My Uncle, Pte Daniel Gienow

by Ralph Gienow

My Uncle, Pte Daniel Gienow was born in Killaloe, Ontario in 1895. When he was 16 years old he moved with his family to a homestead near Balgonie, Saskatchewan where he worked with his father and brothers on a dairy farm. On March 11, 1916 Daniel enlisted in the Canadian Army at Estevan, Saskatchewan and in October of that year he sailed on the SS Missanabie for England. He arrived in France as part of the 5th Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment on November 28, 1916. Private Daniel Francis Gienow was killed in action on Easter Monday, April 09, 1917, during the first wave on the first day of the offensive to take Vimy Ridge. He was among the initial 80 burials of Canadians killed at Vimy Ridge and his final resting place is at Nine Elms Military Cemetery near Thelus, France,