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.

Wydeman, Victor Nugent

Acting Sergeant Victor Nugent Wydeman enlisted with the Canadian Army Service Corps in April 1917 and served in Canada, Great Britain and France. He returned home in July 1919. Victor was born in Toronto on 7 July 1880 to James Wydeman (Weidman) and his first wife Harriet Adair. James was born in Pickering, Ontario and… Read More »

Gault, Robert

Robert was the oldest son of John and Eliza Gault of Keewatin, Ontario. He was born in Hastings County, Ontario in June 1865 or 1866. His father had emigrated from Ireland as a child and his mother was born in Ontario. Robert had at least one brother and five sisters: William, Matilda, Eliza, Kate, Alice… Read More »

Bella, Joseph Marshall

Joseph Marshall Bella was born on 4 April 1882 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. His father Joseph Marshall Bella, a saddler by trade, was born about 1844 in Caledon, County Tyrone, Ireland. Joseph Sr had married Louise Griffiths during the 3rd quarter of 1868 in the registration district of West Derby, Lancashire and together the couple… Read More »

Dempster, John Kane

John Kane Dempster was one of four brothers, the sons of John and Catherine (Kane) Dempster, to volunteer for service during the war. John and Catherine brought their family to Canada in 1907 from Glasgow, Scotland where John was a baker. He’d found employment for himself and his older sons at the Lake of the… Read More »

Sorel, Peter

According to his attestation papers Peter Sorel (Sorle) was born on 28 July 1882 in Stockholm, Sweden. Signing his attestation papers in North Bay, Ontario on 11 September 1916, Peter had been working as a miner and living in Kenora, Ontario. He gave his father Jonas Matson (Sorle) of Ndland, Sorle via Namos, Norway as… Read More »

Shorthose, Francis Harry

Francis Harry (Frank) Shorthose was born on 17 August 1890 in Winshill, Burton  upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. His father was John Henry Shorthose, brewery labourer and maltster, and his mother was Elizabeth Archer. The couple married in Burton upon Trent in 1880. Known children born to the family were John William (1881-1957), Laura Dinah (1883-1972),… Read More »

McKay, Archie Kenneth

Archie Kenneth McKay was born on 27 April 1882 in Upper Clyde in the county of Shelburne in Nova Scotia. His father James Lewis McKay was from Upper Clyde, while his mother Elizabeth Barss Smith was from nearby Brookfield. The couple married in Brookfield on 29 September 1875. Children born to the family were Otis… Read More »

Carlson, Carl Ragner (Roy)

Back row: Roy, father Carl holding Edith, Amanda’s sister Hilda Front row: Gus, Angus, mother Amanda holding Ture Carl Ragner (Roy) Carlson was born on 6 August 1890 in TimrГҐ, Västernorrland, Sweden. His father Carl Carlson was from NordingrГҐ in Västernorrland while his mother Sofia Amanda Westmark was from Pitea in Norbotton. The couple had… Read More »

Fife, Ashton Thomas

Ashton Thomas Fife was born on 6 January 1871 in Hastings, Peterborough  County, Ontario. His father Doctor Joseph Alexander Fife was the son of Scottish immigrants Thomas and Janet (née Becket) Fife. Thomas Fife  had arrived in Canada  in 1820 with his parents and siblings, settling in Otonabee as true pioneers. Thomas married Janet, cleared… Read More »

Martin, Edwin Charles

Edwin Charles Martin was born on 14 June 1871 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. His father Charles William Martin was born in Wolverhampton in Staffordshire while his mother Mary Clark was from St Helier in the Jersey Channel Islands. The couple married on 21 August 1870 in Portsea, Hampshire. Edwin was their first born child, followed… Read More »