MILITARY HISTORIANS, ASSEMBLE! What were the movements of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada (H.L.I of C, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, 9th Brigade) leading up to Operation Overlord and in the months after?

by SeeLowGreen

I am currently working on a 3rd year University History project where I cross-reference the dates of the letters of my Grandmother's brother -Private Raymond Joseph Allen- with the location of his unit and the experiences he would had prior to writing these letters.

I have 16 letters/post cards in total. Some of them are easy, for example his post card from June 10 1944- the Battle of Buron took place June 8, pretty easy to get in that mindset given what we know about "Bloody Buron." Any help would be much appreciated, even sources you might have.

http://imgur.com/a/ahx44 Here is a link to the letters, I've digitized them and uploaded them to imgur for you all to look over. Pretty cool stuff.

HumboldtBlue
CrossyNZ

Are you looking for a specific method of linking the postcards with the movements? Or are you looking for us to do that for you?

Alas, I am unable to do so for you; not only is this your very own project (and thus to be cuddled and caressed and gently coaxed into being by you) but the files needed don't seem to be digitised, making it even more your bailiwick.

I can, however, tell you with remarkable exactness where to find the answers you need. Each British and Commonwealth Unit HQ kept something called a "War Dairy"; these detail day-by-day the formation's existence; what operations were undertaken, what people and equipment moved where, what broke and what was restored.

Contact the National Library of Canada and ask where the war diaries for H.I.L are held and you have solved your problem in one fell swoop (albeit you have gained another problem in that the handwriting will be difficult and cramped). In Australia and New Zealand they are held in the national archives and are accessible by the public, or by the researcher with a letter of accreditation from the university; your professor should be able to help if needed.

Good luck.