Private Odilon Genest was 21 year old blacksmith from Montmorency Falls, Quebec with pre-war Militia service in the 8th Regiment Royal Rifles when he attested into the 12th Battalion at Valcartier in September 1914. He was part of a large draft of reinforcements sent from the UK in early May 1915 to rebuild the 15th Battalion following the battle of 2nd Ypres in late April. He was initially posted to the Battalion Grenade or Bombing Section before being transferred to No. 3 Company and served at Festubert in May and all the 1915 trench tours – Givenchy in June, Ploegsteert in July and August and the Messines Road from September to December. In 1916 he served in the long January-March trench tour back on the Messines Road,; tours at Zillebeke in April, Hill 60 in April, May and June; the battle of Mount Sorrel in June; and the Somme in September-October. On December 12th the battalion relieved the 16th Battalion in front line trenches in the Carency sector for its last pre-Christmas trench rotation. On December 15th Private Genest suffered a shrapnel wound in the left leg and foot. He was evacuated to No. 8 British Red Cross Hospital, Le Touquet where he died of his wounds on January 1, 1917.
NOK: Mrs Genest (M) 654 Ghambrai St., Montreal, PQ Son of Mde. V. I. Genest. Native of Quebec.
