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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Nairn, Alfred Tennyson

Alfred Tennyson Nairn was born on  19 August 1899  in Keewatin, Ontario, a small community just west of Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora). In his early years he went by the name of Tennyson but after the war he  switched to Alfred. His father Robert Nairn was from Netherhill, Dunlop, Ayrshire in Scotland and had… Read More »

Orr, James Walker

Acting Sergeant James Walker Orr enlisted in March 1915 and served overseas for three years. He was wounded at Vimy Ridge in April 1917 but he survived the war and returned home with a war bride. James was the son of Robert Barclay Orr and Margaret Walker Bryce of London, Ontario. Robert was born in… Read More »

Clutterbuck, Lawrence

Private Lawrence Clutterbuck enlisted in Calgary in February 1915, at age 17, and served in France and Belgium with the 18th Battalion and the Canadian Machine Gun Corps. He suffered shell shock and shell gas poisoning but he recovered and returned home in June 1919. Lawrence was the son of Austin Clutterbuck and Ruth Land… Read More »

Turner, Sidney Charles

Corporal Sidney Charles Turner enlisted in the British army in August 1914, just a few weeks after the war started. He served for four and a half years and was wounded twice, in 1915 and 1916. After the war he immigrated to Canada and settled in northwestern Ontario. Sidney was the son of George Edmund… Read More »

Primrose, Malberry Whittington

Although his attestation papers gave his birth as the 1st of July, Malberry Whittington (Whit) Primrose was born on 24 July 1894 in the township of Barrie, Frontenac, Ontario. His father George Henry Alexander Primrose was from London, England while his mother Emily Jane Haynes was from Kaladar, Ontario. The couple married in 1876 in… Read More »

Cowie, Allen Houston

Trooper Allen Houston Cowie signed up with the Royal North West Mounted Police Draft in April 1918. He served for almost a year in England and France and returned to Canada in May 1919. Allen was the son of Andrew Grey Cowie Sr. and Annie Gallagher of Carnduff, Saskatchewan. Andrew was born in Ontario and… Read More »

Clemons, Charles Edward

Charles Edward Clemons was born on 2 February 1894 in the Portland, Leeds area of Ontario where his family farmed. His parents were George Clemons and Fanny Victoria Preston, the couple marrying in 1890 in Singleton, Ontario. Children born to the family were Gertrude (m Henry Primrose) (1892-bef 1964), Charles, Emily (m Edward John Mott)… Read More »

Eaton, Margaret

Nursing Sister Margaret Eaton was 50 years old when she joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps in May 1916. She served for four years at several hospitals in Great Britain and Canada. Margaret was the daughter of Wesley Ferguson Eaton and Margaret Markle of East Flamborough Township, Wentworth County, Ontario. She was born on 11… Read More »

Chase, Harry Edward

According to his service record, Harry Edward Chase was born on 14 August 1884 in Redditt, a community about 30 kilometres north of Kenora in northwestern Ontario. Living in Duluth, Minnesota, Harry crossed the border into Canada at Fort Frances prior to enlisting in Winnipeg on 20 June 1918. His occupation was given as lumberman… Read More »

Hansen, Hans Edward

Private Hans Edward Hansen was one of four brothers from Keewatin, Ontario who served in the First World War. Hans was the oldest son of Nils (Nels) Julius Hansen and his wife Ellen Nilson. Nils and Ellen both immigrated to Canada in the 1880s, Nils from Norway and Ellen from Sweden. They were married in… Read More »