Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
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- Textual record
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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1941, 1943 (Creation)
- Creator
- Sesia, A.T.
Physical description area
Physical description
5 cm of textual records
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Captain A.T. Sesia was an intelligence officer in the Canadian 1st Division in 1941. Although not a trained historian, he was the first historian assigned to First Canadian Infantry Division for the Sicilian Campaign in 1943. He proved effective in recording the 1st Division’s operations in Sicily in July-August 1943, and collecting for historical purposes documents relating to Canadian operations in the Mediterranean theatre. In the autumn of 1943 Sesia was relieved of his duties.
Custodial history
The diaries were previously given to David O'Keefe from an old friend of his from high school. He worked for Public Works in Pointe Claire, QC. He was called to remove the contents of a house (discarded as garbage) after it was sold and when doing doing so he stumbled across the two manuscript diaries.
Scope and content
Fonds consists of two diaries kept by Major A.T. Sesia from 1941 to 1943. The first diary contains daily notes beginning in 1 January 1941 and ending on 31 December 1941, as well as some entries from January 1942. In this diary Sesia details his journey from Halifax, Nova Scotia where he was appointed adjutant of the RCOC Holding Unit Section, to London, England. Two Canadian Pacific Telegrams as well as a newspaper clipping from 17 February 1947 are also included in this fonds. The second diary contained in a Government of Canada Reporter’s notebook details Major Sesia’s experiences from 7 November 1943 to 1 December 1943, which he spent the majority of his time at sea.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Fonds received from David O’Keefe on 7 December 2018.
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
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Restrictions on access
Unclassified
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
None
Finding aids
None
Associated materials
The following associated material can be found in the Library and Archives Canada:
• Personal notes and observation - Sicilian campaign - 1st Cdn Inf Div - 24 Apr/2 Sep 43 by Maj A.T. Sesia. File 233C1.011 (D5)
•Voyage to Sicily - by Maj. A.T. Sesia, O.C. 2 Cdn Fd Hist Sec, 8 May 44 - Husky/1 Cdn Inf Div/Q/F Doc II. File 233C1.073 (D3)
•Personal notes and narratives on campaign of lst Cdn Inf Div in Italy - 3 Sep/9 Nov 43 by Maj A.T. Sesia, d/24 Jun 44 - 2 vols. File 234C1.011 (D4)
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.