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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Jorgenson, Martin

Private Martin Jorgenson was one of five brothers who enlisted for service in the First World War. The five boys – Jacob, Martin, John,  Gustave and Thomas – came from a large family in Whitemouth, Manitoba. Martin was killed in France in June 1917 but his four brothers survived and returned home after the war…. Read More »

Menard, Joseph Delphis

Joseph Delphis Menard was likely born on 1 June 1879. The parish register from St Jacques le Mineur in Quebec gave his baptism date as 2 August 1879, the month possibly an error as all other baptisms on the pages were from late May and early June. Both of his parents Joseph Simon Menard and… Read More »

McKay, Archie Kenneth

Archie Kenneth McKay was born on 27 April 1882 in Upper Clyde in the county of Shelburne in Nova Scotia. His father James Lewis McKay was from Upper Clyde, while his mother Elizabeth Barss Smith was from nearby Brookfield. The couple married in Brookfield on 29 September 1875. Children born to the family were Otis… Read More »

Wainewright, Aubrey

When Aubrey Wainewright signed his attestation papers in Brandon, Manitoba on 13 November 1915, he gave his  date of birth as 5 April 1883, his place  of birth as Athlone, Ireland, and his middle name as Patrick. He also gave his father AW Wainewright of Iken Rectory, Tunstall, Suffolk as next of kin. As confirmed… Read More »

Milliard, Joseph Rene

Joseph Rene Milliard was born  on 30  August 1899 in Norman, Ontario. His parents Joseph Jean and Marie (née Lebel) Milliard were both originally from the Kamouraska area in Quebec. The couple had married 2 July 1889 in Rat Portage (later named Kenora), Ontario.  Eventually moving  to nearby Keewatin, the family grew. Children included Rose… Read More »

Milton, Charles Henry

Captain Charles Henry Milton enlisted in 1915 and arrived in France in June 1917. He served with the Canadian Forestry Corps and returned to Canada in May 1919. Charles was born on 18 April 1897 in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. His parents were Charles Henry Milton Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Humphreyson. Charles Sr. was born in… Read More »

Biers, William James

Private William James Biers was called up in January 1918 and sent overseas seven months later. He served in Great Britain for a year, returning to Canada in August 1919. Willilam James, usually known as James, was the son of William Biers and Maria Hughes of Dunfermline, Saskatchewan. William and Maria were both born in… Read More »

Loyst, John Wesley

Corporal John Wesley Loyst enlisted in March 1916 and served overseas for two and a half years. He was wounded at the Battle of Vimy Ridge but he survived the war and returned home in June 1919. John was the oldest son of John Wesley Loyst Sr. and Mary Sinclair of Chase, British Columbia. John… Read More »

Jorgenson, Jacob

Private Jacob Jorgenson was the oldest of five brothers who enlisted for service in the First World War. The five boys – Jacob, Martin, John,  Gustave and Thomas – came from a large family in Whitemouth, Manitoba. Martin was killed in France in June 1917 but the other four brothers survived and returned home after… Read More »

Basso, Pietro

Pietro (Peter) Basso was born on 15 February 1885 in Italy. He was educated there and served as a private with the Italian army in the Allied Forces during WW1. In 1920, he and his wife, Dosolina (b. 1894 in Azzano, Italy), had a daughter, Ada Marie. In May of 1921 Pietro immigrated to Canada… Read More »