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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Greenwood, Frank

Private Frank Greenwood was the son of William and Eleanor Ann Greenwood of Kenora, Ontario. William was born in Saltford, Somerset, England and Eleanor (née Shattell) was from Rotherhithe, London. They were married in 1877 and their first nine children were born in the London area: William, Alfred, Arthur, Eleanor, Anne, Jessie, Gertrude, Harold and… Read More »

Hamel, Joseph

Joseph Hamel (Hamill) was the son of Anna Leclair/Leclerc and her first husband Thomas Pelletier. Anna and Thomas were married in 1899 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Joseph was born there on 5 July 1900, his birth registered as Joseph Anthony Stephen Pelletier. Thomas appears to have died by 1901 and Anna then married Henry Hamel…. Read More »

Coley, Edmund Irons

Private Edmund Irons Coley enlisted in December 1915 at age 15 and served for more than three years. After he turned 18 he was sent to France, where he was wounded near the Canal du Nord in the last weeks of the war. Edmund was the oldest son of Thomas Irons Coley and Mary Ann… Read More »

Brest, Samuel

Samuel Brest was likely born in 1899 in Russia. His father was Eli (aka Alexander) Brest and he had at least two sisters, the family immigrating to Canada around 1906, settling in Kenora, Ontario where Eli worked as a second hand dealer. With occupation given as barber and his father Alexander (aka Eli) in Kenora… Read More »

Thompson, Arthur Bohn

Lance Corporal Arthur Bohn Thompson was the son of Benjamin Franklin ‘Frank’ Thompson and Augusta Bohn. He was born on 22 February 1887 in the town of Rat Portage in northwestern Ontario. He had an older sister Sarah (Sadie) and two younger brothers, John (1888) and William Stanley (1890). All three boys were born in… Read More »

Brynelson, Oscar

Sapper Oscar Brynelson enlisted in February 1916 and served for three years in Canada, Great Britain, France, Belgium and Germany. He enlisted again in the Second World War. Oscar was the son of Nels and Augusta Brynelson of Starbuck, Manitoba. Nels and his wife were both born in Norway and immigrated to Canada in the… Read More »

Cornell, Frederick Charles

Staff Sergeant Frederick Charles Cornell enlisted twice, the first time in January 1915 at age 17. He served in England for a year and he was invalided back to Canada in 1917 due to illness. Frederick was the only son of Joseph and Elizabeth Cornell of Brandon, Manitoba. He and his twin sister Helen Elizabeth… Read More »

Tompkins, Nicholas

Nicholas Tompkins was born on 5 September 1868 in Margaree, Inverness on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. He was the first born son of farmers John Nicholas Tompkins and Judith Coardy who had married 8 October 1867 in Margaree. Both of his parents were born in Nova Scotia to Irish immigrants. Nick had four… Read More »

Atcheson, Samuel Alexander

Sam was born February 27, 1896 in the Parish of Templemore, town of Londonderry, County Derry, Ireland to George William and Letitia (Blair) Atcheson.   He enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry,  Company Plymouth Division on March 17, 1916 as a Private #16107. He saw service in many of His Majesty’s ships… Read More »

Lalonde, Leo James

Private Leo James Lalonde enlisted in April 1916 and served with the Canadians Corps for over two years. For much of that time he was a front line soldier but he suffered from health problems and he spent several months in hospitals in England and France. He died of illness in November 1918, a week… Read More »