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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Chapman, William John (1895-1975)

Private William John Chapman enlisted in 1915 and served for almost four years with the Canadian Army Service Corps and the Canadian Forestry Corps. He enlisted again in the Second World War, serving for three years in Canada and the UK. William was born on 18 July 1895 in Gateshead, Durham, England, the son of… Read More »

McKennitt, James Lloyd

Along with his twin brother Robert Russell McKennitt, James Lloyd McKennitt was born on 7 November 1895 in Holland Township, Grey, Ontario, date confirmed by their Ontario birth record. Both of his parents Robert James McKennitt, a farmer, and Eliza(beth) Jane Freeborn were from the area and had lost their first spouses to death. Robert… Read More »

Labonte, Arthur James

Reverend Father Arthur James Labonte was born on 19 October 1883 in Francestown, New Hampshire. His father, Emery Labonte, was born in St. Dominque, Quebec and moved to New Hampshire as a teenager. He found work in stone quarries in the Francestown area. Arthur’s mother, Marie Hibbert (Hebert), was born in Burlington, Vermont but her… Read More »

Jones, Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas Jones was born on 18 December 1871 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. His parents were Edward Jones and Mary Ann Powell. Siblings included Edward Joseph (b. 1870), Ellen Mary (b. 1874) and Alfred James (b. 1877). Andrew enlisted in the British forces as a young man and took part in several military campaigns throughout… Read More »

Gagnon, Charles Joseph

Charles Joseph Gagnon, the  oldest of six sons of Joseph Gagnon and Victoria Madore, was born in Keewatin, Ontario on 19 November 1892. He was raised in Keewatin. The 1911 Canada census shows Charles  living with his family on 10th Street in Keewatin. He was sewing bags for Lake of the Woods Milling Company. Charles… Read More »

Morrison, Byron

Private Byron Morrison enlisted in July 1916 and served in France and Belgium with the 49th Battalion. He was seriously wounded in October 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele and invalided back to Canada a year later. Byron was the youngest son of William John Robert Morrison and Sarah Stinson of Edmonton, Alberta. Byron’s father,… Read More »

Frisbie, Allan Grant

Corporal Allan Grant Frisbie was born in Canada and living in Portland, Oregon when the U.S. entered the war in 1917. He enlisted with the Oregon Engineers and served overseas for about a year. Allan was born on 31 October 1899 in Rat Portage, Ontario. His father, George Clayton Frisbie, was born in Pennsylvania and… Read More »

McKinnon, Daniel Keith

The first born child of Donald and Christina McKinnon, Daniel Keith McKinnon was born on 18 March 1898 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario. Both of his parents were born in Ontario and over the years his father worked as a contractor and/or  carpenter. Daniel had two brothers, Patrick Robertson and James… Read More »

Dodds, Francis Wilfred Ferguson

Sergeant Francis Wilfred Ferguson Dodds enlisted with the 12th Field Ambulance in March 1916 and served overseas for three years. He returned to Canada in June 1919 and was awarded the Military Medal. Wilfred was the oldest son of James Dodds and Margaret Jane Ferguson of Winnipeg, Manitoba. James was born in the Oshawa area… Read More »

Edmondson, Isaac Johnson

Sapper Isaac Johnson Edmondson enlisted twice, was wounded twice and became ill with influenza but he survived the war and returned to Canada in April 1919. Isaac was born on 29 June 1888 in St. Helens, Lancashire, England, a small town near the port city of Liverpool. He was raised in St. Helens by his… Read More »