Private Harold C Ennis

  Harold Colin Ennis was born in Milton, Kent England on October 7th 1923. In May of 1942 he enlisted with the 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment where served until December 1942 where he then transferred to the 1st Battalion The Border Regiment (20 Platoon D Company) 1st Air Landing Brigade of the 1st Airborne Division.

 During his service with the Border Regiment, he served in England, North Africa, Italy and Holland. During Operation Market Garden September 1944. he fought in the Oosterbeek area with his platoon until being taken prisoner of war on the 26th September 1944 in the Company medical area in the basement of a house opposite the platoon area. On the 27th he escaped captivity only to taken prisoner again on October 6th, From there he was transported into Germany to Stalag X1B Fallingbostel, prisoner #118613 with many of his comrades. In April 1945 Stalag X1B was liberated and he returned to Britain where he served with "The Border Regiment" until 1946.

 In April 1946, he attended Fire Training School in Maidstone Kent where upon completion he served with the National Fire Brigade in London (Camden Town). He then went back to Kent and served with the Kent Fire Brigade in Gillingham and also the Anglo Iranian Oil Company refinery, Isle of Grain as a Fire Warden until May 1955.

 In June of 1955 he continued his fire service career after emigrating to Canada and joining the Royal Canadian Airforce as a Crash Rescue/Structural Firefighter (MOC 651). He served in RCAF Station St. Hubert Quebec, Parent Quebec, Chatham New Brunswick, Marville France, Virton Belgium and Lahr Germany. He was posted back to Canada in 1968 to Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake Alberta and then to CFB Esquimalt British Columbia where he served at the Military Camp in Nanaimo BC until he retired May 1973 with the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) with a total 18 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces.

 After retiring from the military, he kept up his firefighting service by volunteering with Harewood Volunteer FD and kept busy working at odd jobs till he was hired and asked to start the Fire Inspection and Arson Investigation branch for the Nanaimo FD, thus returning his professional fire service once again until his retirement in 1983.

 This brought his fire service career to a end after 37 years.

 All the time during his service and firefighting career, when Harold (Skip) wasn't at the firehall, he was active with the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Rover Scouts and the St John's Ambulance where he rose to be nominated and admitted as a Serving Brother of the Order of St John in July 1975.

 Through all these years of service, his wife Ruth stood by his side since their marriage June 3 1944. They raised 3 sons and 1 daughter

  After some travel and relaxation, Harold and Ruth returned to Nanaimo in 1985 where they resided at the Branch 10 Royal Canadian Legion assisted living complex where Harold became the caretaker and maintained the complex.

 Harold was a active member of the Royal Canadian Legion, The Arnhem 1944 Veteran's Club and a member in good standing with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association.

 On June 29th 1999, Harold Colin Ennis went to be with his Brothers in Arms. Members of 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association made arrangements for his ashes to transported to Holland where he was laid to rest in the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek. We are eternally grateful for these men of the Airborne.

By Leslie Ennis