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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Richardson, Claude Harry

Sapper Claude Harry Richardson was married and the father of a young son when he signed up with a railway unit in February 1917. He served in France and Belgium for a year and returned to Canada in December 1918. Claude was the only son of William Henry Richardson and Sarah Ann (Sadie) Law. William… Read More »

Bateman, Ralph

Ralph Stanley Bateman was the youngest child of blacksmith Collingwood Bateman and Mary Ann Nicholson.  He was born 21 March 1880 in Goole, Yorkshire, England.  His siblings included: Collingwood, Rebecca, Ada, William G., and Harold S. In 1901 Ralph was still living in Goole, working as a timber merchant clerk.   Then in March 1905… Read More »

Labonte, Arthur James

Reverend Father Arthur James Labonte was born on 19 October 1883 in Francestown, New Hampshire. His father, Emery Labonte, was born in St. Dominque, Quebec and moved to New Hampshire as a teenager. He found work in stone quarries in the Francestown area. Arthur’s mother, Marie Hibbert (Hebert), was born in Burlington, Vermont but her… Read More »

Patterson, Fred W

Fred W Patterson joined the Kenora Branch of the Canadian Legion in December of 1927. His regimental number was given as 2928, rank as Private, and unit served with as 6th Kings Liverpool Regiment. The card stated that he enlisted on 8 November 1914 and was discharged from service on 28 February 1919 in Birmingham…. Read More »

Lalois, Louis

Louis Lalois was born on 20 September 1896 in Keewatin, Ontario, a small town just west of Kenora. His father Louis Lalois Sr was from Montmagny, Quebec, earlier spelling of the surname as Lislois. Louis Sr had been farming in the Keewatin area by the 1881 census but a short time later found work in… Read More »

Morris, John William

Gunner John William Morris was a married teacher with his first baby on the way when he enlisted in April 1916. He served in Great Britain, France and Belgium for two and a half years, returning to Canada in January 1919. John was the oldest son of John William Morris (Sr.) and Sabina Thickett of… Read More »

Boquist, William Norman

William Norman Boquist was born on 09 October 1895 in Bodo, Nordland, Norway. His parents were Gustaf and Marie Boquist.  At the age of nine, William and his mother immigrated to Canada to join his father who was working as a contractor in Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario. They left Liverpool aboard the Tunisian on 06… Read More »

Carlson, Carl Ragner (Roy)

Back row: Roy, father Carl holding Edith, Amanda’s sister Hilda Front row: Gus, Angus, mother Amanda holding Ture Carl Ragner (Roy) Carlson was born on 6 August 1890 in TimrГҐ, Västernorrland, Sweden. His father Carl Carlson was from NordingrГҐ in Västernorrland while his mother Sofia Amanda Westmark was from Pitea in Norbotton. The couple had… Read More »

O’Flaherty, John Joseph

The son of Thomas and Anne (née O’Dell) O’Flaherty, John Joseph  O’Flaherty was born on 22  January 1891 in Clogheen, County Cork, Ireland. Children born to the family were Thomas Francis, Lawrence, Margaret Mary (Peggy), Jeremiah, John Joseph, Edward, Jane Mary, Morgan, Annie Kathleen, and Elizabeth (Betty). Parents Thomas and Anne were school teachers and… Read More »

Page, John Walter Bowden

Reverend John Walter Bowden Page was born in England in 1861 and lived in Canada for more than twenty years. He moved back to the UK before the war and served as a British army chaplain during the war. John was the youngest son of Joseph and Mary Jane Page of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. Joseph,… Read More »