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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Sexsmith, Mark

Private Mark Sexsmith and his brother Richard Sexsmith enlisted in 1916 and they both served in France and Belgium with the 52nd Battalion. They died three days apart in October 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele. Mark was the son of Joseph Sexsmith and Emily Georgina Orr of Faraday Township, Hastings County, Ontario. Joseph and… Read More »

Chapman, William John (1892-1918)

William John Chapman was the son of James B. and Alice Maria (Blatchford) Chapman of 625 North Harold St., Fort William, Ontario, at the date of William’s enlistment in March of 1916. Father James died just before on January 7th, 1916 while in Ignace. Mother Alice Marie must have moved to Thunder Bay following James’… Read More »

Wootton, Francis Edward

Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Francis Edward Wootton, OBE, MC, ED, served for more than four years during the First World War and was awarded the Military Cross in 1919. He enlisted again during the Second World War and served from 1939 to 1945. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the… Read More »

Bunting, Mary Elizabeth

Nursing Sister Mary Elizabeth Bunting enlisted in February 1916 at age 22. She served for three years at hospitals in England and France and returned to Canada in April 1919. Mary was the oldest daughter of Thomas Henry Bunting and Elizabeth McDonald of Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Thomas came from a large Irish family in Middlesex… Read More »

Heffren, Charles Bertram

Sergeant Charles Bertram Heffren enlisted in January 1916 and served in Canada for three years. Bertram was the son of John Alexander Heffren (Heffern) and Margaret Malinda Clement. John was probably born in Quebec to Irish parents and Margaret was born in Ontario. They were married in 1881 in the District of Muskoka, Ontario. They… Read More »

Brown, McKay

Private McKay Brown was the son of Matthew Brown and Julia Etta McElroy of Kenora, Ontario. Matthew was from Scotland and Julia was born in Ontario to Irish parents. They were married in St. Catharines, Ontario in 1882. Their first two children were born in Port Arthur: Matthew Silver (1882) and McKay (29 January 1884)…. Read More »

McDonald, Norman

Private Norman McDonald enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba and served with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps in France and Belgium. He was wounded in September 1918 but he survived the war and returned to Canada in February 1919. Norman’s birth was registered as 10 May 1879 in Dawn Township, Lambton County, Ontario. His parents, Edward McDonald… Read More »

Reid, Francis William (Frank)

Francis William (Frank) Reid was born on 12 August 1888 in Saint John, New Brunswick. His parents Charles Francis Reid and Mary Elizabeth Savage were both born in New Brunswick, marrying on 1 November 1887 in Newcastle. At some point after Frank’s birth the family moved to Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario… Read More »

Guilbert, Hillare

The Kenora Miner and News published an article on 19 August 1916 listing the names of fellows that had enlisted with the Forestry Corps (238th Battalion). On the list among others was Hillaire Guilbert. His identity and service could not be confirmed, he was not on the battalion’s nominal roll.  

Cusson, Philibert Joseph

Philibert Joseph Cusson was born on 29 January 1899 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His father Joseph Edmond Cusson was from L’Assomption, Quebec while his mother Marguerite Chamberland was from Nashua, New Hampshire. Joseph and Marguerite married on 24 October 1893 in St Boniface, Manitoba. They gave birth to two children, Joseph Alexandre… Read More »