian. The raid marked the first time the Allies tactically took the war inside Nazi Germany. It was a mission that became legendary.

On May 16, 1943, 133 airmen took off in 19 Lancaster bombers on a night sortie. The crews flew at treetop level from England to the heartland of Nazi Germany’s military industrial complex.

Of the nineteen bombers outbound, eight did not return. Based on personal accounts, flight logs, squadron war diaries, maps, and photographs of the Canadians involved, Dam Busters recounts the dramatic story of these young Commonwealth bomber crews tasked with the high-risk operation against an enemy prepared to defend the Fatherland to the death.

Ted Barris is an award-winning journalist, author, and his blog The BarrisBeat features commentary and narrative from his travels/experience. Among his eight previous bestselling non-fiction books: Juno, Behind the Glory, Deadlock in Korea, Victory at Vimy, and Breaking the Silence. In June 2014, his book The Great Escape: A Canadian Story won the Libris Non-Fiction Book Award of the Year

TUESDAY OCTOBER 2, 2018, 7:30 PM

NORTHMINSTER UNITED CHURCH, OSHAWA 

 (Corner of Rossland Rd W. and Simcoe St. N.) 

Everybody is welcome. See www.durham.ogs.on.ca for further information.

Parking is available on side streets behind the church and across the road in the school parking lot. 

We request that the church parking lot be reserved for those with Accessibility (Handicapped) Permits, please.