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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Morrison, Byron

Private Byron Morrison enlisted in July 1916 and served in France and Belgium with the 49th Battalion. He was seriously wounded in October 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele and invalided back to Canada a year later. Byron was the youngest son of William John Robert Morrison and Sarah Stinson of Edmonton, Alberta. Byron’s father,… Read More »

Millings, John Richardson

John “Jack” Richardson Millings was born on 27 October 1902 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. His name was registered as Jack Richardson and he was born in the Horton Union Workhouse. His mother, Lily Richardson, was single and her usual residence was 99 Clayton Street in Bradford. She worked as a worsted spinner. At some… Read More »

Brownlee, Hugh Edward

Private Hugh Edward Brownlee came from a large farming family in Shawville, Quebec, a village about 60 km northwest of Ottawa. His grandparents had immigrated from Ireland and Scotland and his parents, Joseph and Sarah Jennett, were both born in Quebec. Joseph and Sarah had at least ten children between 1868 and 1886: Sarah, Mary,… Read More »

Hitchen, Frederick

It is likely that Frederick Hitchen was born on 18 October 1863 in Cressing, Essex, England although his death record gives the year as 1864. His father, born in Finchingfield, Essex, was  Aaron Hitchen and his mother, born in Bradwell, Essex, was Mary Ann Ager. Aaron and Mary Ann had married during the third quarter of… Read More »

Machin, Harold Arthur Clement

‘My position in this war has been very small, but I have had the privilege of serving some six months on the front ‘during the period I spent in France amid the horrors of war and human suffering and misery and the war’s leveling effects, I felt that if I survived and returned I could… Read More »

Burness, Alexander

Alexander Burness was born on 25 July 1895 in the parish of St Nicholas in the city of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His father Alexander Burness (flesher, butcher) was born in 1858 in the same parish, while his mother Jane (Jeannie) Manzie Duff was born in 1853 in Kirden, Angus. The couple married in 1884 in… Read More »

Millard, Oliver Philpot

Sergeant Oliver Philpot Millard enlisted with a pioneer battalion in October 1915 and arrived in France five months later. He served in France and Belgium for three years and was awarded the Military Medal in August 1918. Oliver was born on 16 July 1884 in Liverpool, Queen’s County, Nova Scotia, a small coastal community in… Read More »

Easterbrook, Frederick Elmo

Private Frederick Elmo Easterbrook was married and the father of six children when he signed up with a forestry unit in August 1916. He served in England and Scotland for two years and returned to Canada for health reasons in the fall of 1918. Fred was the son of James and Carrie Easterbrook and he… Read More »

Houldsworth, Frederick Joseph

Frederick Joseph Houldsworth was born on 17 January 1901 in the inner city of Hulme in Manchester, Lancashire, England. His parents James Houldsworth, a brick layer, and Mary Florence Easthope married on 14 February 1886 in Hulme. Children born to the couple were Margaret (1886), William Henry (1887), Clara (1889), James Edward (1891-1892), Ellen (1894),… Read More »

Jones, William Wyndham

William Jones was among the first Kenora volunteers. His name was published on Aug. 12, 1914 as having enlisted in the 98th Regiment following a call for volunteers on Aug. 9. Born in Wales to Thomas and Hannah Jones, both he and his brother Thomas immigrated to Canada in May 1913 and worked at the… Read More »