The Blackouts - RCAF Entertainment Group

The July/August 2019 issue of the Canadian Legion Magazine had an interesting article about an RCAF entertainment group of the Second World War called The Blackouts. The group was the brainchild of Wing Commander David Edward MacKell, a veteran of the RCAF of the First World War. The group started with a show in Ottawa, then toured remote Canadian bases in Western Canada. On 25 November 1943 the group sailed on a troopship from Halifax and took their show overseas to perform for Canadian, British and American troops. 

There is a bit about them at The Canadian War Museum with images of posters.

RCAF Blackouts of 1943 Entertainment Poster

© Canadian War Museum

The names of members are listed on the CWM website.

The Legion Magazine has a few photos. You may find more photos in books about troop entertainment of WWII at your library.

Relevant Links

Legion Magazine

Canadian War Museum

Canadian Military Ancestors

I have gathered all the resources for Canadian Military from previous posts in one file.

Download is available under the Resource tab above.

Relevant Link

Canadian Military Resources

War Time Newsreels

Updated from Dec 2015

Those with ancestors that were in one of the World Wars may be interested in watching some Canadian Army Newsreels that are being uploaded to Library and Archives Canada's YouTube channel.

Our ancestors that were at home during the wars would have watched the newsreels in the movie theaters. 

The Canadian Army Newsreels were 10 minute films made by the Canadian Film and Photo Unit who were trained in combat the same as all soldiers. The films were distributed each week to the Canadian troops, the National Film Board and Canadian, British and American newsreel companies.

Canadian Army Newsreel No 1 (1942)

At Internet Archive there are 266 newsreels of different countries, including Britain, America, Australia, Japan and Italy.  Use the index on the right to find the ones you want.

Will you see your ancestor in one of these films?



Relevant Links

Canadian Army SWW Newsreels

Canadian Army FWW Newsreels

British War Reels

German WWII Newsreels

WWII Newsreels at Internet Archive

CIA Nazi War Crimes Dataset

At Internet Archive there was uploaded a set of zipped files on people that the CIA were investigating for WWII war crimes.  Description for this dataset:

"This information sheds important historical light on the Holocaust and other war crimes, as well as the U.S. Government’s involvement with war criminals during the Cold War. These records include operational files of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), Central Intelligence Group (CIG), and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)."   

Nuremberg Trials

Some of the files contain genealogical information and, if lucky, photos. In some cases the CIA noted not only the subject of the file, but his family, who they were married to, birthdates, etc. 

Most of the files you can just click and "view the contents" while others have to be downloaded and unzipped to view. If it is a file you want, save it and unzip on your computer. 

The files that start with Aerodynamics are operations, reports and plans. Scroll down until you get to obvious names. Click "view contents", to open click Allow. Click on the folder, which contains pdf files. Some folders have only a couple, usually because once checked out there was nothing to find that interested the CIA. But then you get a folder with only three files like this first page for Benno Jehle ...

Jehle, Benno pdf.1

... the second page describes in detail how to get him into France under another name.

Other folders have many files with a personal history including what school they attended, employment history, trips out of the country, their close associates and perhaps their history.

Some were not Germans, as in the case of Paul Marion, who was deemed a French collaborator.

Paul Marion, Secretary General of Information and Propaganda, pdf.3

Member of French Committee of Waffen SS, 1944, pdf.11

Files are at the National Archives. In each section, click on Name Files to see lists of names that were released, and where to find their files.



Relevant Links

Nazi War Crimes dataset (50,000 files)

Records of the CIA at National Archives

CIA Website

The Red Cross Databases and Reports

The British Red Cross, Australian Red Cross, and the International Committee of the Red Cross have online databases. I pointed this out to the Canadian Red Cross and they replied, “I have forwarded on your email to our website team so they can look into this process.” I'm not holding my breath, but I may bug them about this from time to time. I also sent them the link to funding guidelines from LAC.... you never know!

International Committee of the Red Cross

The Red Cross not only supplied nurses and medical supplies during times of war, but they visited Prisoner of War camps to give the inmates food packets and clothing and helped with letters to and from home. They tried to see that prisoners were treated with humanity. 

Prisoners of War Bulletin, Vol 2 Aug 1944

Relevant Links

Australia Red Cross Records from the First World War

Article by Pauleen Cass at Family history across the sea - Accessing the Red Cross records

Database of First World War Red Cross Volunteers, UK

American Red Cross

Prisoners of War Bulletin WWII, American Red Cross

International Committee of the Red Cross, WWI Prisoners of War

League of Red Cross Societies Bulletin (world)

Bulletin of the Canadian Red Cross

Canadian Red Cross and the First World War

Report Of The International Committee Of The Red Cross On Its Activities During The Second World War(September 1, 1939 - June 30, 1947) Volumes 1-3

American Red Cross Report of war relief activities 1917-1919

Neuvième Conference internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue à Washington mai 1912. Index of names at the back

Turkish prisoners in Egypt, 1917

Reports on British prison-camps in India and Burma,1917

Related Posts at Red Cross

Crew and Civilians on Ships Hit by U-boats in WWII

I came across this website this past week - uboat is a site where you will find all the German u-boats of both wars with their officers and other information.

German U-boat UB14 with crew

What is interesting for us also is that it has a list of the crew of all the ships that were hit by a u-boat during WWII. You can do a name search, or browse by name, ship or country.

The above is only a partial list of services and countries. It is not just navy on the list. There are army personnel that were passengers on a ship, as well as nurses and civilian passengers.

A lot of work has gone into developing this site and it is well worth a look. Check out the tabs at the top and links on the left side... try the On this Day link. At the bottom of the page hit the Glossary button for a list of abbreviations and definitions.

Clicking on the person's name will give you more information...

For some military personnel there is also the link to where they are buried.

Update: 
The British ship City of Benares was carrying 90 children evacuated from Great Britian and being sent to safety in Canada when it was torpedoed. Here is the story and near the end is a link to all the names of those lost. Click on the names to find out more about them. 




Relevant Links

Crew lists from Ships hit by U-boats in WWII

City of Benares

The Cigar Box - Introdution

Original post date: 11 May 2016


My sister was looking after my parents in their last years and now they have both gone to join our ancestors. Going through their things recently my sister came across a cigar box containing a few things my Dad kept from his WWII days. Being the family historian and record keeper, she gave the box to me.

Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery

The cigar box is cardboard, hinged, a little scruffy and about 5½" x 8" x 2½"... not very big. The stamp on the box reads:

Canada - Number 239 - 50 Cigars Issue of 1960.

The box contains an assortment of things that meant something to my Dad.

There are lots of images for WWI stuff on the internet, not so much from WWII so I thought others may find this helpful. I will go through all these items and over a few days post what I think may be of interest, under the label "Cigar Box".

There are also a few WWII items I had previously found among my father's things that I may include in this section. 

Cigar Box - Service Medals, Badges and Ribbons

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery

Bud was awarded these medals for his service in World War II... the ribbons are frayed and wrinkled and the medals are tarnished, but a steam iron and a little spit & polish will bring these medals back to life. Most soldiers serving oversea got these medals. Some were also awarded to those who volunteered but were rejected for medical reasons, or those that volunteered but deemed better served at home.

... they are left to right..

• 1939-1945 Star for Active Service
• France and Germany Star, for active service in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany.
• 1939-1945 Defense Medal
• Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, for active service
• 1939-1945 War Medal

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal came in a little box with a note of thank you for his service.

Bud also received the General Service Badge

The reverse with badge number and the raised legend PENALTY FOR MISUSE 500 DOLLARS OR SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT. Sterling S

Reverse of card...

The men also received a booklet titled "Information Regarding Mounting and Wearing of Decorations, Campaign Stars and Medals".

Click here to see booklet in PDF

Cigar Box - Homeward Bound, Empress of Scotland

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery

The Maple Leaf, Nov 2, 1945

 Empress of Scotland

Menu: 26 Nov 1945

Writing on back of menu

Empress of Scotland

Liverpool Nov 22/45

Halifax Nov 28/45

Menu: 27 Nov 1945

Crossing the Atlantic on the Empress of Scotland

For this photo Bud wrote:

"I do not know in this picture whether I am looking back on what was, the past four years, or looking ahead, at the rest of my life!"

Other Newspapers reporting about the homecoming on the Empress of Scotland

Montreal Gazette, Nov 10, 1945, page 1 - previous sail

Ottawa Citizen, Nov 24, 1945, page 31

Ottawa Citizen, Nov 24, 1945, page 34

Toronto Daily Star, Nov 28, 1945, page 2

Montreal Gazette Nov 29, 1945, page 13 (with photo)

Cigar Box - Farewell Message

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery

Cigar Box - Flight Ticket

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery




Flight ticket from Canadian Base 56 at Evere, Belgium (approx 45K south of Antwerp) to RAF military airport at Northolt, England (in NW London)

Air Ticket; Priority 3 going and return; 

Passenger will report to Cdn ATO at B56 (Evere) 

by 1400hrs on day of travel.. 25 September 1945

Name: T Seale; Rank: LT; Unit: 15 RCA

Good for return passage from B56 to Northolt

Date issued: 24 Sept; Place issued: Q(m) HQ L of C, Canmore

Looks like an address written in Dutch on the back ...
"[den hur] a Verduyn Buiten Kalkhaven [4126] 2-4-6, Dordrecht (Netherlands)"
...which is on the River Maas, where he was stationed.

Cigar Box - Liberation of Antwerp

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery



Souvenir cartoon cards liberation of Antwerp September 1944.
Set of 9 Cards, each 6" x 4¼", printed by Ebinger, Antwerp
Signed either Eginger or Bing, and dated.
Cards are blank on the back.

Cards were in this envelope

Click here to view pdf of all cards 

Cigar Box - Liberation of Paris

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery


Postcard booklet of 10 photos of the Liberation of Paris August 16-26 1944
Booklet is bound and is 6¼" x 4¼".
The postcards are perforated at the binding edge for easy removal from the booklet.

Liberation of Paris 19-16 August 1944

10 real photographs

General de Gaulle in head of the Official Procession on the Champs-Elysées

26th of August 1944

American troops parade in the Champs-Elysées 

Trying to open flat for scanning would break the binding, so I won't scan any others.

Other photos are:

• Barricade Rue St Jacques
• German prisoners passing before the Town Hall
• French girls welcome to American troops
• General Bradley and General Koenig at the Unknown Soldier's tomb
• General Koenig with General Leclerc's troops at the Triumphal Arch
• The crowd, Avenue de l'Opera
• General Leclerc's troops parade in the Rue Rivoli
• American Artillery - Place de la Concorde

Cigar Box - Snap Shot Sets

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery

For a small sum one could pick up small sets of "Snap Shots"

London Under Fire: Set B of 12 cards (3¼" x 2¼")

Published by Photochrom Co; London and Tunbidge Wells (Passed by censor)

Left: Moorgate Station, Top right: Whitecross St, Bottom right: St Bride's Church

Brussells in Colour: set of 12 cards "Snap-Colour" (4" x 2¾")

Published by Les Editions d"Art LAB, Bruxelles 

Left: Porte de Hal, Top right: Hotel de Ville, Bottom right: Palais de Roi

Cigar Box - Billeted in Neede

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery

Summer 1945 - Billeted in Neede, Netherlands at the home of the town architect and his wife and three children.

Waterpolo Matches - June and July 1945

Note:  Photos were taken with a small 1½ x 5½ x 1½ camera Bud found in a Hockshop in London. It was the type that you pull the cover down and then pull out the bellows. The prints were 1½ x 2¼, and the film was available in Canada so his parents could send some in their care packages.

The Cigar Box - Leave in Paris

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery



After many long months of battles....

Get a Leave Pass - 24 Mar 1945

Hop on a plane...

See the sights...

Postcard - Paris - Perspective des septs ponts 1945

Just for interest, here is a colour panorama photo of the Seven Bridges of Paris.

See a show...

Cigar Box - Remembering the Fallen

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery

One of the important battles of WWII involved Canadian and British troops at Hochwald Forest. Once they pushed through enemy lines during the Battle of Hochwald Gap they were part of the historic crossing of the Rhine, and on to final actions at Westphalia and Oldenburg.

The regiment held a memorial service for those who had fallen from Aug '44 to Mar '45.

15th Canadian Field Regiment Memorial Service - pdf

One of his friends killed at Hochwald Forest was Gunner Raymond Tatlow

Born 8 Oct 1921 / Service #L101577
Died 28 Feb 1945 - this is his temporary grave.

Cigar Box - Notices to Soldiers and to Civilians

Contents of The Cigar Box - most from 1943-1945
Property of Lieutenant Thomas Ray Edward "Bud" Seale.
Enlisted:  Royal Canadian Engineers Sept 1940
Transferred:  RCASC 1st Bridge Company, then 85th Bridge 9 Jun 1941
Transferred:  15th Field Reg't, Royal Canadian Artillery

Notice to All Ranks: Dealing with Civilians

Notice to the Civilian Population (English and German)

Non-Fraternization Letter, March 1945