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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Richardson, Claude Harry

Sapper Claude Harry Richardson was married and the father of a young son when he signed up with a railway unit in February 1917. He served in France and Belgium for a year and returned to Canada in December 1918. Claude was the only son of William Henry Richardson and Sarah Ann (Sadie) Law. William… Read More »

Lewis, David Stanley

David Stanley Lewis was born on 29 July 1894 in Credit Forks, Caledon, Ontario. His father David James Lewis was from Nova Scotia while his mother Priscilla Brown was from Ontario. The couple married on 4 October 1882 in Euphrasia, Grey, Ontario where David Sr was farming. Their first born child, son Henry Owen, was… Read More »

Degagne, Joseph Emmanuel

Joseph Emmanuel Degagne was born on 11 February 1896 in Rat Portage (now Kenora), Ontario. His parents were Pierre George Degagne and Florida Charron. Siblings included: George (1893-1970), Emile (1894-1953), Leo (b. 1897), Maria (1899-1899), Albert (1901-1901), Ida (1902-1903), Flora (b. 1904) and Clovis (1906-1915). The 1911 census showed the family  living in the neighboring… Read More »

Austin, Alfred Philip

Alfred Philip Austin was born on 1 September 1897 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His parents Philip Austin and Marie Cecelia Helena Rochon were both from Ontario, marrying in Fort William, Ontario on 7 November 1894. At the time of the marriage Philip was living in Rat Portage and Cecelia in Fort William…. Read More »

Sewell, Claude

Claude Sewell was born on 21 March 1896 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. Both of his parents John Sewell and Louisa Sarah Parr were from England, immigrating to Canada around 1891 according to later census records. Their first child, daughter Gladys, was born in 1893 in Rat Portage where John was working as… Read More »

Ellerby, Stanley John

Private Stanley John Ellerby enlisted in November 1915 and served for more than three years in Canada, Great Britain, France and Belgium. He returned to Canada in February 1919. Stanley was the youngest child of George Ellerby and Hannah Axford of Marylebone, London, England. George and Hannah were married in 1871 and they had at… Read More »

Matchett, Joseph

Private Joseph Matchett was only 15 years old when he enlisted in August 1915. He served in France and Belgium in the last year of the war, returning home in March 1919. Joseph was born on 11 March 1900 in Cambeltown, Argyllshire, Scotland. His parents were Joseph Matchett and Ann McKendrick. When the 1901 census… Read More »

Shouldice, Arthur Alexander

Arthur Alexander Shouldice was born on 9 February 1885 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His father Joseph Shouldice was from the Gatineau River/Wakefield area of Quebec and had come west to Winnipeg in 1877 to work on CPR construction. His mother Christina Sutherland was from West River, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The couple… Read More »

Turner, Lewis Thomas

Corporal Lewis Thomas Turner was 41 years old, married and the father of three children when he enlisted in December 1915. He served overseas in England and France for almost three years, returning to Canada in May 1919. Lewis was the son of John William and Annie Turner of the Isle of Man, a self-governing… Read More »

Cherry, John Joseph Roland

John Joseph Cherry was born on 19 August 1890 in Keewatin, Ontario. His parents were Thomas Joseph Cherry and Caroline Hawkin. Siblings included Cecil, Agnes, Marion and Norah. John’s father was born in Ireland and immigrated to Canada 1871. He was a Reeve for Keewatin in 1907 and 1908 becoming Keewatin’s first Mayor in 1909… Read More »