1066149 Lance-Corporal George Frederick Hainer was born on November 16th, 1886, in Bayham, Elgin County, Ontario. At some point before signing on into the CEF, in Owen Sound, George married but, sadly, he was a widower by the time he attested in 1917.
George had previous military service, having served three years in the Canadian Militia with the 39th Regiment. Living in Holland Centre, Grey County, he was working as a farmer when he attested to 248th Battalion C.E.F. on February 22nd, 1917. Sailing with the unit in early June of that year, the 248th Battalion was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion upon its arrival in England.
From there, George was taken on strength of the 4th C.M.R. on November 9th, 1917, in a reinforcement draft after the Battle of Passchendaele. Serving with the unit through the winter he was seriously wounded in the left thigh, right arm and face by shrapnel on June 30th, 1918, whilst the unit was taking over the support lines near Mercatel, France. George was medically evacuated to England and did not subsequently return to active service.
Lance-Corporal George Frederick Hainer was struck off strength of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on June 18th, 1919.
Credit and many thanks go George Auer for the above biography.