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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MacKay, John Hector

John Hector MacKay was born on 8 August 1880 in Kirkdale, Liverpool, England. His father John Hector MacKay was from Scotland and by the time of the 1871 census was boarding in the Samuel and Ann (née Watt) Neish household in Everton, Liverpool, occupation listed as engine driver. On 16 October 1975 in Walton-on-the-Hill, Liverpool,… Read More »

Fortier, Joseph Charles Ferdinand

According to his attestation papers, Joseph Charles Ferdinand Fortier was born on 2 December 1896 in Rat Portage (later named Kenora), Ontario. His parents were Joseph and Exilda (née Leblanc) Fortier who had married in St Boniface, Manitoba on 4 July 1891. Joseph was originally from Quebec while Exilda had moved to Manitoba with her… Read More »

Stratton, Walter Arthur

Walter Arthur Stratton was born on 24 July 1894, the son of Richard Stratton and Jennie Eyoutt. His birth was registered in the town of Rat Portage (now called Kenora), in northwestern Ontario. Another son, Roy Calvin Joseph, followed in 1896 and a daughter, Ella, was born in the Dryden area in 1900. When the… Read More »

Paul, John

Corporal John Paul enlisted with the 52nd Battalion and served in France and Belgium for almost three years. He was wounded at the Vimy front in April 1917 but he survived the war and returned to Canada in March 1919. John was born on 23 May 1896 in Victoria Harbour, Simcoe County, Ontario. His parents… Read More »

McMurdie, Joseph Francis

Joseph Francis McMurdie was born on 19 March 1891 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. Born in Lambeth, Surrey, England, father Charles McMurdie had immigrated to Canada around 1870 while his mother Catherine (née Sullivan) McMurdie was from Peterborough, Ontario. Although Charles was found in the Rat Portage area for the 1881 Canada census,… Read More »

Desantils, George

According to his attestation papers, George Desantils was born on 14 October 1882 in Eastman, Quebec. Neither a birth record or family could be confirmed for him although his service record indicated that he was the son of Peter (deceased) and Mary Desantils. By 1906 George was living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, marrying on 12… Read More »

Hayward, James

James Hayward was born on 3 August 1887 in the Holloway area of London, England. His father George James Hayward was from Tidworth in Hampshire while his mother Sabina Hale was from Monchton in Wiltshire. The couple had married in 1887 in Islington, London with George listed as a widower on the marriage registration. Sabina,… Read More »

Mills, Godfrey

According to his attestation papers, Godfrey Mills was born on 9 July 1894 in Newcastle, Natal, South Africa. His father Walter John Mills, born in Meopham/Ridley, Kent, England,  had enlisted with the 60th Kings Royal Rifles and served as Private during the Zulu War in South Africa 1877-79. Upon discharge he stayed in Durban and… Read More »

Regan, Richard

Private Richard Regan enlisted in November 1915 and served in France with the 8th Battalion (90th Winnipeg Rifles). He was killed in action in August 1917 at the Battle of Hill 70. According to his attestation paper and service file, Richard was born on 28 May 1888 in Kenora, Ontario. However, no other record of… Read More »