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Throughout the extensive list of CEF Pilon attestation records (including the conscripts) there are a number of serial numbers which follow immediately or quite closely. While in some circumstances this may simply be a coincidence, in others it does not appear to be the case. Another consideration is that once the Conscription Act comes into play, Regimental Numbers appear to be assigned automatically since defaulters had such numbers although they never appeared for their medical examination, let alone their enlistment. Here are some instances of enlistment coincidences: Paul Pilon (2245984) and Exlefa Pilon (2245985) are both from Conception, Québec and brothers of Archie Pilon. They both joined the Forestry Corps on December 11 and 6, 1917 respectively. Paul became a sergeant and served in France while Exlefa did not serve beyond England. Theodore James Pilon (2265549) and Norman Joseph Pilon (2265550) (first cousins) were both born in McGregor, Ontario, but at enlistment, they lived on Peter St. (432 and 428 respectively) in Sandwich, Ontario (now Windsor). Both enlisted May 25, 1917 (coincidentally, the were both born July 21, but 1 year apart, 1897 and 1896 respectively) with the Signals in London, Ontario. Theodore served in England while his cousin Norman Joseph went to France where he was wounded on August 31, 1918 and again on September 28, 1918. He died of his wounds on November 6, 1918, five days before the end of hostilities. Alex Pilon (2320408) and Wilfrid Pilon (2320409) are likely related, but it is not known, at present, what the nature of that relationship is. Alex was born in 1862 in Manitoba while Wilfrid was born in 1897 in Iowa. They both enlisted on July 27, 1917 with the French Canadian, Manitoba Regiment. Both served in Canada. Felix Pilon (3236040) and William Pilon (3236054) were both sons of Michel Pilon of Sudbury, Ontario. They both enlisted on November 17, 1917 with the Central Ontario Regiment. Both served in Canada. In addition to these pairs of coincident enlistments, there are an additional
five pairs whose enlistment dates are after January 1918, therefore after
the Conscription Act could have created a simple bureaucratic coincidence
of assigning successive regimental numbers.
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