You can also view an Alphabetical List
These are the stories of Kenora participants in the First World War.
Search by name, or filter the search results using the list of options below.
Born on 16 October 1892 in Rat Portage (later named Kenora), Ontario, Ernest Joseph Perrault was the eldest son of Joseph and Exilda (née Favreau) Perrault who were originally from Quebec, very much a Catholic French Canadian family. He was a direct descendent of Nicholas Perrot, an early explorer and diplomat that came to Canada… Read More »
Sapper Colin Campbell Gray enlisted in March 1917 and served with the Canadian Railway Troops in the UK, France and Belgium. He returned to Canada in May 1919. Colin was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 4 June 1887. His parents were Captain John Gray, a mariner, and Mary Campbell. Six of his brothers and sisters… Read More »
Donald McGregor was born on 13 December 1900 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His father Robert McGregor was from Scotland while his mother Emma Howland was from England, the couple marrying on 1 October 1897 in the District of Thunder Bay in Ontario. At the time of the marriage Robert was working as… Read More »
George William Mills was born on 6 June 1898 in Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario. His father, Peter Clarke Mills, had been born in Scotland and come to Canada in 1890. Peter joined the staff of G. Rioch in 1892 and worked in watch and jewelry repairs for the next 47 years. He married Ellen ‘Nellie’… Read More »
During the war over 250 battalions were raised in Canada but only a small number of them served with the Canadian Corps in France and Belgium. Most battalions were broken up in England and used as reinforcements to replace casualties in front line units. Private William Cairns joined the 144th Battalion and after 16 months… Read More »
Oliver Emile (Oley) Sigurdson was born on 29 October 1894 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His parents Teibur (Tait) Sigurdson and Gudrun (Rooney) Thorsteindottir were both from Iceland, immigration year given as 1888 in various censuses. The couple first lived in Sayreville, New Jersey in the United States where they gave birth to daughter Johanna that year…. Read More »
According to his later obituary, John Kinger was born on 26 January 1898 in Poland and served with the Russian Cavalry during WW1. In February of 1920, in Poland, he married Aklunia (aka Akulina) Skibinski. The couple eventually immigrated to Canada, settling on the Redditt Road, Kenora, Ontario. John found work as a millhand with… Read More »
As reported in the Kenora Miner and News on 2 April 1919, the towns of Kenora and Keewatin held a large reception in the Tourist Hotel for returning veterans. On the list was W Redsky. His identity could not be confirmed but it is possible that it was either James or Edward Redsky
Corporal Martin Giving was living in Kenora, Ontario when he was called up under the U.S. draft in July 1918. He served in the U.S. Army for five months. Martin was the oldest son of Ole and Anna Giving (Geving/Gjeving) of Haugen, Aitken County, Minnesota. Ole and Anna were both born in Norway and they… Read More »
Ivan Bruce Lancaster was born on 25 October 1898 in Cedar Springs, Kent, Ontario. His father Joseph Lancaster was from England while his mother Mary Jane Cullis was from the Port Hope area of Ontario. The couple married on 7 February 1876 in Howard, Kent. The family first farmed in the area of Euphemia, Bothwell,… Read More »
