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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Lowes, Roderick Percival

Although he gave his birth year as 1894 on his attestation papers, Roderick Percival (Percy) Lowes was born on 18 March 1898 in Chapleau, Ontario. His parents were William and Annie (née Stewart) Lowes. William worked for the Canadian National Railway, first as a brakeman, and  then for many years  as a conductor. The young… Read More »

Kendall, Ivan Lucas

Ivan Lucas Kendall was born on 9 May 1890 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), in northwestern Ontario. His father William Glanfield Kendall was from Rettendon, Essex, England. At age twenty-three William had immigrated to Canada, first living in Stratford, Ontario where he worked for the Grand Trunk Railway before moving to Winnipeg in 1882… Read More »

Aymer, Robert Leslie

Private Robert Leslie Aymer enlisted in December 1915 and served in France and Belgium with the 10th Battalion. He was wounded twice, at Passchendaele and Amiens, and he returned to Canada in January 1919. Robert was the son of Edward Albert Aymer and Caroline Watson of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Edward was a carpenter and joiner… Read More »

Robertson, John Donald

Trooper John Donald Robertson arrived in France in December 1917 and served with the Canadian Cavalry Brigade. He was killed in action in March 1918 at the Battle of Moreuil Wood. John was the oldest son of Angus Alexander Robertson and Christina McDonald of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Angus and Christina were both born in Lochiel Township,… Read More »

Wilcox, Sydney Charles

Sydney Charles Wilcox was born on 26 July 1883 in Windsor, Hants, Nova Scotia. His father Charles Smith Wilcox was from Windsor while his mother Emma Gertrude Thom was from Quebec City where the couple married in 1880. Returning to Windsor, Charles and his brother George were both hardware merchants. Children born to the family… Read More »

Belanger, Alfred Leon

Private Alfred Leon Belanger enlisted in the spring of 1918 and served overseas for eight months. He returned to Canada with his unit, the 52nd Battalion, in March 1919. Alfred was the son of Joseph Belanger and Adelaide Fisher of St. Boniface, Manitoba. Joseph was from Quebec and Adelaide was born and raised in Manitoba…. Read More »

LaRiviere, Gedeon Joseph

Gedeon Joseph LaRiviere was born on 10 July 1887 in Saint Marcel, L’Islet, Quebec. His parents were Gedeon and Marie Louise (née Messier) LaRiviere who had married in 1884 in Saint Marcel where their families farmed. Three children were born to the couple in Quebec, Joseph Antoine (1885-1885), Marie Louise (1886-1969), and Joseph. By the… Read More »

Williamson, Hector Stuart

Private Hector Stuart Williamson enlisted in the 94th Battalion in September 1915 and served overseas for almost two years. He was wounded twice, at the Vimy front in October 1916 and at Ypres a year later. Hector was the oldest son of Paul Williamson and Margaret Finlayson of Kenora, Ontario. Paul was born in Selkirk,… Read More »

Schnarr, C. Nelson

C. Nelson Schnarr, son of Werner Schnarr and Catherine Zinkann was born October 21, 1868 in Tavistock, Ontario. He was the first dentist in the Rat Portage (Kenora). His office was located on Main St. North over Carmichael’s store. He married Eva Helen Margach September 28, 1896 at Rat Portage. She died within a year… Read More »

DeGagne, Clovis Adelard

Clovis Adelard DeGagne was born on 11 September 1865 in Laterriere, Chicoutimi in Quebec, date and place confirmed by his baptism record. His father George DeGagne was from L’isle aux Coudres in the St Lawrence River while his mother Marie Illide Dubois was from Becancour. The couple married on 7 January 1851 in Grande Baie,… Read More »