From published history to personal legacies — preserving stories of courage, sacrifice, and remembrance.
Every project is unique, but they all share the same purpose: to preserve the voices of veterans and their families with dignity and care.
In addition to creating custom Tribute and Legacy Books for families, I am the author of five historical works about Canadians in the First World War, including Zero Hour and The Great War in Four Acts. These published volumes reflect my dedication to uncovering overlooked stories and bringing history to life with accuracy and compassion.
Below are selected examples of the Tribute and Legacy Books I’ve designed, along with custom research projects that have helped families reconnect with their past.
Custom Research: Filling in the Missing Pieces – A friend approached me with only a name and a birth date. Through detailed archival research, I uncovered military records, unit histories, and battlefield maps that revealed their grandfather’s journey. The findings were compiled into a concise report that gave the family long‑sought answers. The result was the Legacy Book “The Endurance of Private Hughie John McDonald – A Runner’s Bravery in the Great War”.
Left: My Great Grandfather, Spr. A.R. Milburn. Aged 39. 1916.
Below: Nature of Casualty Form for Spr. A.R. Milburn. 15 August 1917.
My Historical Non-Fiction Books:
The Great War Series is a six‑volume journey into Canada’s experience of the First World War, told through the voices of those who were there. Drawing on letters, diaries, and first‑hand accounts, these books bring to life the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of soldiers, nurses, and families who endured the war that reshaped a nation.
My work is dedicated to preserving memory not as distant history, but as lived experience. By weaving together meticulous research with the authentic words of those who served, I aim to honour their valour and ensure that their stories are not forgotten.
Step back in time to the trenches, skies, and stories of the Great War. Through my collection of World War I books, I explore the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who lived through one of history’s most defining conflicts.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a student of military heritage, or simply curious about the human experiences behind the headlines, these works aim to honour memory and valour while offering fresh perspectives on the war that shaped the modern world.
Each of these book are available on Amazon in Kindle or paperback format.
Ancestors Sitting Between Us is a haunting meditation on war, memory, and the unseen threads that bind generations. Centered on the Battle of Hill 70, it traces the legacy of one Canadian soldier and the silent burdens carried by his descendants. Blending lyrical prose, rigorous research, and insights from epigenetics, Samantha asks: What do we inherit beyond bloodlines? What stories live in our cells? This is both a family history and a reckoning with the past that still lives within us all.
Once a Patricia, Always a Patricia: The Origins and a Brief History of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry tells the remarkable story of one of Canada’s most iconic regiments.
Founded in 1914 as the last privately raised regiment in the Commonwealth, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) has been at the forefront of Canadian military history for more than a century. From the mud of Frezenberg in the First World War to the rubble of Ortona, the desperate stand at Kapyong in Korea, the tense buffer zones of Cyprus, the firefights of Medak Pocket, and the long war in Kandahar, the Patricias have carried their colours—the Ric a Dam Doo—into the crucible of conflict.
This book traces the regiment’s origins, traditions, and defining battles, while exploring the human side of service: the nicknames that reflect affection and familiarity, the commemorations and memorials that preserve memory, and the enduring bond between soldiers and the nation they serve.
Richly detailed and deeply respectful, Once a Patricia, Always a Patricia is both a regimental history and a reflection on Canada itself. It reminds us that the legacy of the Patricias is not only found in battle honours, but in the lives they touched, the sacrifices they made, and the enduring spirit they embody.
The War That Stayed traces the psychological scars of war from the trenches of WWI to today’s Canadian Armed Forces. From the deadly remnants of the Iron Harvest still surfacing in European fields to the unseen wounds of shellshock and PTSD, Samantha reveals how trauma embeds itself in body and mind. Through stories of soldiers once condemned as “cowards,” and by blending history, testimony, and research, this book is both remembrance and a call to honour those who carry war within them.
In Flanders’ Shadow pulls back the veil on the lived experience of Canadian soldiers during the brutal campaigns of 1916, from Regina Trench to Courcelette. Far from myths of glory, it immerses readers in the mud‑soaked realities of trench life: illness, vermin, weather, and the psychological toll of war. Drawing from authentic letters, veteran testimonies, and brilliant medical innovations in the battlefields, McCrea explores the language, humour, superstitions, and psychological toll that defined the front lines while reflecting on her own great‑grandfather’s sacrifice.
The Great War in Four Acts: Echoes of Valour: As living memory of the First World War fades, this volume revives its legacy through four powerful narratives of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. McCrea highlights the overlooked contributions of Indigenous soldiers, the terror of gas warfare, the fragile peace of the Christmas Truce, and the brutal push through the Hindenburg Line. Blending vivid storytelling with historical insight, The Great War in Four Acts challenges myths of glory and reaffirms the meaning of “Lest We Forget,” offering a fresh perspective on courage, sacrifice, and remembrance.
Zero Hour: Courage, Sacrifice and the Canadian Corps in WWI: A sweeping account of Canada’s journey from fledgling volunteers to one of the most effective forces on the Western Front. Covering every major battle from Ypres and Vimy Ridge, to Passchendaele, the Canal du Nord, and the Hundred Days, Samantha L.G. McCrea brings to life the grit, heartbreak, and heroism that shaped both the war’s outcome and a nation’s identity. More than military history, Zero Hour is a tribute to sacrifice, resilience, and remembrance.