15 Oct 1907

Enos joins the Royal Navy at the age of 26 as a Stoker 2nd Class under the Official Number 312337, signing on for 12 years continuous service. He states that he was born on 29 Jul 1889 in Llandudno, Denbighsbire.

Enos is said to be 5 ft 3 in tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. He has tatoos on his left forearm (clasped hands, Union Jack and lifebuoy) and right forearm (a faith, hope and charity wreath). His previous occupation is given as Ordinary Seaman, Merchant Navy but, according to the terms of his engagement, he is not allowed to count any of his previous Merchant Service towards his badges.

His first posting is to HMS Vivid II, the Devonport depot, as a Stoker 2nd Class.

Posted to HMS Caesar.

(The 14,900 ton battleship HMS Caesar, lauched at Portsmouth Dockyard in 1896, had been refitted at Devonport in 1907-1908.)

Posted to HMS Cornwallis.
(The 14,000 ton battleship HMS Cornwallis, built by Thames Iron Works and launched in 1901, had joined the Atlantic Fleet in February 1907. She was refitted at Gibraltar in Jan-May 1908.)

Promoted to Stoker 1st Class.

Returns to HMS Vivid II at Devonport after HMS Cornwallis is transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet.

Receives his first Good Conduct badge.

Posted to HMS New Zealand.
(The 18,000 ton battlecruiser HMS New Zealand, built by Fairfield, had been launched on 1 Jul 1911. She was completed at the cost of the New Zealand government and presented to the Royal Navy in November 1912. Shortly afterwards, King George V visited her at Portsmouth.)

Deprived of his first Good Conduct badge. (The grounds are not stated.)

HMS New Zealand sets out on a world cruise, visiting the Dominions and several colonies (including 11 weeks in New Zealand).

First Good Conduct badge restored.

His annual Character Rating of "Very Good" is later changed to "Good" (see note on 13 Jan 1925).

HMS New Zealand is with the First Battlecruiser Squadron in the Grand Fleet on the outbreak of World War I.

HMS New Zealand becomes the flagship of the Rear-Admiral, Second Battlecruiser Squadron.

HMS New Zealand is involved in the Dogger Bank action. HMS New Zealand succeeds to command when HMS Lion (with Enos's cousin Nat on board) is put out of action.

Granted second Good Conduct Badge (8 years service).

Appointed Acting Leading Stoker. It is noted that he had completed 6 years service on 15 Oct 1913.

In the North Sea, HMS New Zealand collides with HMAS Australia in fog. She remains in dock until the end of May.

In the Battle of Jutland, HMS New Zealand receives one hit on the X turret which does not result in any casualties. (Nat was also involved in this action.) She is then transferred to the First Battlecruiser Force.

HMS New Zealand reverts to the Second Battlecruiser Force and remains there for the remainder of the war.

Promoted to Leading Stoker.

HMS New Zealand is involved in the second Battle of Heligoland Bight.

Returns to HMS Vivid II.

Posted to HMS Apollo.
(The cruiser HMS Apollo, launched at Chatham Dockyard in 1891, had been converted into a minelayer in 1909. She became a depot ship for the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla at Devonport in 1918, and was broken up in 1920.)

Signs up for a further period of service "to complete". He is now 5 ft 5 in tall.

Posted to the 3380 ton destroyer depot ship HMS Woolwich.

Returns to HMS Vivid II.

Granted Third Good Conduct Badge (13 years service).

Posted to HMS Dartmouth.
(The 5250 ton cruiser HMS Dartmouth, launched by Vickers in 1910, was with the Seventh Light Cruiser Squadron South America 1919-1921.)

Awarded 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

A note "Over 3 yrs" is recorded. It appears to refer to his appointment to Vivid II in 1920, but the meaning is unknown.

Posted to HMS Southampton.
(The 5400 ton cruiser HMS Southampton, built by J Brown in 1912, was the flagship of the Seventh Light Cruiser Squadron South America 1919-1920. After a refit at the Cape 1920-1921, she became the flagship of the Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron East Indies 1921-1924.)

Posted to HMS Birmingham.
(The 5440 ton cruiser HMS Birmingham, launched by Armstrong in 1913, was trooping to the East Indies in early 1923. Later that year, she became the flagship of the Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron Africa.)

Returns to HMS Vivid II.

Posted to HMS Resolution.
(The 25,750 ton battleship HMS Resolution, launched by Palmer in 1919, served in the Mediterranean 1920-1924.)

Investigations into his eligibility for the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal,  based on reports from HMS Resolution, apparently uncover the fact that he was deprived of his first Good Conduct Badge in 1913. The Admiralty Board then approves the alteration of his Character Rating for that year from Very Good to Good. As a consequence, Enos fails to qualify for any medals (which required 15 years unbroken Very Good ratings).

Granted hurt certificate on the basis of severe contusion and laceration of the terminal phalanx in the left middle finger.

Returns to HMS Vivid II.

Posted to HMS Emperor of India.
(Launched in 1913, the 25,000 ton battleship HMS Emperor of India was with the Atlantic Fleet 1926-1929. She was used as a target ship in 1931 and was broken up in 1932.)

Receives his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, having achieved 15 years unbroken Very Good character ratings.