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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Dougherty, Charles James

Corporal Charles James Dougherty was the son of Thomas Arthur and Mary Dougherty of Kenora, Ontario. Thomas was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and his wife Mary (née O’Keefe) was from Lacrosse, Wisconsin. They moved to Canada around 1887, settling in the small town of Rat Portage about four years later. They had five children, three… Read More »

Steers, Edwin Albert

Warrant Officer Edwin Albert Steers enlisted in the Royal Air Force in October 1917, at age 16, and went on to have a thirty year career in the military. After his service ended in 1947 he immigrated to Canada. Edwin was born in 1901 in Sittingbourne, Kent, England. His parents, Alfred Steers and Elizabeth Nix,… Read More »

Ruggles, Timothy Dwight

Timothy Dwight Ruggles was born on 11 February 1886 in Paradise, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. He was the second  child  of Charles Frederick and Emily Cecelia (née Gibson) Ruggles who had married in Bridgetown in 1883. Timothy had an older sister Annie Lillian and three younger siblings Frances Elizabeth, Stephen Sneden, and Charles Frederick. Timothy signed… Read More »

Bush, Edward Arthur

Lance Corporal Edward Arthur Bush was married and living in Kenora, Ontario when enlisted in January 1916 at age 36. He served overseas for almost three years, returning to Canada in February 1919. Edward was the son of John Henry Bush and Annie Mason of Derby, Derbyshire, England. John Henry and Annie were married in… Read More »

Ouellette, Joseph Cyril

Joseph Cyril Oullette was born August 8th, 1896 in Rat Portage, (now Kenora), Ontario to André Ouellette and Léa Côté. He attended elementary school in Kenora then began working for Cameron Heaps. During the First World War he served overseas with the Canadian Field Artillery. When he arrived in France he was assigned to the 13th… Read More »

Brynelson, Nels Austin

Sergeant Nels Austin Brynelson was the son of Nels and Augusta Brynelson of Starbuck, Manitoba. His parents were both born in Norway and immigrated to Canada in the mid-1880s. They settled in northwestern Ontario where Nels (Sr) became a section foreman for the Canadian Pacific Railway. He worked at several railroad stations just east of… Read More »

Thompson, Robert Charles

Sapper Robert Charles Thompson enlisted in April 1915 and died at the Somme about a year and a half later. His younger brothers William and Clifford also enlisted and they both survived the war. Robert was the oldest son of William Richmond Thompson Sr. and Elizabeth O’Hara. According to census records William Sr. and Elizabeth… Read More »

Lodge, William Edward

When Private William Edward Lodge enlisted he was 44 years old, married and the father of nine children. He served for 2-1/2 years in England and returned home to Kenora, Ontario in January 1919. William was born in July 1871 in St. Luke’s, London, England, the son of William and Hester/Esther Lodge. He was the… Read More »

Hughes, Hugh Gladstone

Corporal Hugh Gladstone Hughes was the oldest son of Hugh Hughes and Sarah Thompson. His father was born in Liverpool, England and his mother was from Wales. Hugh Gladstone was born on 9 March 1883 in Winnipeg and he was followed by a sister, Winnifred Jane, and a brother, John Llewellyn (Jack). Shortly after Jack… Read More »

Baker, Frederick John

Frederick John Baker was born on 12 April 1891 in Wheston, Derbyshire, England. His parents were Frederick George and Elizabeth Baker. He had at least two sisters – Lizzie born in 1885 and Annie born in 1888. By 1911 the family was living in Ilkeston, Derbyshire where Frederick Sr. was a veterinary surgeon and a… Read More »