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These are the stories of Kenora participants in the First World War.
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Frank Edwards and his twin sister, Nora , were born on 12 November 1877 in Waterloo, Lancashire, England. His parents Ellis Edwards (a trader who had business in Africa with his headquarters in Liverpool) and Ellen Allen had married in 1864. Other siblings included Allan (1867-1897), Helen (1868-1950), Sybil (born 1880) and Gladys (born 1883)…. Read More »
Private Hector Stuart Williamson enlisted in the 94th Battalion in September 1915 and served overseas for almost two years. He was wounded twice, at the Vimy front in October 1916 and at Ypres a year later. Hector was the oldest son of Paul Williamson and Margaret Finlayson of Kenora, Ontario. Paul was born in Selkirk,… Read More »
The Battle of the Somme lasted from 1 July to 18 November 1916 and resulted in over a million casualties for all the forces involved. The Germans refer to the battle as ‘the blood bath’ and the Somme has been called the graveyard of armies. On the first day alone the British army suffered 57,000… Read More »
Private Laughlin Lionel McPhail enlisted in August 1915 and served in France and Belgium with a field ambulance. He was invalided to Canada in June 1917 and discharged as medically unfit the following spring. Lionel was the youngest son of Lachlan Lamont McPhail (MacPhail) and Mary McIntyre of Kenora, Ontario. Lachlan and Mary were both… Read More »
Born on January 10, 1885 in Ardelach, Nairn in Scotland, Thomas Grant, the son of Charles Grant and Annie Roberts, immigrated from Scotland in 1907 to Kenora, Ontario, Canada. He met Catherine (Kate) Duncan and they were married by license in the town of Kenora on April 11, 1911. Thomas was a flour packer at… Read More »
Fred W Patterson joined the Kenora Branch of the Canadian Legion in December of 1927. His regimental number was given as 2928, rank as Private, and unit served with as 6th Kings Liverpool Regiment. The card stated that he enlisted on 8 November 1914 and was discharged from service on 28 February 1919 in Birmingham…. Read More »
Alexander McCready Reid was born on 21 August 1884 in the community of Pollokshaws in Glasgow, Scotland. His father James Reid, a joiner, was from Ayr, Ayrshire while his mother Margaret (Maggie) McConnachie Hendrie was from Bonhill in Dunbartonshire. The couple married on 2 June 1876 in Pollokshaws. Alexander had an older brother James and… Read More »
Alphonse Jean Paulin Leydier was born on 17 December 1877 in Lagorce, Ardeche, France. He immigrated to Canada via New York with his father in October of 1895 aboard the Werkendam, making their way to Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in 1896. His father then went back to France in 1898 to bring over Alphonse’s… Read More »
David, baptised as Frederick David Thomas Kerr, was born on 24 July 1894 in Richmond, Quebec. His father David Duncan Kerr had been born in Scotland. In February of 1888, David Sr married Janet Edna Lay in Richmond. Janet, also known as Jane and/or Jennie, had been raised in Melbourne, a community a short distance… Read More »
Although he gave his year of birth as 1885 on his recruitment papers, George Francis Creighton was likely born on 2 July 1883 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora), Ontario. A birth record was not found but census documents as well as his obituary and grave marker support that birth year. His father George Creighton,… Read More »
