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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Lohman, Stewart Henry

Lance Corporal Stewart Henry Lohman enlisted in December 1914 and served with the 52nd Battalion in France and Belgium. He was wounded at the Somme in October 1916 and invalided to Canada the following spring. Stewart was born on 10 May 1892 in San Francisco, California. His parents were John Benjamin Lohman and Susan Burgess… 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 »

Gamble, Alexander

Alexander Gamble joined the Royal Flying Corps in October 1917, at age 22, and served in Canada for 15 months as an Aircraft Mechanic 3rd Class. Alex was the son of John Henry Gamble and Margaret Jean Campbell of Kenora, Ontario. John was born in Watertown, Wisconsin and came to Canada around 1885. Margaret was… Read More »

Nesbitt, Fred

When Canada entered the war on 4 August 1914 the Miner and News in Kenora, Ontario followed the recruiting activities and listed the names of local volunteers. One of the Kenora recruits was Fred Nesbitt, listed in the 12 August issue of the Miner and News as a volunteer with the first Canadian contingent. By… Read More »

Rowbottom, Charles Frederick

Private Charles ‘Ted’ Rowbottom was living in Kenora, Ontario with his wife and two young children when the war started. He enlisted four months later and served overseas until July 1916, when he was wounded for the second time. His health deteriorated over the next few years and he died in England in July 1919…. Read More »

Margach, William

Private William Margach enlisted with a field ambulance unit in January 1917 in Edmonton, Alberta. He served overseas for two years and returned to Canada in March 1919. William was the son of William Innes Margach and Margaret Dunbar Hay of Edmonton, Alberta. His parents were both born in southern Ontario and they were married… Read More »

Thompson, Lawrence

Sergeant Lawrence Thompson was born on 20 July 1894 in Rat Portage, Ontario. His father, John Thompson, was born in Sweden and immigrated to the U.S. with an aunt when he was in his teens. During the late 1860s John worked for the Great Northern Railway between St. Paul, Minnesota and Winnipeg, Manitoba. He ended… Read More »

McKim, Charles William

Reverend Charles William McKim was born on 12 August 1867 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Robert McKim and Isabella Meredith. Robert and Isabella had at least five children: Robert, Isabella, Henrietta, Charles and Joseph. Charles attended Wycliffe College in Toronto and King’s College in Windsor, Nova Scotia, graduating with an M.A. He entered the… Read More »

Somers, Allan James

The name of Allan James Somers appeared in an article published by the Kenora Miner and News on 30 August 1916. Listed in the article were recent enlistments with the 141st Battalion, Allan’s name among them. His identity and service could not be confirmed.  

Anderson, Charles McLaren

Sapper Charles McLaren Anderson joined the Canadian Engineers in February 1916 and served overseas for three years. He returned to Canada in June 1919 and died in a railway accident a year later, at age 27. Charles was the son of George and Annie Lyon Anderson of Stracathro, Forfarshire, Scotland. His parents were both originally… Read More »