John James Enis Bowen was born at Eaglehawk, Victoria, but enlisted at Port Hedland, Western Australia, where he was working as a hairdresser. He was then 37 years old, 5' 4", with dark hair 'fading to white' and was an early volunteer, joining the AIF on 13 September, 1915. He was sent to B company No 3 Depot, and  then overseas on 18 January, 1916, embarking from Fremantle on HMAS Medic. He was sent to Alexandria, then the Western Front on 9 June, 1916, with the 7th Reinforcements, but in early November he was wounded, with  a severe gunshot wound to the left thigh and buttock. Returned to England for treatment, he was sent to the Southern General Hospital and then to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital. Once discharged, he was sent to Weymouth, to no.2 Com. Depot. he does not appear to have been sent back to the Front, for on 2 May, he was charged with going AWL for a day, was picked up by the Military Police and also charged with making a fasle statement to them, for which misdemeanours, he was awarded three days punishment and forfeited four days pay. Enos Bowen was discharged from the AIF on 13 October 1913. He returned, not to Perth, but to his mother in East Melbourne, who had lost her other son. Later Mrs Bowen and her daughters moved  South Melbourne and Enos to Albert Park.