GENNOE, PTE. WILFRED H. REG # 657394
Wilfed Henry Genoe was born April 15, 1893 in Seguin Falls, the son of Henry David Gennoe and Phoebe Maria Ferran. (Wilfred’s brother Harold is identified as having been born in Orrville in 1896, and his brother Norman in Magnetawan in February, 1901.)
At the time of the 1901 census, the family was identified as living in Christie Township. Norman’s father, Henry, was idenifed as a shantyman. At the time of the 1911 census, the family lived in Croft Township and Wilfred was identified as a labourer in a sawmill. His father Henry was identified as a farmer.
In his Attestation papers signed January 17, 1916 in Burks Falls, Wilfred identified that he was living in Seguin Falls and was a labourer. He identified his next of kin as his father Henry who he identified lived in Magnetewan.
In his Discharge, Wilfred was identified as a Sapper who enlisted January 17, 1916 at Burks Falls and that he served with the 6th Battalion of the Canadian Engineers in England and in France.
He was discharged May 29, 1919.
Wilfred arrived in England on the S.S. Caronia on November 11, 1916,
On December 26, 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Pioneers and joined his Unit in France on December 23rd.
On February 28, 1918 he was awarded the good conduct medal. On July 2, 1918 he transferred to the 6th Battalion of the Canadian Engineers. On May 14, 1919 he embarked for Canada.
On December 30, 1925 Wilfred married Mary Alice Eleanor Hills in North Bay.
(Pioneer Battalions were essentially light military combat engineers organized like the infantry and located at the very forward edge of the battle area. They were used to develop and enhance protection and mobility for supported troops and to deny it to the enemy.
The 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion joined the Canadian 2nd Division in March of 1916. As such the Pioneers, later part of the Canadian Engineers, were an integral part of Divisional actions as follows:
In his Discharge Certificate Frederick was identified as having enlisted in the 1st Pioneers and that he served in France with the C.A.G. (Canadian Artillery Group). The 2nd Division was elected to continue into Germany, but demobilization began in late 1918 with the conclusion of the war. The last elements returned home in May.
