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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McLachlan, John William

John William McLachlan was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, baptized on 12 June 1889 and birth registered during the 3rd quarter of the year. His parents John McLachlan and Maria Clarke were both from Liverpool and had married the previous year. By the 1891 census John, Maria, and young John were living with Maria’s brother… Read More »

Simmons, Harper Crawford William

Harper Crawford William Simmons was born on 20 January 1889 in Wingham, Ontario. According to their marriage record his father Archibald Erastus Simmons was from London, Ontario while his mother Rachel Ellen Rankin was from Listowel, Ontario, elsewhere given as Gowanstown. The couple were living in St Thomas, Ontario when they married there on 10… Read More »

Parfitt, Arthur Robert

Arthur Robert Parfitt was born on 29 August 1894 in London, England.  He was the youngest child of Fred Parfitt and Elizabeth Woodhouse. Siblings included: Frederick John (b. 1882; served with British Army in WW1), Catherine Emma (1884-1972; married Edwin Thomas Barnard); William Joseph  (1886 – 1963); Agnes Elizabeth (1887-1935; married Albert Deverell); Minnie Jessie… Read More »

Loyst, Joseph Andrew

Gunner Joseph Andrew Loyst enlisted at age 19 and served in France with the 3rd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. He was seriously wounded in September 1918 during the Hundred Days Offensive and he spent the next year recovering in hospitals. Andrew was the son of John Wesley Loyst Sr. and his wife Mary Sinclair. John… Read More »

Drewry, William Starkey

Captain William Starkey Drewry spent more than a year overseas with the 61st and 10th Battalions. After being invalided back to Canada in 1917 he served as a recruitment officer in the U.S. William grew up in a prominent and wealthy family in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His father, Edward Lancaster Drewry, was originally from London, England…. Read More »

Butler, Frank

Frank Butler was born on 4 September 1885 in Oldbury, Worcestershire in England. His father Henry Butler, a gas stoker, was from nearby Birmingham, Warwickshire, the cities about ten kilometres apart. His mother Mary Ann Farley was from Bredon, Worcestershire, the couple marrying on 9 August 1874 in Asted, Birmingham. For the first years of… Read More »

Paul, Charles Alvin

Private Charles Alvin Paul enlisted in January 1915 at age 18 and served in France with the Fort Garry Horse. He was wounded in April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive and returned to Canada in December 1918. Charles was the oldest son of David Paul and Mary Kent of Midland, Simcoe County, Ontario. David… Read More »

Brown, William Thomas

Private William Thomas Brown enlisted underage when he was 16 years old and he served for more than four years in Canada, England, France, Belgium and Germany. He was wounded twice but he survived the war and returned home in May 1919. William was the oldest son of Joseph Brown and Mary Robinson of Kenora,… Read More »

Shaw, Wallis

Private Wallis Shaw joined the militia when the war started then enlisted with an overseas battalion in 1916 at age 17. He served in France and Belgium with the 102nd Battalion. After suffering gas poisoning at the Battle of Passchendaele he was invalided to Canada in 1918. Wallis was the youngest son of William Mulligan… Read More »

Young, Robert John

Robert John Young was the son of Isaac Young and Jane Johnston of Kenora, Ontario. Isaac was born in England and Jane in Huron County, Ontario. They were married in 1889 in Wingham, Huron County, where Isaac was a farmer. A daughter Mary Jane was born the following year and she was followed by Robert… Read More »