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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Scott, John Thomas

Sergeant John Thomas Scott served with the Fort Garry Horse and spent more than three years in France and Belgium. He returned to Canada in July 1919. John was the oldest son of James Scott and Margaret Downs of Chamberlain, Saskatchewan. James was from Forfarshire, Scotland and Margaret was born in Whitechurch, Ontario. They were… Read More »

Carlson, Charles Arthur

Charles Arthur Carlson was born on 11 September 1892 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario. His father John Carlson, a carpenter, immigrated to Canada from Sweden around 1880 while his mother Mary Chemalska was from Poland or Germany, her arrival listed as 1887 in the 1901 Canada census. Other children born to… Read More »

Donkin, Rupert Edgar

Rupert Edgar Donkin was born on 3 May 1872 in River Philip, Cumberland, Nova Scotia. As the name would suggest the community was located in a valley along the River Philip in northwestern Nova Scotia. Around 1774 several families from Yorkshire in England were  enticed by the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia to immigrate to the… Read More »

Raine, Richard Oats

Richard Oats Raine was born on 23 December 1900 in South Shields, Northumberland, England. His father, Joseph Garrett Raine, was born in County Durham and his mother, Mary Ann Oats, in Northumberland. Joseph was a butcher by trade. He and Mary Ann were married in 1896 and they had at least seven children: Margaret Mary,… Read More »

Graham, Angus Archibald Buchanan

Angus Archibald Buchanan Graham was born on 7 September 1873 in the District of High Church, Glasgow, Scotland. His parents John Graham, carter, and Elizabeth McCaffer had married 22 November 1861 in High Church. Angus’s grandparents were David and Helen (Buchanan) Graham and Duncan and Margaret (Campbell) McCaffer. The 1881 Scotland census found Angus, occupation given… Read More »

McKinnon, Donald Angus

Donald Angus Valentine McKinnon was born on 14 February 1895 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario. His father Angus Hugh McKinnon was from the Lochiel area of Glengarry in Ontario while his mother Catherine Jane McRae was from Roxborough, Ontario. Although he had been living in Rat Portage and working as a… Read More »

Kilgour, Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison Kilgour was born on 9 November 1900 in Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. At the time of his birth Govan was going through a rapid expansion period, from a population of 9 000 in 1864 to 95 000 in 1907. In 1912 Govan became a part of Glasgow. Andrew’s father John Kilgour, a tailor, was… Read More »

Hendy, John Thomas

John Thomas Hendy (known as Jack Hendy) was born on 30 January 1900 in Grays, Essex, England. His parents were James Hendy and Eliza King.  Siblings included Arthur Franklin (1881-1953), Sissy Eliza (1883-1959), Edith (1887-1901), Kate Isabel (1889-1986), Rose Eleanor (1893-1986), Nellie (1895-1998), William (1898-1899), and Mabel Florence (1901-c.1990). Just after Jack turned 18 he… Read More »

Fortier, Joseph Charles Ferdinand

According to his attestation papers, Joseph Charles Ferdinand Fortier was born on 2 December 1896 in Rat Portage (later named Kenora), Ontario. His parents were Joseph and Exilda (née Leblanc) Fortier who had married in St Boniface, Manitoba on 4 July 1891. Joseph was originally from Quebec while Exilda had moved to Manitoba with her… Read More »

Baxendale, William James

William James Baxendale was born 07 October 1898 in Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario.  His parents were James Thomas and Amelia Maria Baxendale. He had two older sisters – Violet and Myrtle.  His father worked as a car inspector/repairer for the CPR. William received his education in Kenora. In November of 1915 he commenced working for… Read More »