Griffin Genealogical Research Services

09/02/2025

Every year I conduct several speaking engagements relating to Remembrance Day and Canadian military history. If you are looking for someone to come and speak at your venue, please get in touch.

05/16/2025

Discover your Saskatchewan Ancestors.

Do you have questions about your family’s history? Did your

05/12/2025

I also provide consultation services.

04/09/2025

We have War Graves Week events happening all over the UK starting 2nd May. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign up today 📲

04/09/2025

252010 Private Alfred Biddulph
Alfred Biddulph was born in England in 1888 and immigrated to Canada in 1905. He took up residence in Swift Current and worked as a Teamster. Alfred was married and the father of two young daughters. In October 1915, he enlisted in the Swift Current company of the 128th Overseas Battalion. The following year, he decided to transfer to the newly authorized 209th “Swift Current” Battalion. Following the disbandment of the 209th Battalion in England, he was transferred to the 102nd Battalion and proceeded to the Canadian Base Depot in France. While at the Canadian Base Depot he was hospitalized on the 18th of December 1916 with Pyrexia of an Unknown Origin (a fever caused by an unknown source). After nine days he was discharged back to duties. Alfred met up with the 102nd Battalion in the field on the 6th of January 1917. Sadly, four months later he would be killed on the opening day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Alfred is buried in Row C, Grave 2 at Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery, Neuville-St. Vaast, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Photo: A. Biddulph's military marker at Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery, Neuville-St. Vaast, France
Credit: J. Stephens via Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada

04/09/2025

252600 Pte. Paul Blanchette

Paul Blanchette was born on the 27th of April 1891 in Port Arthur, Ontario (modern day Thunder Bay). After coming west, he settled in Swift Current and took up work as a labourer. Paul joined the 209th Overseas Battalion in mid March 1916. Like Alfred Biddulph, he was transferred to the 102nd Battalion following the disbandment of the 209th. He arrived in France on the 6th of December 1916. Not long after arriving there, he was hospitalized with influenza. After having recovered, Paul joined the 102nd Battalion in the field on the 6th of January 1917. Sadly, Paul would be killed at the Battle of Vimy Ridge on the 9th of April 1917. Following his death, Paul was buried in Row A, Grave 5 at Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery, Neuville-St. Vaast, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Photo: Military marker Pte. Paul Blanchette
Credit: J. Stephens via Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada

03/23/2025

Join Branch 56 in celebrating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands and Victory in Europe Day on 3 May 2025. We will be hosting a ceremony, banquet and entertainment. Tickets will go on sale next week, so keep an eye out for them.

09/20/2024

08/08/2024

Join us for the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Dieppe. Special presentation and reception at the Legion following the ceremony.

06/11/2024

I was honoured to speak at the 80th Anniversary of D-Day ceremony held this past Sunday.

Lest We Forget.

05/12/2024

On May 12, 1870, Parliament implemented the Census Act. One year later, the 1871 Census marked the first regularly scheduled collection of Canadian national statistics.

A total of 206 commissioners were appointed to coordinate the census. Reporting to the commissioners, 2,789 enumerators were then assigned to a clearly defined area.

Enumerators visited 206 census districts, divided into 1,701 sub-districts.

Enumerators collected information for 3,485,761 individuals distributed as follows:
New Brunswick (285,594)
Nova Scotia (387,800)
Ontario (1,620,851)
Quebec (1,191,516)

You can read the 1871 instructions for collecting census data here:
https://ow.ly/nwga50Rxzi0

03/15/2024

We have now confirmed the identification of human remains recovered during ordnance clearing at a construction site in Vendin-le-Vieil, France, as being those of Lieutenant Francis Henry Hemsley, a Canadian soldier of the First World War. The identity was confirmed through historical, genealogical, anthropological, archaeological, and DNA analysis. A few artifacts were found alongside the remains.

Francis (Frank) Henry Hemsley was born in Ealing, Middlesex, England, in 1880. He immigrated to Canada in 1911 and worked as a farmer near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, before enlisting. Lieutenant Hemsley became a member of the 16th Battalion (The Canadian Scottish), CEF, in April 1917 and joined the unit in the field in France in May 1917.

The 16th Battalion fought at the Battle of Hill 70, which began on August 15, 1917, and continued for ten days. More than 10,000 Canadians were killed, wounded, or reported missing. During the battle, the 16th Battalion suffered 257 casualties including 62 members who were killed, 35 of whom have no known grave.

Lieutenant Hemsley was reported killed in action on August 16, 1917, at the age of 37. He was buried in an isolated grave, but the location of his grave was later lost. With family in attendance, Lieutenant Hemsley will be buried in July 2024 in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Loos British Cemetery in Loos-en-Gohelle, France, by members of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) from Victoria, B.C.

Learn more: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2024/03/canadian-soldier-of-the-first-world-war-identified.html