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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Crash, Edward

In an article published on 29 May 1915 by the Kenora Miner and News in Kenora, Ontario, Edward Crash’s name was given as being with the 43rd Battalion as the train passed through. It was said that he was a former Kenora boy that had worked for the CPR as a brakeman. His identity and… Read More »

Clouatre, Stanislas Aurele

Stanislas Aurele Clouatre was born on 27 September 1894 in Val-Racine, Quebec. His parents Emilien Clouatre and Marie Grenier had married on 5 June 1892 in nearby Notre-Dame-des-Bois. The couple farmed in the Val-Racine area for a number of years, giving birth to children Ozilda (1893-1965), Stanislas, Rose Delima ((1895-1978), Thomas (1897-1965), Aldea (1899-1916), Wilfred… Read More »

Austin, Alfred Philip

Alfred Philip Austin was born on 1 September 1897 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His parents Philip Austin and Marie Cecelia Helena Rochon were both from Ontario, marrying in Fort William, Ontario on 7 November 1894. At the time of the marriage Philip was living in Rat Portage and Cecelia in Fort William…. Read More »

Simpson, Frederick George

Frederick George Simpson was born on 01 December 1898 in Swidon, Wiltshire, England.  His parents were Fred Simpson and Eliza Henams.  In 1904 the family immigrated to Canada and settled in Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario.  Another son, Harry, was born in 1905.   By the 1911 Canadian census the family was living just outside Kenora… Read More »

Horan, James Ambrose

James Ambrose Horan was born on 27 December 1880 in Seaforth, Huron, Ontario. His father John Horan was born in Ontario, with his father, James’ grandfather, born in Ireland. James’ mother Mary Ann McFadden was born in Ontario with her parents also from Ireland. James was the second born, having an older brother John Joseph,… Read More »

Butcher, Frederick Spencer

Frederick Spencer Butcher was born on 15 October 1889 in Granite Falls, Minnesota. According to the 1890 Minnesota census both his parents Samuel and Mary (Hall) Butcher were from Michigan. For the census his father was working as a express carrier, possibly for gold, and living with the family was Fred’s older sister Vernie. A… Read More »

Barr, Donald Edward

According to his attestation papers Donald Edward Barr was born on 2 November 1887 in Arnprior, Ontario. Both of his parents James and Agnes (née Dewar) Barr were from the area and had married in Arnprior in 1881. By the 1891 Canada census the family was living in Pine Creek, Alberta where James was listed… Read More »

Speight, Horace Haslam

Private Horace Haslam Speight was only 14 years old when the war started. Between 1917 and 1919 he enlisted three times, and he served for almost two years in Canada. Horace was born and raised in Brookville Station, a small community on the outskirts of Saint John, New Brunswick. His father John Speight was born… Read More »

Dunford, George Frederick

George Frederick Dunford was born on 3 November 1878 in Newcastle upon Tyne (aka Newcastle-on-Tyne, Newcastle), Northumberland, England. His father Errington Dunford was from Newcastle while his mother Elizabeth Scott was from Willington Quay, a suburb of Newcastle. The couple married during the third quarter of 1873, marriage registered in the District of Newcastle. Children… Read More »

Proudlock, Thomas Hamilton

Thomas Hamilton Proudlock was likely born on 9 April 1897 in Buckingham, Quebec. His father Harral Hamilton (Harry) Proudlock was born in 1863 in the Township of Litchfield, Pontiac, Quebec, now known as Campbell’s Bay. A family tree suggests Harry married Sarah (Sadie) Bigelow on 18 January 1887 in Buckingham, Quebec. Born on 14 March… Read More »