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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Bjork, Elof

Elof Bjork was 48 years old, married and a father of three when he enlisted in March 1916. He served in Canada for nine months and was discharged for medical reasons. Elof and his wife Katarina Fredrika Karlsson (Carlson) immigrated to Canada from Sweden in the summer of 1902. Their destination was the town of… Read More »

Dion, Angus Auguste

Private Angus Auguste Dion was the son of Ferdinand (Frank) Joseph Dion and Emilie Michaud. Ferdinand and Emilie were both born in Quebec. By the early 1880s they were married and living in the Keewatin/Rat Portage area in northwestern Ontario, where Ferdinand worked in a sawmill. They had at least eight children: Wilfred (1883), Josephine… Read More »

Cotter, Thomas Joseph

Thomas Joseph Cotter was born on 27 March 1891 in Quebec City. Both of his parents Andrew Cotter and Mary Jane O’Neill were born in Quebec to Irish immigrants. The couple married on 21 April 1884 in Quebec City. Over the years Andrew worked as a plumber as did some of his sons. Thomas had… Read More »

Wilcox, Henry

Henry Wilcox was born on 31 July 1898 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.   He was the youngest son of William and Jane Wilcox. Siblings included Jane, Lizzie, Mercy, Elsie, Dora, John and William.   His father was a shoemaker and Henry followed in his footsteps working in the boot and shoe trade. When Henry was… Read More »

Thiis, Thomas

Midshipman Thomas Thiis was born on 28 December 1900 in Cardiff, Wales. His birth name was Thomas Richard Thüs and his parents were John Prout Thüs and Elizabeth Stoate Date. John’s father, Thomas Christian Thüs, was a master mariner who had immigrated to England from Norway. Over time the surname Thüs became Thiis but it… Read More »

Williamson, Hector Stuart

Private Hector Stuart Williamson enlisted in the 94th Battalion in September 1915 and served overseas for almost two years. He was wounded twice, at the Vimy front in October 1916 and at Ypres a year later. Hector was the oldest son of Paul Williamson and Margaret Finlayson of Kenora, Ontario. Paul was born in Selkirk,… Read More »

Lands, David

Private David Lands (aka David Land) enlisted in 1916 and served overseas in Great Britain and France. He was invalided to Canada due to illness in February 1918. According to his attestation and his service file, David was born between 1880 and 1882 at Lac Seul Reserve, a First Nations community located north of the… Read More »

Sim, Gordon

Gordon Sim was born on 2 May 1856 in Cairnie, Aberdeenshire in Scotland. His parents were William Sim and Catherine Henderson, both from the general area in Aberdeenshire. By the time of the 1851 census the family had a 24 acre farm in Redford, Cairnie. Children born to William and Catherine were John (1832), William… Read More »

Fahey, John Ernest

John Ernest Fahey was born on 20 September 1897 in the Bass River area of Weldford, Kent in New Brunswick where his family farmed. His parents, both from New Brunswick, were John Fahey and Estella Johnston. Children born to the couple were Jane (1886), Gordon (1888-1888), Edward William (1889), Mary Winnifred (1891), Lillian Emeline (1894),… 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 »