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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Battersby, David

David Battersby was one of an estimated 25,000 men who wanted to do their duty in the Great War, but were declared medically unfit. In Battersby’s case it wasn’t for lack of trying as he enlisted twice in an attempt to serve king and country. Born in Renfrew, Scotland, Feb. 12, 1876 to Robert Battersby… Read More »

Ellerby, Stanley John

Private Stanley John Ellerby enlisted in November 1915 and served for more than three years in Canada, Great Britain, France and Belgium. He returned to Canada in February 1919. Stanley was the youngest child of George Ellerby and Hannah Axford of Marylebone, London, England. George and Hannah were married in 1871 and they had at… Read More »

Breeze, Jack

Sapper Jack Breeze enlisted in Winnipeg in February 1916 and served overseas with the Canadian Engineers. He was wounded at the Vimy Front in the spring of 1917 and invalided to Canada later the same year. Jack was the oldest son of John Breeze and Mary Ann Edwards of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. John and Mary… Read More »

Brock, Earl Meadows

Driver Earl Meadows Brock enlisted at age 18 and served in Canada and the UK for just over a year, most of that time with the Canadian Field Artillery. Earl was the son of Robert Meadows Brock and Agnes McKechnie Francis of Kenora, Ontario. Agnes came from a large family in Stirlingshire, Scotland and she… Read More »

Mahoney, James Robert

According to his attestation papers, James Robert Mahoney was born on 27 July 1887 in Melrose, New Brunswick. Originally known as Emigrant Road, in the 1820’s and 1830’s free land grants for farming were available in the area in the hope of attracting pioneer immigrants. As a result, the village of Ballynamuck, parish of Moragh… Read More »

Brown, John T

The son of Frances Emily Browne, John Brown was born on 22 June 1885 in Fulham, (London), Middlesex, England. Frances, born in Dublin, Ireland, was the daughter of Charles Henry and Jane Matilda (née Smith) Browne who had married in 1856 in Islington, London. The 1891 England census for Fulham found John living with his… Read More »

Colley, Sydney

Private Sydney Colley enlisted with the 52nd (New Ontario) Battalion in May 1915. He arrived in France in February 1916 and died four months later at the Battle of Mount Sorrel. Sydney grew up in Yorkshire, England in the parish of Sculcoates, which is now part of the city of Kingston upon Hull. His parents,… Read More »

Horwood, Amos Fred

On April 24, 1885 Amos Fred Horwood (known as Fred), was born in London, England to Amos Horwood (Sr.) and Eliza L. Oates.   Immigrating to Canada May 1906 on board the ship Lake Manitoba, 21 year old, Amos disembarked at   Montreal from Liverpool and he made his way to Keewatin, Ontario.   His… Read More »

Weston, William

William Weston was born on 2 March 1886 in Ramsey, Huntingdon, England. His parents George and Harriet (née Rolt) Weston had married during the last quarter of 1862 in Ramsey. The 1871 England census found the Weston family living on Horne Road in Ramsey, household members including parents George and Harriet, and children Ann, age… Read More »

Murdoch, Donald Herbert

Born in Keewatin on May 7, 1896, Donald was the son of John Murdoch and Kate Lithgow.   The Murdochs were of Scottish heritage.    His mother, Kate, died of heart disease in December 1899 when he was still 2 years old.   Donald’s father was a tinsmith in Keewatin.   In the 1901 census,… Read More »