Retired Major, Alan Dale Woolley served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 39 years. Military service runs deep in his family—he is the proud descendant of an ancestor who protected Canada during the 1866 Fenian Raids and the 1870 Red River Expedition, the son of a Second World War Veteran and his daughter is presently serving as a Canadian Armed Forces member.
Perhaps it is Mr. Woolley’s own family history that sparked his interest in ensuring that military history and Veterans’ stories are captured and explored. He is the co-author of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment: A Reference Guide, explaining the history, customs and traditions of the Regiment. As administrator of the Regiment’s website for over 20 years, Mr. Woolley assisted Veterans to discover their own history and helped family members and descendants to discover the history and service of their loved ones. He performed a similar role as the volunteer administrator of the Multinational Force of Observers website, capturing individual stories and the history of this international mission. Mr. Woolley has given talks on military history and service at several branches of The Royal Canadian Legion and service organizations as well as at the Adventurer’s Club in Chicago as a special speaker. He assisted with the War of 1812 battlefield tours and, on a personal pilgrimage, traced his Regiment’s path during the Second World War through northern Europe.
Mr. Woolley is a supporter of many organizations including the War Amps, Wounded Warriors and World Vision Canada. He is associated with the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative and the Wounded Warriors Canada Veteran Trainers. Maj. (Ret’d) Woolley has been a member of The Royal Canadian Legion since 2010 and has represented Canada at Remembrance Day services around the world, including Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Jamaica and Kenya.