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These are the stories of Kenora participants in the First World War.
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John William McLeod (1887-1917) was born in Prince Edward Island and grew up there with his brothers and sisters, Malcolm (Monty) McLeod (1879-1951), Belle Marion McLeod (1881-1982), Cyrus Alexander McLeod (1883-1892) and Sarah (1899). His parents, Angus (Big Angus) (1837-1915) and Catherine (Katie) MacRae McLeod (1851-1926) farmed in the Queen’s East District of the island… Read More »
George Harry Stubbins (known as Harry) was born on 13 January 1888 in Manchester, England. His parents were Mark Stubbins, a carpenter and grocer, and Mary Henrietta Robinson. Siblings included James, Martha, John (Jack), Thomas and Mary (Polly). Harry served in the Royal Engineers for two years before coming to Canada. His first arrival in… Read More »
William Baker was born on 12 January 1896 in Ontario. It is believed that his parents were George and Margaret Baker who were living in Toronto with William and his brother, Francis, at the time of the 1901 Canadian Census. His father died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1902. By the 1911 Census, William was the… Read More »
John Thomas Hendy (known as Jack Hendy) was born on 30 January 1900 in Grays, Essex, England. His parents were James Hendy and Eliza King. Siblings included Arthur Franklin (1881-1953), Sissy Eliza (1883-1959), Edith (1887-1901), Kate Isabel (1889-1986), Rose Eleanor (1893-1986), Nellie (1895-1998), William (1898-1899), and Mabel Florence (1901-c.1990). Just after Jack turned 18 he… Read More »
Corporal William Thomas Sparks enlisted in December 1914 and served in England, France and Belgium. He was wounded at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and he spent over a year recovering in hospitals and convalescent centres. William was the son of Thomas George Sparks (Sparkes) and Eliza Mackler of West Ham, London, England…. Read More »
Although a birth record was not found, Eugene Heppelle was most likely born on 14 August 1896 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. Over the years various spellings of the surname were used: H’epell, H’eppel, H’appell, Hapell, Hepell, Heppell, Heppelle. His father Emile Heppelle was from Ste-Anaclet, Rimouski in Quebec while his mother Marie… Read More »
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 »
Ernest Croisier was born on 23 July 1876 in Lampaul, Finistère, Bretagne, France. His parents were Francois Cloisier and Marie Anne Colleau, and he had at least one brother, Jean, who also served during the war. He attended the College of Lesneven and the Quimper Seminary, being ordained as a priest on 13 July 1902… Read More »
Cecil McLeod joined the war effort as soon as he was old enough, enlisting with the 76th Canadian Field Artillery Depot Battery in Winnipeg in March 1917, just three months after turning 18. McLeod had been born in Rat Portage Dec. 8, 1898, the son of Edward Donald McLeod, a CPR engineer, and Elizabeth Eakins…. Read More »
William Ernest Archambault was born on 29 December 1889 in Bay City, Michigan, birth confirmed by Michigan registration. His father George was from Ottawa while his mother Celina was from Quebec. William had an older sister Cora Maud, born in 1883 in Bay City, and an older brother George who was likely born in Quebec… Read More »
