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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Serrand, Paul Marcel Joseph Marie

Paul Marcel Joseph Marie Serrand was born on 2 November 1885 in Billé, Ille-et-Vilaine, Fourgeres and Vitre, Brittany in France. He was the son of Jean Serrand and Adelaide Dunorand. Following the example of his older brother and attracted to the priesthood, he entered the college of Saint Augustine in Vitre in 1899 and then… Read More »

Cleland, George William

George William Cleland was born on 13 January 1901 at the Mikado Mine on Shoal Lake, Lake of the Woods, near Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario (Archives of Ontario; Series: MS929; Reel: 155). His father John Cleland was from Middleville, Ontario while his mother Matilda Catherine Craig was from Dalhousie. The couple married on… Read More »

Horne, William Ross

Private William Ross Horne was called up in January 1918 and sent overseas a month later. He served in Great Britain for a year and a half, returning home in August 1919. Ross was the youngest son of William Franklin Horne and Wilhelmena (Minnie) Marion McKay of Keewatin, Ontario. William was a cooper by trade… Read More »

Benoiton, Etienne

Etienne Benoiston (later changed to Benoîton once in Canada) was born on 1 January 1869 in Malville, Savenay, France. His parents were Benoist Benoiston and Francoise Brizay. In 1889 Etienne joined the French Army, his service booklet describing him as having chГўtains (auburn) hair, grey eyes, ordinary forehead, average nose, round jaw, average mouth, and… Read More »

Wadman, Charles Frederick

Charles Frederick Wadman was born on 8 January 1893 in Wingfield (also known as Winkfield), Trowbridge, Worcestershire in England where his family farmed. His father James Wadman was born about 1832 and mother Sarah Elizabeth Couch in 1862. Although a marriage record was not found, a later census suggested that the couple married in 1886…. Read More »

Hitchen, Frederick

It is likely that Frederick Hitchen was born on 18 October 1863 in Cressing, Essex, England although his death record gives the year as 1864. His father, born in Finchingfield, Essex, was  Aaron Hitchen and his mother, born in Bradwell, Essex, was Mary Ann Ager. Aaron and Mary Ann had married during the third quarter of… Read More »

Brown, David Lambert

Private David Lambert Brown was married and the father of a young daughter when he enlisted with the 42nd Battalion in May 1915. He was killed a year later at the Battle of Mount Sorrel. David was the only son of John Lambert Brown and Annie Martin Andrew of Toronto, Ontario. John was born in… Read More »

Stevens, Albert John Edward

Albert John Edward Stevens was born on 05 December 1893 in Withingham, Gloucestershire, England. His parents were Edwin Stevens and Esther Ann Higgins. Second youngest child of the family, Albert’s twelve siblings included: Rosetta (1874-1957), Eunice (1876-1955), Mildred (b. 1877), Frederick (1878-1899), Arthur (1879-1960), Clara (1881-1920), Christina (1883-1920), Alice (1884-1943). Ellen (1888-1922), William (b. 1890),… Read More »

Stephen, George Robert

George Robert Stephen was born on 20 October 1893 in Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario. His parents were Alexander Stephen and Sarah Henrietta Fogg. Siblings included Henrietta ‘Etta’ (b. 1896), Joseph ‘Alex’ (b. 1899) and Emma Jean (b. 1900). George’s mother, Sarah, died in 1910. About this time George was sent to Saskatchewan to work on… Read More »

Nowlan, William Thomas Stephen

When Britain declared war on 4 August 1914 there were about 5,000 British army reservists in Canada and six days later they were officially called home for service. One of the soldiers was Lance Corporal William Nowlan of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. William returned to the UK in early September and he was killed in action… Read More »