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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Cassels, George

George Alexander Cassels was among the early volunteers from Keewatin, joining the 98th Regiment in Kenora after the first call to raise group of 40 men for overseas duty was made August 9, 1914. Cassels had been in Keewatin for about five years and was working as a coachman at the Keewatin flour mill when… Read More »

Levine, Patrick

Private Patrick Levine was called up in January 1918 and served in France and Belgium in the last months of the war. He returned to Canada in May 1919. Although his military service record is in the name of Patrick Levine, based on information in the file this soldier was most likely Patrick Lavigne. Patrick… Read More »

Frost, Moses

Private Moses Frost was born on 30 June 1886 in North Bay, Ontario. His parents, Moses Frost Sr. and Mary Denault, were both from the Fort Coulonge area in Quebec. Moses had five older brothers and sisters: Mary (born ca1874 in Manitoba), Joseph, David Edward and Maria (Marian) (all born in Quebec), and Samuel (born… Read More »

Bevan, Arthur Cyril

Arthur Cyril Bevan was born on 26 December 1882 in Stanwell, Middlesex, England. His parents were James Frederick Bevan and Hannah Parker. Fourth born in a large family, Arthur’s siblings included: James Parker (1876-1913), George Parker (1878-1920), Madge (1880-1932), Lilian Mary (1884-1939), Parker Samuel (1886-1962), Dorothy Hannah (1888-1953), Gordon Frederick (1889-1915), Constance Theresa (1890-1972), Ernest… Read More »

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 »

McCutchan, Edward Head

Edward Head McCutchan was among the early volunteers for the 52nd Battalion, the first infantry battalion to be raised in Northwestern Ontario during the war with volunteers from Kenora, Fort Frances, Dryden, Port Arthur and Fort William. Recruiting had begun in the fall of 1914 and Edward McCutcheon enlisted as a private on Dec 18,… Read More »

Tompkins, Nicholas

Nicholas Tompkins was born on 5 September 1868 in Margaree, Inverness on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. He was the first born son of farmers John Nicholas Tompkins and Judith Coardy who had married 8 October 1867 in Margaree. Both of his parents were born in Nova Scotia to Irish immigrants. Nick had four… Read More »

Benson, William

William Benson was born on 20 December 1887 in Pickering, Yorkshire in England. His father Mark Benson was from Pickering while his mother Annie Elizabeth Swain was from West Heslerton, also in Yorkshire. The couple had married during the first quarter of 1887 in Pickering. William had three younger siblings, James (1889), Mary (1891), and… Read More »

Sleightholm, Cecil Talmage

Cecil Talmage (Bud) Sleightholm was born on 9 July 1897 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario. His parents Matthew Sleightholm and Agnes Victoria Matthew were both widower/widows when they married on 30 April 1893 in Horning’s Mill in the Township of Melancthon, Dufferin, Ontario. At the time of the marriage Matthew was… Read More »

Brydon, John Campton Kerr

Private John Campton Kerr Brydon enlisted in March 1916 and served for a year and a half in Canada, England and France. He was discharged on compassionate grounds in November 1917. John was the oldest son of John Kerr Brydon and Mary Charlotte Campton of Kenora, Ontario. His father had emigrated from Scotland around 1875,… Read More »