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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Winter, George Wilfred

Gunner George Wilfred Winter enlisted with the Canadian Field Artillery in April 1917. He served for two years in Canada, the UK, France and Belgium. George was the youngest son of John Roantree Winter and Clara Lucinda Tremear. John and Clara were both born in Ontario and they were married in 1891 in Pickering, Ontario… Read More »

Moore, Stewart William

With brown hair, gray eyes, and only 1/2 inch difference in height, the Moore twins were born on the same day, had their medical examinations on the same day, both were working as trainmen for the Canadian Pacific Railway at the time of the war, and both were called up for service on the same… Read More »

Owen, Ernest Clinch

Lance Corporal Ernest Clinch Owen enlisted in the 52nd Battalion in May 1915 and a year later he was killed at the Battle of Mount Sorrel. Ernest was the only child of Ernest Clinch Owen Sr. and Dora Elizabeth Alice Davies of Gravesend, Kent, England. Ernest Sr. and Dora were married in Gravesend in January… Read More »

Mathews, Seymour James

Seymour James Mathews was born on 18 September 1882 in Cirencester, Gloucester, England. His father Francis William (Frank) Mathews, a bootmaker, was from Cirencester while his mother Mary Jane Holland was from nearby Duntisbourne Abbots. The couple married during the second quarter of 1874 in the registration district of Cirencester. Children born to the family… Read More »

McDonald, John Daniel

John Daniel McDonald was born on 9 September 1897 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario. His father Daniel R McDonald was from southwestern Ontario while his mother Isabella Morrison was from Stornoway in Scotland. The couple married on 17 January 1896 in Rat Portage where Daniel was working as a “railroad man”…. Read More »

Baker, Ernest Roland

Sergeant Ernest Roland Baker enlisted in January 1916 and served in France with the 44th Battalion. He was wounded in June 1917 and spent the rest of the war in Great Britain, returning to Canada in February 1919. Ernest was the son of George Baker and Ann Jane Watts of London, England. Ann was born… Read More »

Armstrong, Walter

Private Walter Armstrong enlisted in February 1915 and served overseas with the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion. He was wounded four times, including once by mustard gas. He survived the war and returned to Canada in September 1919 with a war bride. Walter was born on 7 May 1895 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He was… Read More »

Parfitt, William Joseph

William Joseph Parfitt was born on 29 March 1886 in St. George’s, London, England. His parents were Fred Parfitt and Elizabeth Woodhouse. Siblings included: Frederick John (b. 1882), Catherine Emma (1884-1972; married Edwin Thomas Barnard), Agnes Elizabeth (1887-1935; married Albert Deverell), Minnie Jessie (1890-1980; married Alfred Balchin), and David George (1891-1916). In 1901 at age… Read More »

Murdoch, Donald Herbert

Born in Keewatin on May 7, 1896, Donald was the son of John Murdoch and Kate Lithgow.   The Murdochs were of Scottish heritage.    His mother, Kate, died of heart disease in December 1899 when he was still 2 years old.   Donald’s father was a tinsmith in Keewatin.   In the 1901 census,… Read More »

Charest, Peter

Isaie Peter Charest was the son of Isaie Charest and Emilie Bedard. He was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec on October 16, 1878. Peter’s mother died in 1886 when he was just 8 years old. Peter’s father, left with several small children, married Marie LaRoche on February 21, 1887 in Baie-du-Febvre, Quebec. At some point, Peter… Read More »