WWI ANCESTORS 
Fighting for Canada in 1914–1917

Do you have U.S. ancestors who crossed the border and enlisted early to fight for Canada during WWI? Canada entered the war on August 4, 1914, when Britain declared war on Germany, three years before the United States did so on April 6, 1917; and, genealogical information on the Canadian enlistment records is much more extensive than on U.S. WWI draft registration cards.

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Americans Fighting in Canadian Forces: The “American Legion” 

Find out about the Americans who fought for Canada in WWI at http://www.americansatwarinforeignforces.com/canadian-expeditionary-forces--american-legion.html. Then click on the link at the bottom of the article to view rosters of U.S soldiers in the 97th Battalion, the 211th Battalion and the 213th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces.

Wikipedia’s description of the “American Legion” Battalions:
97th Battalion, CEF embarked for Britain on 19 September 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the 97th was commanded first by Lt.-Col. A. B. Clark and second by Lt.-Col. W. L. Jolly. 

211th Battalion, CEF was based in Vancouver, British Columbia. After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops in March 1917. The 211th had one Officer Commanding: Lieut.-Col. W. M. Sage.

212th Battalion, CEF was based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It disbanded while still in Canada, and the men were transferred to the 97th Battalion, CEF. The 212th had one Officer Commanding: Lieut.-Col. E. C. Pitman.

213th Battalion, CEF was based in Toronto, Ontario. After sailing to England in January 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 4th reserve Battalion. The 213th had one Officer Commanding: Lieutenant Colonel B. J. McCormick.

237th Battalion was based in Sussex, New Brunswick.

RESEARCH TIP: Library and Archives Canada holds the personnel records for the 600,000 Canadians who enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War (1914-1918). To identify the file references for nurses, chaplains and soldiers, you can search the Soldiers of the First World War database at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/canadian-expeditionary-force.aspx.