Deseronto Archives

On this day in 1918 Martin James McKenney, a grocery clerk, was conscripted at Niagara-on-the-Lake. He was born in Deseronto on March 17th, 1892, the son of James McKenney and Elizabeth (née Caudin). By 1901 the family had moved to Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, which was where McKenney was living when he was drafted. His service record shows that he arrived in England on the SS Carnarvonshire on August 15th, 1918. He served with the 8th Reserve Battalion in England until his return to Canada in May 1919 on the SS Cassandra.

McKenney was demobilized on May 14th, 1919 in Toronto. In 1921 he was back working as a clerk in Sturgeon Falls, living with his mother and younger brother.