Wilfred Sénéchal
Encyclopedia
Joseph Henry Wilfred Sénéchal MM
, BCL
(August 7, 1918 - February 11, 2000) was a Canadian
lawyer, a decorated World War II
soldier, and a politician.
Known by Wilfred, he was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick
. Immediately upon the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the eighteen-year-old Wilfred Sénéchal volunteered for duty with the Canadian Army, serving until his discharge in 1945 in the months following Victory in Europe Day
. Sénéchal served overseas with the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
as a member of New Brunswick's Carelton and York Regiment
. He was part of the Dieppe Raid
in which more than sixty percent of the men who made it ashore were either killed, wounded, or captured. The British
government awarded him the Military Medal
for bravery in battle.
On returning home, Wilfred Sénéchal pursued a secondary education, graduating in 1954 from the University of New Brunswick
with a Bachelor of Civil Law
degree.
in the New Brunswick general election
, winning a seat in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
as the member for Restigouche County
. He was made Deputy Speaker
of the 46th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
. In the 1970 election
Sénéchal lost his bid to win a seat in the City of Campbellton
to the popular former Progressive Conservative Party
leader, Charles Van Horne
. In 1978, he lost to incumbent Fernand Dubé
in the City of Campbellton riding in the 1978 provincial election.
Wilfred Sénéchal died February 11, 2000, at the Campbellton Regional Hospital. He is buried in the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Church Cemetery (Our Lady of Snow Church Cemetery).
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
, BCL
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
(August 7, 1918 - February 11, 2000) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer, a decorated World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
soldier, and a politician.
Known by Wilfred, he was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick
Campbellton, New Brunswick
Campbellton is a Canadian city in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.Situated on the south bank of the Restigouche River opposite Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec, Campbellton was officially incorporated in 1889 and achieved city status in 1958.Forestry and tourism are major industries in the regional...
. Immediately upon the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the eighteen-year-old Wilfred Sénéchal volunteered for duty with the Canadian Army, serving until his discharge in 1945 in the months following Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
. Sénéchal served overseas with the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
The Infantry Branch is the organisation to which all Canadian infantry regiments belong. This was originally named "Canadian Infantry Corps"....
as a member of New Brunswick's Carelton and York Regiment
The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
The Royal New Brunswick Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in New Brunswick. It consists of two battalions, both of which are part of 37 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment as it is now, was formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of the Carleton and York Regiment,...
. He was part of the Dieppe Raid
Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
in which more than sixty percent of the men who made it ashore were either killed, wounded, or captured. The British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
government awarded him the Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
for bravery in battle.
On returning home, Wilfred Sénéchal pursued a secondary education, graduating in 1954 from the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
with a Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
degree.
Political career
In 1967, Sénéchal was a successful candidate for the Liberal PartyNew Brunswick Liberal Association
The New Brunswick Liberal Association , more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal Party or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major political parties in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
in the New Brunswick general election
New Brunswick general election, 1967
The 26th New Brunswick general election was held on October 23, 1967, to elect 58 members to the 46th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada....
, winning a seat in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
as the member for Restigouche County
Restigouche County, New Brunswick
Restigouche County is located in north-central New Brunswick, Canada. The county is named for the Restigouche River which flows through the county and is famous for its salmon pools, which have attracted wealthy American and Canadian tourists to the region's summer colonies for decades...
. He was made Deputy Speaker
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is the presiding officer of the provincial legislature. Since 1994 the position has been elected by MLAs using a secret ballot. Previously, the Speaker had been appointed by motion of the house, in practice moved by the Premier of New...
of the 46th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
46th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
The 46th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly represented New Brunswick between February 27, 1968 and September 3, 1970.Wallace Samuel Bird was Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick.Robert B. McCready was chosen as speaker....
. In the 1970 election
New Brunswick general election, 1970
The 27th New Brunswick general election was held on November 18, 1974, to elect 58 members to the 47th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada...
Sénéchal lost his bid to win a seat in the City of Campbellton
Campbellton-Restigouche Centre
Campbellton-Restigouche Centre is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada.The riding was created as Campbellton in the 1967 redistribution when cities were removed from county districts and is made up of the City of Campbellton and the villages of Tide...
to the popular former Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right political party in New Brunswick, Canada. It has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony...
leader, Charles Van Horne
Charles Van Horne
Joseph Charles Van Horne , also known as J.C. or Charlie, was a politician in New Brunswick, Canada, and the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick between 1966 and 1967....
. In 1978, he lost to incumbent Fernand Dubé
Fernand Dubé
Fernand G. Dubé, QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician in the Province of New Brunswick.He graduated from the University of Ottawa in Ottawa and obtained a law degree from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton...
in the City of Campbellton riding in the 1978 provincial election.
Wilfred Sénéchal died February 11, 2000, at the Campbellton Regional Hospital. He is buried in the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Church Cemetery (Our Lady of Snow Church Cemetery).