Kenora Great War Project

 

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The People

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These are the stories of Kenora participants in the First World War.

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Torrance, Charles William

Charles William Torrance was born on 8 July 1894 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario.  His parents William Torrance and Sophia Johnston were both from the Ottawa area, William from Ashton and Sophia from Gloucester. At the time of their marriage in 1879 in Ottawa William was working as a carpenter. Children… Read More »

Cherry, Thomas Cecil

Thomas Cecil Cherry was born on 21 December 1895 in Keewatin, Ontario.  His parents were Thomas Joseph Cherry and Caroline Hawkin. Siblings included John Joseph Roland, Agnes, Marion and Norah. Cecil’s father was born in Ireland and immigrated to Canada 1871. He was a Reeve for Keewatin in 1907 and 1908 becoming Keewatin’s first Mayor… Read More »

Kinney, James Arthur

Although a birth record was not found, by most accounts James Arthur Kinney was born in 1877 on Manitoulin Island, Algoma, Ontario. Both of his parents James Kinney and Malina Johnson were from Prince Edward County in Ontario, the couple marrying on 11 February 1863 in Athol. At the time of the 1871 census the… Read More »

Kinger, John

According to his later obituary, John Kinger was born on 26 January 1898 in Poland and served with the Russian Cavalry during WW1. In February of 1920, in Poland, he married Aklunia (aka Akulina) Skibinski. The couple eventually immigrated to Canada, settling on the Redditt Road, Kenora, Ontario. John found work as a millhand with… Read More »

Ford, Sydney Enoch

Private Sydney Enoch Ford served in the British army with the East Yorkshire Regiment during the First World War. He immigrated to Canada in 1927 and enlisted again in the Second World War, serving in the UK with the Canadian Forestry Corps. Syd was born on 13 August 1899 in London, England. In August 1907,… Read More »

Bevan, Arthur Cyril

Arthur Cyril Bevan was born on 26 December 1882 in Stanwell, Middlesex, England. His parents were James Frederick Bevan and Hannah Parker. Fourth born in a large family, Arthur’s siblings included: James Parker (1876-1913), George Parker (1878-1920), Madge (1880-1932), Lilian Mary (1884-1939), Parker Samuel (1886-1962), Dorothy Hannah (1888-1953), Gordon Frederick (1889-1915), Constance Theresa (1890-1972), Ernest… Read More »

Davidson, Gilbert Kerr

Private Gilbert Kerr Davidson was the oldest son of Thomas Henry Davidson and Ellen Jane Webster of Manitou, Manitoba. Thomas and Ellen (Nellie) were both from the township of Chatham in the province of Quebec. By 1891 Thomas was living in the Rat Portage area in northwestern Ontario, where he worked in the lumber industry…. Read More »

Lalonde, Alexander

Private Alexander Lalonde was married and the father of two young children when he enlisted in February 1916. He served overseas for three years and returned home in June 1919. Alexander was the son of Alexander Lalonde Sr. and Jane Barnes of Moose Creek, Stormont County, Ontario. Alexander Sr. and Jane were married in 1884… Read More »

McKenzie, Lawrence James

Birth date and location:  Lawrence James McKenzie was born on September 27,1896 in Kenora, Ontario, son of Andrew Dallas McKenzie and his wife, Sarah Jane Mitchell.  Andrew was born of United Empire Loyalist parentage in Orillia, Ontario in 1857. He  moved to Rat Portage (later known as Kenora) in 1888, working as a carpenter.  He… Read More »

Ross, George Graham

Flight Second Lieutenant George Graham Ross joined the Royal Flying Corps in November 1917 and served in Canada and the UK for 16 months, returning home in March 1919. George was the oldest son of Walter Inkermann Ross and Grace Graham. Walter was born in Quebec and moved to Michigan with his family as a… Read More »