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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Wilding, Alfred John

Lance Sergeant Alfred John Wilding enlisted in February 1916 and served overseas for three years. He was wounded twice but he survived the war and returned to Canada in June 1919. Alfred was born on 3 February 1890 in Stagsden, Bedfordshire, England. His parents were Harry Wilding, a farm worker, and Jane Elizabeth Hobbs. Harry… 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 »

Sauerbrei, John Willoughby

Although he gave his birth year as 1897 on his attestation papers, John Willoughby Sauerbrei was born on 28 June 1899 in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain. His father John Sauerbrei was born in Bavaria, Germany (according to the 1901 England census record) and from an early age was involved in the hotel management business,… Read More »

Symmes, John Arnold

  Lieutenant John Arnold Symmes served as an officer in the Canadian infantry for a year then he enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917. He trained in France and returned to Canada in April 1918. John was the only son of Ernest William Symmes and Eliza Jane Arnold of Niagara Falls, Ontario…. Read More »

Teasdale, Pearson Liddle

Second Lieutenant Pearson Liddle Teasdale was a law student in Toronto when he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in October 1917. He served overseas with the Royal Air Force for a year and returned to Canada in April 1919. Pearson was born on 26 July 1897 in Massey Station, District of Algoma, Ontario. His… Read More »

Chaloner, Robert Edward

Robert Chaloner (or Bert as he was known) was born on November 21, 1895 in Lauder Manitoba. His parents, John Henry Chaloner and Mary Gertrude( Heatley) Chaloner, arrived in Lauder in 1891 with three children: Louise, who was born in Quebec City in 1882; Adelaide, born in Rat Portage, Ontario in 1884; and Charles, born… Read More »

Darling, Edward Victor

Edward Victor Darling was an assistant secretary with the YMCA in Kenora when war broke out. Born in Perth Road Village, Frontenac County, Ontario on January 8, 1893, his father Ira was a blacksmith by trade. When Edward was about six years old his family moved to the community of Inverary. The 1901 census lists… Read More »

Purdy, David

Although he gave his birth place as Ottawa on his attestation papers, David Purdy was likely born on 29 September 1880 near Blackburn, Ontario, place as given on his second marriage record and numerous records of his siblings. His father George Purdy was from the Nepean, Ontario area while his mother Mary Virgin was from… Read More »

MacArthur, John Angus

John Angus McArthur was born on 5 March 1893 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. Although his parents and siblings all used McArthur as the spelling of their surname, John consistently used MacArthur. His father Daniel McArthur was from Newcastle, Nova Scotia while his mother Florence/Flora McDougall was from Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The couple… Read More »

Paul, Charles Alvin

Private Charles Alvin Paul enlisted in January 1915 at age 18 and served in France with the Fort Garry Horse. He was wounded in April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive and returned to Canada in December 1918. Charles was the oldest son of David Paul and Mary Kent of Midland, Simcoe County, Ontario. David… Read More »