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.

McIlwraith, Hastings Shankland

Hastings Shankland McIlwraith was born September 16, 1892 at 25 High Street, Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland to David & Agnes (Shankland) McIlwraith. (from the official birth register of the Parish of Girvan, County of Ayr, page 57). Setting sail from Glasgow Scotland on the ‘Grampian’, Hastings arrived at Quebec City, Canada   on May 6, 1913…. Read More »

Hales, Wilfred

On 03 August 1888 Wilfred Hales was the 2nd born of 8 children in Peterborough, England to John Hales and Betsy Anne Peacock.  ‘Billy’, as he was known to friends, immigrated to  Canada  in 1911.   He joined the group of young men in Kenora that were from his  home town in England.  They became… Read More »

Elmgren, Albin

Albin Elmgren was born on 1 February 1890 in West Sweden, Polk, Wisconsin. West Sweden, organized in the mid 1870’s, was aptly named as it was a settlement of Swedes who were ‘west of Sweden’. It appears that Albin’s father Peter Elmgren had immigrated to the area in late 1876, and his mother Emmelia Christina… Read More »

Jeffrey, Jesse Richard

Private Jesse Richard Jeffrey enlisted in Kenora, Ontario and served in France and Belgium with the 52nd Battalion. He returned to Canada in April 1919 with a war bride and a baby son. Jesse was the son of Edwin John Jeffrey and Hannah Jane Alcock (Allcock) of Faraday Township, Hastings County, Ontario. He was born… Read More »

Wilson, Victor Stilwell

Their first born child, Victor Stilwell (also spelled Stillwell, Stewell) Wilson was born on 17 March 1888, birth registered in the Township of Pickering. His father Thomas Fawcett Wilson had been born in Green River, Pickering  while his mother Annie Elizabeth Spence was from nearby Cedar Grove. The couple married on 2 June 1886 in… Read More »

Billedeau, Hector George Albert

Born on 11 November 1897 in Keewatin, Ontario, Hector George Albert was the son of Hormidas Bilodeau/Billedeau (b Beauharnois St Clement, Quebec) and Sarah Pelletier/Pelchie (b Aroostook Junction, Victoria, New Brunswick) who had married 5 November 1893 in Keewatin. The Billedeaus (most common spelling used) had a large family, and Albert’s siblings included Addie May,… Read More »

Russell, Francis

Private Francis Russell signed up with a field ambulance unit in July 1915 and served overseas for almost a year. He was invalided back to Canada in February 1917 due to illness. Francis was the son of Alban and Elizabeth Russell of Fulham, London, England. He was one of nine children and he was born… Read More »

McKenzie, Donald

Donald MacKenzie was born on 13 November 1893 in Upper Bayble, Stornoway, County of Ross, Scotland. His father Alexander MacKenzie and mother Flora MacRae had married 22 January 1884 in Stornoway, Alexander’s occupation listed as fisherman. By the 1901 Scotland census household members were parents Alexander and Flora, and children Angus (16), Isabella (14), Roderick… Read More »

Swanson, George Alban

George Alban Swanson was born on 18 March 1890 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. His father George Christian Swanson was from Norway while his mother Annie Grace Lesett was from England. Over the years George Sr worked as a railway section foreman, miner, and forest ranger. Children born to the family in Rat… Read More »

Clark, Mancel

With his birth registered during the 1st quarter of 1891 in Exeter, Devonshire in England, Mancel Clark was likely born on 18 February 1891. His parents James Clark and Emily Bowden were both from Exeter, marrying during the 3rd quarter of 1888. The 1891 census found the family living in Exeter where James was working… Read More »