Despite being towards the upper end of the age bracket, Edward Enslow was able to pass the medical test on 11 September 1915 and on 7 November was allotted to the 13th reinforcements for the 15th Battalion. When he embarked for overseas he left behind his wife Ethel and six children, one of whom had also enlisted.
Presumably Edward Enslow had skills similar to that of a blacksmith, despite giving his occupation as that of a labourer. On 18 March 1916, whilst in Egypt, he was transferred to the 4th Divisional Artillery, presumably to look after the horses that were used to pull the gun wagons and limbers. He was taken on strength with the 24th Howitzer Brigade at Tel-el-Kebir and posted to the 110th Battery. A few weeks later his designation was given as temporary shoeing smith. In October, 1916, now in France, his rank was confirmed as that of Shoeing Smith.
He suffered in the cold French winter of 1916/17 and was admitted to hospital in early January 1917. A week after being discharged he was transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade and posted to the 38th Battery. In August he was promoted to the rank of Shoeing Smith Corporal to complete the establishment.
Corporal Enslow returned to Australia in May 1919. By 1928 Edward was working as a ward at what would later become st. John’s Park Hospital. In the 1920’s the Boy’s Training School occupied the site as well as the Infirmary. When Edward Enslow died on 2 August 1939 aged 61, a notice appeared in The Mercury asking fellow members of the Hobart Sub-branch of the RSL to attend his funeral.
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