Pte. Enrico Bot

Private Enrico Bot answered Canada’s call during the First World War, serving overseas during the final stages of the conflict.

The First World War

The Canadian Expeditionary Force, 21st Reserve Battalion

Private Enrico Bot was born on 6 June 1886 in Morsano al Tagliamento, Pordenone, Italy, and later emigrated to Canada. He worked as a furnace man and moulder, a skilled industrial occupation common among Italian immigrants in Western Canada. On enlistment under the Military Service Act (1917), he was drafted for service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

On 4 August 1918, Enrico embarked from Halifax for overseas service, arriving in Liverpool on 15 August 1918. He was taken on strength of the 21st Reserve Battalion at Bramshott Camp on 16 August 1918, joining the Canadian reinforcement system in England during the final months of the First World War.

Enrico served with the 21st Reserve Battalion through the remainder of the war and into the post-Armistice period. Following the end of hostilities in November 1918, he remained in the United Kingdom as part of the Canadian demobilization and repatriation system. There is no indication in his service record that he was posted to a front-line battalion or served in France.

On 9 August 1919, Enrico embarked from England aboard the S.S. Cassandra, returning to Canada as part of the final waves of CEF repatriation. He was subsequently demobilized from military service. After the war, he lived in Ontario, where he became part of the province’s industrial workforce.

Enrico died on 18 September 1969 in Ontario, Canada, as recorded in the Ontario civil registration index (via Ancestry).

Sources

• Library and Archives Canada, Personnel Records of the First World War, Service No. 3212815.

• Ontario civil registration index (death record), accessed via Ancestry.

Research and compiled by Luigi Audia