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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Cromwell, Frank Wellington

Gunner Frank Wellington Cromwell enlisted in March 1917 and served for more than two years in England, France, Belgium and North Russia. He survived the war and returned home to Canada in July 1919. Frank was the son of William Wellington Cromwell and Annie Ellena Hopf of Keewatin, Ontario. William was a cooper like his… Read More »

McLeod, John Daniel

John Daniel McLeod, more commonly known as Bud, was born on 29 August 1890 in Quincy, Massachusetts, date confirmed by his Massachusetts birth record. His parents John and Christina McLeod were originally from Prince Edward Island but had moved to Quincy where John Sr found employment as a granite polisher. The family moved to Hamilton,… Read More »

Gault, Robert

Robert was the oldest son of John and Eliza Gault of Keewatin, Ontario. He was born in Hastings County, Ontario in June 1865 or 1866. His father had emigrated from Ireland as a child and his mother was born in Ontario. Robert had at least one brother and five sisters: William, Matilda, Eliza, Kate, Alice… Read More »

Hopkins, William

William Hopkins was born on 29 March 1873 in the coastal community of Portrush in the county of Antrim in Northern Ireland. His parents were John Hopkins and Jane Dougherty (also spelled Doherty) who had married in December of 1867 in Londonderry. Known children born to the family were John (1869), Mary Eliza (1870), Ellen… Read More »

Sowden, James

The name James Sowden appeared in the 15 August 1914 edition of the Kenora Miner and News as one of the recent volunteers for the 1st Contingent. His identity and service could not be confirmed but a James Bowden Soden enlisted  on 24 September 1914 at Valcartier Camp in Quebec. Serving overseas with the 16th… Read More »

Valentine, David Bowhey

David Bowhey Valentine was born on 8 May 1882, birth registration found for Southwold, Elgin, Ontario. His parents were  David Carson  and Elizabeth (née Bowhey) Valentine who had married on 1 October 1881 in Nichol, Wellington, Ontario. Other children born to the couple were Mabel, Violante, Bessie,and Leighton. Earlier in the 1881 Canada census for… Read More »

Mair, William Rufus

William Rufus Mair was born on 19 December 1879 in the Byron area of Westminster Township in Middlesex, Ontario where his family farmed. He was the first born child of Andrew Mair and Sarah Ann Mackey, his parents marrying on 25 December 1877 in Westminster. Other children born to the family were Norman Sylvester (1881),… Read More »

Kennedy, George Brown

George Brown Kennedy was born on 30 May 1886 in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland. His parents were Alex Kennedy and Maggie Brown. Siblings included: Annie (1879-1883), Elizabeth (b. 1883), Alexander (b. 1888), Quintin (1890-1955), Janet (b. 1892), Margaret (1895-1982), and Isabella (b. 1899). Alex Sr. was a shoe maker and at least two of his children,… Read More »

Anderson, Alexander Carmichael

Alexander Carmichael Anderson was born on 24 May 1884 in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents were John Orr Anderson and Alice Roy Houston. John worked as a master joiner in Scotland. Siblings included: John (1875-1949), William (1881-1881), Alice (1886-1961) and Agnes (b. 1890). In 1905 Alexander and some of his family (father, mother & sister Agnes)… Read More »

Johnson, Harold John

Private Harold John Johnson was a lifelong resident of Kenora, Ontario except for a period of five years around the time of the First World War. He served with the American Expeditionary Forces in the U.S. and in France. Harold’s mother, Erika Karolina Engström, was born in Overlulea, Norrbotten, Sweden. She immigrated to Canada in… Read More »