Kenora Great War Project

 

You can also view an Alphabetical List

The People

soldier_photobar

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

Search by name, or filter the search results using the list of options below.

Barr, Donald Edward

According to his attestation papers Donald Edward Barr was born on 2 November 1887 in Arnprior, Ontario. Both of his parents James and Agnes (née Dewar) Barr were from the area and had married in Arnprior in 1881. By the 1891 Canada census the family was living in Pine Creek, Alberta where James was listed… Read More »

McGuire, Russell Edward

Russell Edward McGuire was born on 28 February 1900 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. Both of his parents, Edwin Ernest McGuire and Mary Jessie (May) Parsons, were from Quebec. The couple married in late 1885 in Richmond, Quebec although Edwin was listed as working in Montreal as a fireman, presumably with a railway,… Read More »

Musgrove, John Ernest

John Ernest Musgrove was born on 25 March 1894 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His father John Edward/Edwin Musgrove was from England while his mother Della Daum was from Austria, the couple marrying on 2 August 1893 in Winnipeg. While living in Rat Portage John Sr worked as a fireman. Daughter Lena May… Read More »

Craig, Gordon Maxwell

Gordon Maxwell Craig was born on 17 August 1897 in Ottawa, Ontario. His parents were William John Craig and Charlotte Jane Cowan. Siblings included William George (b. 1894), Mildred (b. 1902), Elnora (b. 1905) and Shirley (b. 1912). Shortly after Gordon’s birth the Craig family moved to Keewatin, Ontario where his father became the town… Read More »

Palmer, Peter

Sapper Peter Palmer was living in or near Keewatin, Ontario when he was called up under the Military Service Act on 11 November 1917. He had failed to register as required and he was classed as a Defaulter. He was probably working for the Keewatin Lumber Company as that was the address he gave after… Read More »

Fisher, James

James Fisher was born on 9 December 1890 in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland. His parents were William Fisher and Elizabeth Armour.  Siblings included: John, William, Charles, Mary, Janet, Elizabeth, Alexander, David, Isabel and Agnes.  James immigrated to Canada in 1909 and married Mary Weir on 22 October 1913 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Daughter Margaret was born in… Read More »

Erskine, Charles Stewart

Although he gave his year of birth as 1883 on his attestation papers, Charles Stewart Erskine was born on 16 November 1881 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland. His parents were Thomas and Janet (née Stewart) who had married in 1870 in Falkirk. Over the years Tom made his living as a joiner journeyman (contract carpenter). The… Read More »

Rymer, John Thomas

Private (Acting Sergeant) John Thomas Rymer was a stenographer living in Winnipeg, Manitoba when he enlisted in March 1916. He served for three years in Canada, England and Siberia. John was the oldest son of John Rymer and Mary Ann Gradon of Middridge, County Durham, England. John (Sr.) was originally from north Yorkshire and he… Read More »

Johnson, Joseph Harvey (Ladd)

Joseph Harvey (Ladd) Johnson was born on 29 May 1895 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario. His father Joseph Johnson, son of Irish immigrant James Johnson and his 1st generation Irish Canadian wife Ann Sanderson, grew up on a farm in the Omemee area just south of the Kawartha Lakes in southern… Read More »

Campbell, William

William Campbell was born on 21 November 1891 in Pattiesmuir on the outskirts of Dunfermline, Fife in Scotland. According to the 1901 Scotland census, his father William Campbell was from Kilberry in Argyll while his mother Isabella Brown was from Dunfermline where the couple had married on 14 January 1891. Over the years William Sr… Read More »