Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthMay 17, 1896
Place of BirthKenora, Ontario
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinLeah Chandonet, mother, 527 2nd Street South, Kenora, Ontario
Trade / CallingFarmer
ReligionRoman Catholic
Service Details
Regimental Number2383705
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion1st Depot Battalion, Manitoba Regiment
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedConscripted
Address at Enlistment527 2nd Street South, Kenora, Ontario
Date of EnlistmentMarch 11, 1918
Age at Enlistment21
Theatre of ServiceCanada
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJuly 13, 1963
Age at Death67
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
PlotRC E - 36 - 1

Murray, Arthur Joseph

According to his recruitment papers, Arthur Joseph (Archie) Murray was born on 17 May 1896 in Kenora, Ontario (called Rat Portage at the time). He was the son of Alexander Morin and Leah Ross, the family surname eventually changed to Murray. Arthur had three older siblings, Joseph Theodore, Alexander Leonard (Leo) and Annie Rose. It appears that his father died and Leah married Thomas Chandonet with the family living in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) by the turn of the century. Children born to Thomas and Leah were Amanda, Ernest, and Alexandria. By the 1911 census Thomas was working at as a miller at a sawmill and Leo was listed as a millhand (turner).

With occupation given as farmer and his mother Leah in Kenora as next of kin, Archie signed his recruitment papers and was assigned to the 99th Regimental Draft of the 1st Depot Battalion Manitoba Regiment on 11 March 1918 in Port Arthur, Ontario. He had had his medical examination the previous November in Kenora, classified as A2. On 20 March Arthur was admitted to the hospital in Port Arthur with tonsillitis, discharged on 17 April. He was granted a conditional leave until further orders that August. Archie was discharged from service on demobilization on 14 January 1919

Archie’s brother Leo went overseas with the 45th Battalion, serving in France with the 78th Battalion. He was awarded a Military Medal for his actions at Amiens in August of 1918. He returned to Canada later that year.

On 19 April 1920 in Kenora, Archie married Attila Ida Halley. Born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Ida was the daughter of Louis and Anna (née Leroux) Halley. At the time Archie’s occupation was given as farmer. Archie and Ida gave birth to seven children, sons Ernest, William and Gilbert, and daughters Florida, Rose, Rosanna, and Stella. Sadly his wife Ida died in the early 1930’s.

Archie had received his education in Kenora and was first employed as a fireman on the Keewatin Lumber Company Boats. He then worked in lumber camps and construction. For 20 years he was employed by Mando retiring in 1961. He also farmed in Jaffray-Melick township. Archie was a member of the Pulp and Sulphite Union local 133 and of Notre Dame Church.

Archie died at St Joseph Hospital in Kenora on 13 July 1963. At the time he was survived by sons Ernest of Fredericton, William and Gilbert of Kenora and daughters Florida Alcock, Rose Hall, both of Kenora, Rosanna Burrel of Winnipeg, and Stella Hill of Little Long Rapids, Ontario. He was also survived by his brother Ernest Chandonet and sister Amanda Lacombe, both of Kenora, 37 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Archie is interred in the Roman Catholic section of the Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora.

by Judy Stockham

photo of Archie: courtesy of Lynda Spielman
obituary: Kenora Miner and News 13 July 1963

Murray-Arthur-Joseph-1 Murray-Arthur-Joseph-3


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