Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1962-1996 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
15 cm of textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Michel Litalien was born in Iserlohn, Germany, on November 14th, 1964. He joined the Directorate of History and Heritage in 1998 as the manager of the War Diary Team and subsequently led the Honours and Awards section (DHH 4). Since 2003 he has been the manager of the Canadian Forces Museums and Historical Collections section (DHH 5). He obtained his BA in history from l"Université de Montréal and holds a Master"s degree in history from the University of Ottawa. He has been a member of the Canadian Forces since 1982 and currently holds the rank of Major. A logistician by military training, he has served within various service battalions and support units. He has a great interest in the military history of the Medical Service, as well as support services and the military forces of French Canada in general. He is the author of five publications as well as numerous articles, and has also written for the "Canadian Biographical Dictionary."
Custodial history
Most of the documents in the collection come from the former G4 Office located in Force Mobile Command HQ in St. Hubert. Major Litalien photocopied these files in 1996 while working as the SO G4. The location of the original files is unknown.
Scope and content
Collection consists of 7 file folders of photocopies of notes, histories, annual historical reports, trial reports, published articles, letters and other documents regarding the Service Battalions in the Canadian Armed Forces. Includes detailed information about the history of the 3rd Experimental Service Battalion, the 5th Service Battalion and the Service Battalion flag; more general information about all of the Service Battalions (Regular and Reserve) and the Annual Militia Service Battalions National Competition; and personal notes and historical projects from BGen Jean-Paul Leclerc on different aspects of the Service Battalion. The very first Service Battalion was formed in 1962 in Gagetown, NB. It gathered elements from the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC), Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) and later Canadian Provost Corps (C Pro C), Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) and Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC). The goal was to determine if different combat support service units would work better under a single unified command. The unit was named "3rd Experimental Service Battalion". The pros of having a Service Battalion were proved after the very first exercise: simplicity, economy, efficiency and flexibility. In 1965, the Militia adopted the Service Battalion concept. Almost every city in Canada now has a Militia Service Battalion. In 1968, the Service Battalion replaced the former service support Corps in each Regular Force Brigade.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Collection received 26 July 2005 from Major Michel Litalien in Ottawa, ON.
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
- French
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Unclassified
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
None
Finding aids
Copies of the finding aid are located in the first file of the fonds and in the Reading Room at the Directorate of History and Heritage. Electronic copies are also available.
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
General note
This is a bilingual fonds.