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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Paul, George Alexander

George Alexander Paul II was born on 6 January 1897 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario according to the 1901 Canada census. His father George Alexander Paul was from Ontario while his mother Isabella McIvor was from Stornoway, Outer Hebrides in Scotland. The couple married on 18 December 1895 in Rat Portage…. Read More »

Popham, Earle Cameron

Earle Cameron Popham was born on 1 July 1892 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Their first born child, he was the son of Dr Edwin and Ella (née Tourje) Popham. Edwin was from the Ottawa area while Ella was from Cobourg, Ontario. It is likely that the couple met while Edwin was attending Victoria College in Cobourg,… Read More »

Chapman, William James

William James Chapman was born on 01 November 1864 in Belfast, Ireland. He was the oldest son of Benjamin Chapman and Maria Chew. In 1866 the Chapman family immigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto where Benjamin practiced his trade of watchmaker and jeweler. Other children in the family were Elizabeth, Charles, Julia, Edward and… Read More »

Dalmer, Ernest Alexander

Although a birth record was not found, by most accounts Ernest Alexander Dalmer was born on 21 September 1870 in Liverpool, Lancashire in England. His father Frederick William George Theodore Dalmer, a tinsmith, was from Prussia while his mother Elizabeth Sabrina Haywood was from Alcester, Warwickshire, England. The couple married on 1 July 1861 in… Read More »

Gudgeon, Alexander

Alexander Gudgeon was born on 9 January 1882, birth registered during the first quarter at St Saviour Southwark, London. His father Robert Gudgeon was from Northampton, Northamptonshire while his mother Mary Hooton was from Saxilby in Lincolnshire. The couple married in June of 1866 in Lincoln. Over the years Robert’s occupation was listed as brass… Read More »

Sheppard, Peter

According to his attestation papers, Peter Sheppard was born on 22 June 1886 in Glasgow, Scotland. A birth record was not found and given his gray hair he was likely older than stated. When he attested with the 190th Battalion on 21 July 1916 in Winnipeg, Peter had been living in Kenora, Ontario and working… Read More »

Link, Lyman John

Trooper Lyman John Link (aka Lyman John Nickle) enlisted in July 1916, at age 15, and served in Canada for a year and a half. He was discharged for medical reasons in December 1917. Lyman was born on 12 February 1901 in Ottawa, Ontario. He was the only son of John James Nickle and his… Read More »

Charest, Homer

Homer was one of several children born to Isaie Charest and his wife Emelie Bedard.  The family lived near Sherbrooke, Que.  Homer was just two years old when his mother died.  His father married again to Marie Laroche in February 1887 in Baie-du-Febvre, Quebec.  At some point Homer and his older brother and perhaps other… Read More »

Essery, William Harold

Private William Harold Essery enlisted in April 1916, at age 17, and served in France with the 5th Battalion. He was wounded in September 1918 and spent the next year recovering in hospitals in England and Canada. William Harold, usually known as Harold, was born in Centralia, Stephen Township, South Huron, Ontario. He was the… Read More »

Parfitt, David George

The Somme Offensive was a series of battles that lasted from July to November 1916 and resulted in enormous losses for both sides. The Canadian Corps moved to the Somme area in late August and their first major engagement was in September. Company Sergeant Major David George Parfitt of Keewatin, Ontario was one of 24,000… Read More »