Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthApril 11, 1898
CountryPoland or the Ukraine
Service Details
BranchSoldier Biographies
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathNovember 28, 1971
Age at Death73
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
Plot34E-13-2

Chorney, Harry

According to his obituary Harry Chorney was a veteran of the First World War. His obituary tells us he was born on 11 April 1898 in Borowe, Ukraine but his 1930 marriage record gives his place of birth as Poland. There is a village called Borowe in Poland and when the First World War started it was part of the German Empire. About two million Polish troops fought in the war with the Austro-Hungarians, the German Army and the Imperial Russian Army. In present-day Ukraine there is a city called Borove. During the war the area that later became the Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire. Several million Ukrainians served in the Imperial Russian Army and a smaller number fought with the Austro-Hungarians. Because of their locations, heavy fighting took place in both Polish territory and the Ukrainian provinces.

Harry’s marriage record lists his parents as Nicholas Chorney and Nellie Symista. His surname may have been Czorny or Czarny before being anglicized to Chorney. According to Harry’s obituary he came to Canada in 1926, living at first in the Thunder Bay area in Ontario then moving to Kenora. He started working for the Canadian Pacific Railway around 1927. His wife, Rose Konoski, was born in Poland or the Ukraine in 1908 and came to Canada when she was about 20. They were married in 1930 and they had at least three children: Jean (1931), Nell and Katherine Audrey (1944). In the federal voters lists Harry was recorded as a labourer in 1940 and a sectionman by the 1950s. He had a 36 year career with the CPR, retiring in 1963.

Rose passed away in Kenora on 23 August 1969, at age 61. Harry died in Lake of the Woods District Hospital on 28 November 1971, at age 73. The burial register records his name as Gregory Harry Chorney. Rose and Harry’s youngest daughter Katherine died in 1995. Harry, Rose and Katherine are buried next to each other in Elmwood Circle Block at Lake of the Woods Cemetery.

By Becky Johnson


« Back To Soldier Biographies