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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Ramsay, Alexander Kelly

Alexander Kelly Ramsay was born on 1 September 1894 in Maybole, Ayrshire in Scotland. His father James Ramsay, a shoemaker, was from Kirkmichael, Ayr, while his mother Margaret Kelly was from Maybole where the couple had married on 14 June 1889. Alex had two older siblings, Joanna (1890) and William (1892) and younger sisters Agnes… Read More »

Dempster, Andrew

Andrew Dempster was one of four brothers, the sons of John and Catherine Dempster, to volunteer for service during the war. He had been born on 08 August 1887 in Stirling, Scotland. The family included John (1861) and Catherine (1861); sons William (1894), Thomas (1887), his twin brother Andrew (1887); Daniel (1888); John (1896) and… Read More »

Dunbar, Findlay

Private Findlay Dunbar was living in Kenora, Ontario when he enlisted in 1915. According to his service file, he was born on 23 August 1891 in Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland. His birth, however, was registered as 22 August 1892 in Speymouth, a village just east of Elgin. His parents were John Dunbar, a cattleman, and Annie… Read More »

Martin, Adam

Adam Martin was born on 4 August 1886 in Partick, Lanarkshire in Scotland. His father Adam Martin, an engine turner journeyman, was from Govan while his mother Catherine Boyd was from Greenock, both in Scotland. The couple had married on 31 December 1882 in the Plantation District of Govan. Adam Sr had previously been involved… Read More »

Loudon, William Dykes

William Dykes Loudon was born on 13 January 1896 in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire in Scotland. His father John Loudon, a cheese merchant, was from Strathaven in Lanarkshire. In 1869 he had married his first wife, Grace Peat and together in Strathaven gave birth to children Mary Goole (1869-1945), Gavin (1871-1878), Maggie Dykes (1873), Grace Peat (1875-1903),… Read More »

Bernard, Pierre Noel

Pierre Noel Bernard enlisted with the 94th Battalion for overseas service during WW1 on 17 February 1916 in Kenora, Ontario.  He stated that he was born on 25 December 1877 in St. Ann, Quebec. Birth records (Drouin Collection) show that he was actually born in 1868, so he was 48 years old when he signed… Read More »

Harris, Rollo Harold

Rollo Harold Harris was born on 5 August 1899 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His father John Harris was born in Bruce Mines, Ontario while his mother Susan Thomasina Halliday McKay was born in Colvend, Kirkcudbright, Scotland. Susan had immigrated to Canada with her parents and siblings in 1874, arriving in Quebec on… Read More »

Sewell, Horace

Horace (Bud) Sewell was born on 2 September 1894 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. Both of his parents John Sewell and Louisa Sarah Parr were from England, immigrating to Canada around 1891 according to later census records. Their first child, daughter Gladys, was born in 1893 in Rat Portage where John was working… Read More »

Jeffery, Harry

The Germans used massive amounts of artillery in the First World War and more than half of Allied casualties were the result of artillery fire. There were all different kinds and sizes of shells and they were a constant danger during battles and in the trenches as well as behind the front lines. Private Harry… Read More »

Madore, Joseph Alfred

According to his attestation papers and other records and documents, Joseph Alfred Madore was born on 30 September 1895 in Keewatin, Ontario while his Ontario birth record gives the date as 1 October, likely an error. Both of his parents, Joseph Polydore Madore and Adelina Joannette were from Quebec, marrying on 13 February 1893 in… Read More »