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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Curtis, Clarence William

Trooper Clarence William Curtis enlisted shortly after the war started and served in France with the Canadian Cavalry Brigade. He died of illness in England in July 1916 and his only brother died of wounds four months later. Clarence was the oldest son of Susan Tomlin and Charles William Curtis. Susan was born in 1876… Read More »

Heather, William James

Private William James Heather enlisted in the fall of 1917 and served for almost two years in Canada, most of that time with a garrison regiment. James was 33 years old and living in South Dakota when he decided to enlist with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He applied at a recruiting office in Denver, Colorado… Read More »

Chapman, George

According to his Ontario death record, George Chapman was born about 1876 in Edinburgh, Scotland. It suggested that he immigrated to Canada around 1901 and came to Kenora in August-September of 1919. He died on 7 February 1921 in the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Kenora and was interred in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery… Read More »

Larson, John

John Larson’s name appeared in the 10 June 1916 edition  of the Kenora Miner and News for enlisting with the 197th Battalion. His identity and service could not be confirmed.  

Walsh, Maurice Andrew

The Somme Offensive was a series of battles that lasted from July to November 1916 and resulted in enormous casualties for both the Allied and German armies. The Canadian Corps moved to the Somme area in late August and their first major engagement began in mid-September. Private Maurice Andrew Walsh was one of 24,000 casualties… Read More »

McLeish, William Roderick

Gunner William Roderick McLeish enlisted in January 1915 and served overseas for four years with the Canadian Army Medical Corps and the Canadian Field Artillery. He returned to Canada in June 1919. William was born on 2 June 1883 in Dalton Township, Victoria County, Ontario, with his birth registered in Dalton Township in March 1884…. Read More »

Prall-Pierce, Henry Albert

Henry Albert Prall Pierce was born on 10 August 1874 in East Malling, Kent in England. In his early years he went by the name of Harry or Henry Pierce but after immigrating to Canada in 1904 he used the name of Henry or Harry Prall-Pierce. His father William Pierce was from Hadlow, Kent while… Read More »

Nairn, John White

Although he gave his place of birth as Edinburgh in Scotland, John White Nairn was born on 19 April 1892 in nearby Leith. His father John Nairn was from Johnstone, Renfrewshire while his mother Isabella Stuart was from  Deskford, Banffshire. John and Isabella had married in 1887 in Edinburgh. After the marriage the couple lived… Read More »

Young, James

Private James Young enlisted with the 141st (Bull Moose) Battalion in August 1916 and served for 18 months in Canada and England. He was invalided home in February 1918. James was the son of John Young and Ellen Thompson (or Thomas) of Lac Seul, Ontario. He was born in Lac Seul in October 1890 and… Read More »

Lewis, William

Shortly after Britain declared war in August 1914 the Canadian government proposed raising an Expeditionary Force to send overseas. By late September a contingent of 32,000 volunteers had been assembled at the new military camp in Valcartier, Quebec. Two thirds of the men in this 1st Canadian Contingent were born in the British Isles including… Read More »