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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Gordon, Alexander

Alexander (Dud) Gordon was born July 20, 1896 in Maybole, Scotland to James Wm McLeod & Helen Douglas (Gibson) Gordon.   Dud arrived in Canada aboard the SS Corinthian with his parents and two siblings,  coming directly to Keewatin, Ontario on September   1, 1906 (from his father, James’ diary).   Two more siblings, James… Read More »

Webb, John Arthur

John Arthur Webb was born on 10 December 1890 in Stafford, Staffordshire in England. His parents Charles Henry Webb and Ann Lea were from Wolverhampton in Staffordshire where they married on 16 November 1881. Children born to the couple in Wolverhampton were Jane Elizabeth (1882) and Charles Henry (1885). By the time of the birth… Read More »

Pepper, Halsey James

Captain Halsey James Pepper was commissioned as an officer in March 1916 and he served for three years in Canada, Great Britain and France. A few years after the war ended he moved to Los Angeles, California where he died by suicide in 1928. Halsey was born on 22 March 1867 in Wokingham, Berkshire, England…. Read More »

O’Connell, John Daniel

Although a birth record was not found, by most accounts John Daniel O’Connell was born on 22 August 1887 in Stratford, Ontario. He was the son of John O’Connell and Mary Ann Lavelle who had married on 27 January 1885 in Stratford. John had a sister Mary Helen, who according to her obituary was born… Read More »

Lodge, William Edward

When Private William Edward Lodge enlisted he was 44 years old, married and the father of nine children. He served for 2-1/2 years in England and returned home to Kenora, Ontario in January 1919. William was born in July 1871 in St. Luke’s, London, England, the son of William and Hester/Esther Lodge. He was the… Read More »

Maluish, George Albert

George Albert Maluish was born in Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario on 25 February 1894.   His parents came from two different worlds. Ernest Duncan Maluish arrived from England and settled in Rat Portage in 1880. His mother Katharina Frankenberger arrived from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany in 1887. The two met at a local boarding house and married… Read More »

Villiard, Joseph

Private Joseph Villiard enlisted in Kenora, Ontario in May 1916 and served for almost three years in Canada, the UK and France, returning home in February 1919. Joseph was the son of Louis Villiard and Marie Cédélie Couturier dite Labonté of Saint-Michel-d’Yamaska, Quebec, a parish about 15 km east of the town of Sorel. Louis… Read More »

Black, Peter

Peter Black was born on 24 June 1878 in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, Scotland as confirmed by his birth registration. His father James Black, saddler, was from Coulter in Lanarkshire as was his mother Annie Duncan. The couple had married in Dunbartonshire. Peter was their first born child, followed by Mary Jane (1880), James (1985), Adam (1887),… Read More »

Levine, Patrick

Private Patrick Levine was called up in January 1918 and served in France and Belgium in the last months of the war. He returned to Canada in May 1919. Although his military service record is in the name of Patrick Levine, based on information in the file this soldier was most likely Patrick Lavigne. Patrick… Read More »

Williamson, Hector Stuart

Private Hector Stuart Williamson enlisted in the 94th Battalion in September 1915 and served overseas for almost two years. He was wounded twice, at the Vimy front in October 1916 and at Ypres a year later. Hector was the oldest son of Paul Williamson and Margaret Finlayson of Kenora, Ontario. Paul was born in Selkirk,… Read More »