Kenora Great War Project

 

You can also view an Alphabetical List

The People

soldier_photobar

These are the stories of Kenora participants in the First World War.

Search by name, or filter the search results using the list of options below.

Lucas, Samuel John

Samuel John (Jack) Lucas was born on 18 September 1897 in Victoria, British Columbia. His father William Lucas was from Addington County in Ontario while his mother Mary Ellen (Nellie) Bowyer was from Oswestry, Shropshire in England. Nellie had immigrated to Canada in the 1880’s with her parents and siblings, the family settling in Dewdney,… Read More »

Smith, Henry

Joseph Alexandre Lanctot was born on 6 August 1889 in Montreal, baptized in the parish church of St Vincent de Paul. His parents were Benoni/Beloni Lanctot, a day labourer, and Philomene David. Known children born to the family in Montreal were Marie Philomene Louise (1884), Alexandre, Marie Rose (1892), Joseph Benoni Leopold (1896), Marie Jeanne… 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 »

Brimble, Gerard

Gerard Brimble was born on 05 May 1894 in Cardiff, Wales.  His parents were James Brimble and Rebecca Tiplin. Gerard had three older siblings: brother, Sidney (b. 1886), and sisters Mabel (b. 1889) and Amy (b. 1893). In 1905 the family immigrated to Canada and settled in Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario. Sidney married Catherine Young… 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 »

Comeau, Louis Philippe

  Corporal Louis Philippe Comeau enlisted in June 1915, at age 16, and served in France and Belgium with the Canadian Field Artillery. He was wounded at the Somme but he survived the war and returned home in May 1919. Louis was the only son of Paul Comeau/Comeault and Cecile Virginie Beaubien of Winnipeg, Manitoba…. Read More »

Shelton, Roy Alwyn

Roy Alwyn Shelton was born on 12 December 1902 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.  His parents were Thomas Shelton and Emma Cartlidge.   In 1911 they were running a boarding house in Margate, Kent, England.  Roy had at least nine siblings, including: Tom, Elsie, Alex, Hilda, Lilian, Kenneth, Leslie, Alan and Vera. On 29 January 1919… Read More »

Primrose, Malberry Whittington

Although his attestation papers gave his birth as the 1st of July, Malberry Whittington (Whit) Primrose was born on 24 July 1894 in the township of Barrie, Frontenac, Ontario. His father George Henry Alexander Primrose was from London, England while his mother Emily Jane Haynes was from Kaladar, Ontario. The couple married in 1876 in… Read More »

Horswill, Alfred Stanley

Acting Sergeant Alfred Stanley Horswill enlisted early in the war and served overseas for four years. He was in Great Britain studying for a commission when the Armistice was signed. Alfred was the son of Algernon Sidney Horswill and Amy Partington of Nelson, British Columbia. Algernon was born in Warwickshire, England and came to Canada… Read More »