This compilation of written material relating to the 
     
     Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force began with a diary 
     
     my father started when he left Cardigan, P.E.l. on September 
     
     160‘, 1918. With him was his friend Jim Shaw. Their 
     
     objective was to transfer to the CSEF from the ISI Depot 
     
     Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment. My father had joined 
     
     the NS. Regiment on July 26th the same year. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The diary itself records my father’s observations from 
     
     September to the following March when it unaccountably 
     
     ceases. It is only by reading the other reports, letters and 
     
     diaries that we begin to understand what happened in 
     
     February 1919 to cause the soldiers to discontinue their 
     
     diaries. The Canadian Government had quietly decided to 
     
     withdraw their forces at that time. 
     
    
   
   
    
     We begin also to understand the frustrations and sense 
     
     of betrayal that the members ofthe CSEF felt in that they 
     
     were only to be guardians of Vladivostok instead of doing 
     
     battle with the German backed Bolshevists. My father’s 
     
     angry outburst on Feb 7th 1919 provides some indication as 
     
     to the feelings ofthe soldiers about the inaction and slow 
     
     progress by the Allies in making decisions regarding the use 
     
     ofthe troops in Siberia. The Canadians wanted to fight or go 
     
     home. 
     
    
   
   
    
     b)