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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Findlay, John

John Findlay was born on 13 April 1898 in Newbattle, Midlothian, Scotland, a community about twelve kilometres outside of Edinburgh. His father Samuel Findlay, a miner, was born in 1859 Beith in Ayrshire while his mother Jane Manson was born in 1855 in Dailly, Ayrshire. The couple married on 14 February 1890 in Ayr. They… Read More »

Cridge, Alfred John

Alfred John (aka ‘Jack’) Cridge was born on 12 December 1892 in Bridgewater, Somerset, England.   His parents were James Weston Cridge and Emma Rendells.   Jack was educated in Bridgewater and learned the butcher trade.   In June 1913 he immigrated to Kenora, Ontario, Canada. On 17 April 1915 Jack enlisted with the 52nd… Read More »

Drewry, William Starkey

Captain William Starkey Drewry spent more than a year overseas with the 61st and 10th Battalions. After being invalided back to Canada in 1917 he served as a recruitment officer in the U.S. William grew up in a prominent and wealthy family in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His father, Edward Lancaster Drewry, was originally from London, England…. Read More »

Cleland, George William

George William Cleland was born on 13 January 1901 at the Mikado Mine on Shoal Lake, Lake of the Woods, near Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario (Archives of Ontario; Series: MS929; Reel: 155). His father John Cleland was from Middleville, Ontario while his mother Matilda Catherine Craig was from Dalhousie. The couple married on… Read More »

Gomez, John Orton

According to his attestation papers, Jean (later known as John Orton) Gomez was born on 12 July 1893 in Provincia Leon La Basilica Sopenia in Spain. However his later obituary and grave marker gave the date of birth as 12 June 1888. With the year of birth as 1893, Jean arrived in Quebec aboard the… Read More »

Hives, Harry

Private Harry Hives enlisted in the spring of 1916 and served for three years, with two of those years spent as a German prisoner of war. He survived the war and returned to Canada in April 1919. Harry (Henry) was the son of Hans Edgar Hives and Sarah Harper of Kensington, London, England. Hans and… Read More »

Ritchie, George

George Ritchie was born on 6 June 1897 in Belfast, Ireland. His parents were Holden and Jane Ritchie. Siblings included: Helena (b. 1891), Grace(b. 1896), Jean (1900 – 1964), Charlotte (b. 1902 – 1961), and Benjamin (1905 – 1955). In August of 1903 the family immigrated to Canada arriving aboard the ‘Bavarian’. The 1911 Canadian… Read More »

Favel, Henry

Private Henry Favel enlisted in November 1915, at age 46, and served overseas in England, France and Belgium for two and a half years. After returning to Canada he served for another six months. Henry ‘Harry’ Favel was born on 11 February 1869 in the Red River Settlement, which became part of the province of… Read More »

Robertson, Stuart

Private Stuart Robertson enlisted underage in September 1914, when he was 17 years old. He survived four years of war and returned to Canada in May 1919. Stuart was the son of William Robertson and Bertha Louisa Thompson of Vancouver, British Columbia. William was born in Cupar, County of Fife, Scotland and Bertha in Lancashire,… Read More »

Byers, Edgerton Wellington

According to his attestation papers and Officers’ Declaration Paper, Edgerton (Egerton) Wellington Byers was born on 11 July 1882 in Bailieboro, Ontario, a village in the Township of Cavan near Peterborough. His parents William and Sarah Ann (née Francey) Byers were both from Cavan where they had married in 1862. Farmers, the family was listed… Read More »