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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Coltman, William Whitehead

William Whitehead Coltman was born on 9 February 1891 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. His father John Coltman, a wool packer, was from Buchlyvie while his mother Ann Hutton was from the Dunmore-Airth area, both in Stirlingshire. The couple married on 26 November 1896 in Alloa. Their first child, John was born the next year, followed… Read More »

Bosman, Russell

Private Russell Bosman enlisted in January 1915 and served in France as a lorry driver with a supply column. He returned home to Canada in 1917 after his father died and he was discharged from service on compassionate grounds. Russell was the oldest son of John and Laura Bosman of Brandon, Manitoba. John grew up… Read More »

Giles, Robert Edward

Driver Robert Edward Giles was the only son of Jesse Adam Giles and Mary Ann McDonald. Jesse was from London, England and Mary Ann was born in Proton, Ontario. They were married in 1890 in Port Elgin, Bruce County, Ontario and Robert was born on 18 January 1892 in the neighbouring township of Saugeen. He… Read More »

Clemons, Charles Edward

Charles Edward Clemons was born on 2 February 1894 in the Portland, Leeds area of Ontario where his family farmed. His parents were George Clemons and Fanny Victoria Preston, the couple marrying in 1890 in Singleton, Ontario. Children born to the family were Gertrude (m Henry Primrose) (1892-bef 1964), Charles, Emily (m Edward John Mott)… Read More »

Ackabee, Michael

Michael Mathew Ackabee was born on 03 April 1892 at Sandy Lake, north of Dinorwic, and spent his whole life in the district except for his time with the CEF during WW1. His parents were Andrew Ackabee and Mary Gilbert (Clear Sky Skaychommskook). He had at least four siblings – Elizabeth, William, Nancy and Joseph…. Read More »

Fortin, Edgar

Private Edgar Fortin enlisted in April 1916, at age 17, and arrived in France four months later. He was killed in November 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele. Edgar was the youngest son of Charles François Fortin and Emilie Jolicouer of Kenora, Ontario. Charles was from the Gaspé region in eastern Quebec and Emilie was… Read More »

Harris, Ralph Sr

According to his attestation papers Ralph Harris was born on 14 February 1876 in London, England. A birth record was not found. Using the name of Roland Ralph McClude, Ralph married Lydia Collier during the 3rd quarter of 1893 in the registration district of Clutton in Somerset. Lydia, the daughter of William and Charlotte (née… Read More »

Wilson, William

According to his later marriage record and obituary, William Wilson, the son of John and Annie Wilson, was born on 12 August 1895 in County Donegal in Northern Ireland. However he was the son of Mary Anne Sproule and was born on 14 August 1893 in the workhouse in Letterkenny, Donegal. By the time of… Read More »

L’Heureux, Oscar George

Sapper Oscar George L’Heureux enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in December 1918. He served with them for three months, followed by fourteen months of service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Canada and Great Britain. He returned home in June 1919. Oscar was the oldest son of Philibert L’Heureux and Delia Lasalle of Winnipeg,… Read More »

Shapland, James

James Shapland was born on 17 January 1885 in South Molton, Devonshire, England. His parents were William Lewis Shapland and Elizabeth Davies. Siblings included: William (b. 1880), Frank (b. 1883), Alice (b. 1887), Emma (b. 1889), Walter (b. 1892), Julia (b. 1894) and Minnie (b. 1897). His mother died in 1899. The 1901 England Census… Read More »