After nearly 65 years piecing together a comprehensive history of the Kangaroos has not been easy. Surviving veterans and their families are scattered widely across the country.
There has been no simple way to track these men over the years. Memories fade, details are forgotten, scraps of history are soon lost. Despite these obstacles, this website now represents the largest repository of historical data about the Canadian Kangaroos. Sadly, what has been gathered to-date is still just the tip of the iceberg. There are still large gaps and holes in the official record and any and all information I can collect is important! Please realize that what information that is held in public institutions like the Library and Archives of Canada is scant and woefully incomplete. The LAC files consist mostly of the regimental war diaries (available free - online on this website) and little else. The government files did not even contain a complete nominal roll of ALL the men that served in the regiment during it’s time of operation. What is believed to be a complete list has now been compiled independently from several government and private files.
If you have ANY photos, letters, documents or other Kangaroo related memorabilia I would be very interested in copies of these items to add to the archives. I am also willing to take on any unwanted artifacts and items.
I think many people would be surprised at how often even the most plain and simple document fills in a previously unknown detail or fact. Sometimes there are documents in the hands of veterans or collectors that may be important one-of-a-kind items. In 2006 I found among a former officers papers, a detailed Battle Action report that was missing from the official War Diaries!! You just never know what is out there.
Of course photos are always welcome. Most are usually not identified as to the subject names, places or dates, but those that are labeled usually help to identify the subjects of other photos. The details within a simple photo regarding dress, equipment, landscape, etc. when cross referenced with known facts about the regiments daily activities can sometimes put dates and even names to a photo.
