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These are the stories of Kenora participants in the First World War.
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Private Frederick Henry Welfley enlisted in Winnipeg in June 1916 and served overseas with the Canadian Army Medical Corps for three years. Frederick was the son of Martin and Magdalena Woelfle of Bentinck Township, Grey County, Ontario. Martin and Magdalena were both from Germany and Frederick was one of at least fourteen children, all born… Read More »
Charles Alcock was born on March 26, 1869, in Belleville, Hastings County, Ontario. He was one of at least 14 children of Joseph Samuel Alcock and Sarah Ann Belch. When the 1891 census was taken his parents were still living in the Belleville area where his father was farming. By 1901 Charles and his family… Read More »
Private Thomas Albert Ward signed up with Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) in February 1917, at age 16. He served with them in France and Belgium and returned to Canada in May 1919. Thomas, sometimes known as Albert, was the oldest son of Thomas and Benjamina Elizabeth Ward of Kenora, Ontario. Thomas Sr. was from… Read More »
John (Jan) Nycz was born on 21 March 1893 in Poland. While in Poland he married Anna Juzefczyk. Known children born to the couple were Mary, Helen, Josephina, Jennie, John and Nietek. According to his obituary, John served during WW1. He immigrated to Canada in 1929, settling in Kenora where he found work with the… Read More »
The Germans used massive amounts of artillery in the First World War and more than half of Allied casualties were the result of artillery fire. Gun batteries were a frequent target, to put them out of action, and both sides developed methods to locate and destroy batteries. Sergeant Ernest Marshall Rochester served with the 30th… Read More »
The son of Eli and Mary Anne Tuck, Harry LeDrew Tuck was born on 11 October 1884 in St John’s, Newfoundland. His father Eli’s formal title was Excise Officer in His Majesty’s Custom but was also called a tide-waiter (a customs officer who boards incoming ships at a harbour). Known children born to the family… Read More »
Arthur Frederick James was born on 06 October 1889 in Christchurch, Hampshire, England. He was the second son of blacksmith, Noah James and Augusta ELLEN Elliott. His siblings included Nellie ‘Ellen’ (b. 1887), Henry Edward (b. 1888), Ernest Walter (b. 1891), Reginald Wilfred (b. 1896), Margaret May (b. 1897) and Winifred Maud (b. 1903). Arthur… Read More »
Sapper John George Cook enlisted in March 1916 and served for more than two years in France, Belgium and Germany. He returned to Canada in May 1919. John George, usually known as George, was the son of Joseph Cook and Matilda Margaret Louis. He was born in Parkdale, St. Andrews Parish, Manitoba on 26 October… Read More »
Robert Davidson Fisher was the son of Robert Armour Fisher and Mary Jane Davidson. His father Robert also signed up at the same time in Kenora, Ontario. On his attestation papers he had lied about his year of birth, stating that it was 1897. It was discovered later that he was underage when he joined up… Read More »
Owen Joseph Matthews was born on 10 December 1898 in North Leith, Edinburgh County in Scotland. His father Michael Matthews was from Ireland while his mother Catherine McKinnon was from Portmahomach, Tarbot by Fearn in Ross-shire, Scotland. The couple married on 6 June 1888 in North Leith. Over the years Michael worked as a gas… Read More »
