remembering james charles enos — a young man who went to war
Sometimes family history comes to us one document at a time.
Recently, I've been looking through the First World War military records of my great-uncle, James Charles Enos, trying to piece together a little more of his story.
James was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, on May 2, 1895. He enlisted in Victoria on November 6, 1915, when he was just 20 years old.
He served with the 88th Battalion, the Victoria Fusiliers, during the First World War.
I've been working through his service papers, medical records and military examinations. Some of the handwriting is difficult to decipher, and not every transcription can be trusted. There are still questions about his movements overseas, including whether he was at Vimy Ridge.*
James Charles Enos — medical movements, 1917
April 10 A163 Casualty list reference
April 15 3rd Western General Hospital, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales Transferred to Britain
May 4 Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Bearwood, Wokingham Further recovery
May 11 Discharged Discharged from this hospital
This is 1917, later he is shot in hip, but still researching.
I don't want to fill in the gaps with assumptions. I'd rather take my time and get his story right.
What strikes me most is how young he was. Twenty years old. A young man whose life was interrupted by a war that would leave its mark on an entire generation.
His father died on October 27, 1918, while James was still dealing with his military service.
James eventually came home. He died on May 26, 1960, and is buried in Burnaby, British Columbia.
There is so much history tucked away in these old documents. Behind every service number was a person, a family, and a life that continued long after the war ended.
I'm grateful to have the opportunity to look back, ask questions and put some of the pieces together.
Not to glorify war, but to remember the people who lived through it.
Lest we forget.
I am still researching but want to share this now
Lest We Forget!
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