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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Austen, Charles Albert

Charles Albert Austen was born 11 February 1872 in Brixton, Surrey, England.  His parents were Austin Austen and Mary Ann Headington/Watkins.  Siblings included brother – James Stephen (b. 1870), sister – Lydia Mary (b. 1877) and half-sister Emily Beatrice Watkins. As a boy, Charles sang in St. Michael’s Anglican Church. First a telegraph boy, he… Read More »

Dumma, William Silver

William Silver Dumma was born to William Dumma and Janet (Silver) Dumma on December 20th, 1880 in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland.  His father William Senior was listed as a Superintendent of Housing in Edinburgh in 1881. There were seven children, including: Margaret (1866-71); Helen Hay (1867-1852); James (1868-1953, came to Canada in 1894, worked… Read More »

Campbell, Harold Bertram

Lance Corporal Harold Bertram Campbell was working as a bank clerk when he enlisted in December 1915. He arrived in France a year later and died in April 1917 at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Harold was the oldest son of Peter Clarence Campbell and Jessie May McOuot of Salmon Arm, British Columbia. Peter was… Read More »

Lord, Henry Thomas

Henry Thomas Lord was born on 13 December 1890 in St. Germans, Cornwall, England.   His parents were Henry and Elizabeth Lord.   Siblings included William Austin, Mary and Christianna.   Henry lived with his parents until immigrating to Canada on 08 June 1912.   He was a carpenter and was heading for Saskatchewan. World… Read More »

Jefford, Albert Ernest

Albert Ernest Jefford was born on 16 October 1891 in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, England. His parents were Ernest Jefford, an agricultural labourer, and Lydia Ann Brown. Siblings included: Lydia (b. 1882; married William Webb), Edith (b. 1884; married John Haggett), Alice Matilda (b. 1887), James William (b. 1897; served in WW1) and Dorothy May (b…. Read More »

Martin, William Henry

The second born child of Richard and Sarah (née Bardosen) Martin, William Henry Martin was born on 6 December 1886 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His father, the son of Cornish immigrants, had been born at sea as they were crossing the Atlantic while his mother was from Norway. Richard had first come… Read More »

Presley, John Arthur

Private John Arthur Presley was born in Clarence Creek, Russell County, Ontario. His parents were Joseph Presley, a farmer, and Jane Conn. Joseph and Jane were both Irish and born in the Clarence Creek area. John grew up there and he was one of at least ten children. At some point he moved west and… Read More »

McIsaac, Murdock

Murdock McIsaac was born in Little River, Codroy in Newfoundland. Differing dates of birth were given of 8 May 1887 and 8 May 1888 on attestation, and according to his later naturalization and death records, his date of birth was 3 November 1989. He was the son of Alexander C and Isabella McIsaac who farmed… Read More »

Carley, Albert Leonard

Albert  Leonard Carley was born on 24 March 1896 in Keewatin, Ontario. His parents were William and Elizabeth (née Moore) Carley. At the time of his birth his father’s occupation was given as carpenter.  Albert Leonard had an older sibling Manford who was born on 18 December 1891 in Wallaceburg, Kent, Ontario. Manford died of… Read More »

Elliott, William Arthur

William Arthur Elliott was born on 27 March 1890 in Orillia, Ontario. His parents were Thomas Huntley Elliott and Edith Brundrett, the couple marrying on 29 September 1886 in Peterborough, Ontario. At the time of the marriage Thomas was working as a boat builder. William had an older sister Marion Louise who was born in… Read More »