Yrjo Kyyny | Canadian Cultural History About The Spanish Civil War

Alternate name(s):

Yrvo; Kynny; Kyny; Keyney

Nickname:

George

Date of birth:

Saturday, 23 February 1907

Marital status:

single

Ethnicity/Nationality:

Finnish

Profession:

lumberjack

Hometown(s):

Port Arthur, Ontario; Suoniemi, Finland

Education:

Public school in Finland

Political affiliation:

Communist Party of Canada, 1932; CPC sports director, 1933

Affiliations to union and social groups:

Joined Communist Party through Unemployed Council in Port Arthur; Lumber and Sawmill Workers' Union; Finnish Organization; Affiliated with the Canadian Amateur Sports Federation, a Finnish-Canadian left-wing sports organization

Prior military experience:

Finnish Army, 15 months

Approximate date arrived in Spain:

1937-05-25

Unit:

Mackenzie Papineau Battalion, Company 4 (Machine Gun Company), Section 1 lead gunner

Final status:

KIA either on 30 April 1938 at Belchite or on March 11 or 12 1938 at Azura

Sources:

RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 556, ll. 130-131; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 3, Delo 510. ll. 75; List of Canadian Casualties in Spain MG30 E173 Vol.1 File 13; Hoar; Momryk; Petrou; Our Boys in Spain; Hoff