John Charles Short was born 16 Apr, 1895 at Deadmans Cove, Fortune Bay, Newfoundland. His parents were Eli Short likely born in Dorsetshire, England and Mary Anne Mead of Hermitage Cove, Hermitage Bay. He was the oldest of four children and prosecuted the fishery before enlisting.

Information from his service records (Descriptive Report on Enlistment)

Enlisted First Newfoundland Regiment 34th Draft at St John's - 6 July, 1915.
Embarked St John's train to Quebec- 27 Oct, 1915
Embarked Southhampton - 14.June 1916
Disembarked Dover - 15 June, 1916
Joined Battalion in the field, Ypres, France- 30 Jun, 1916
Wounded - 1 July, 1916- Left leg and arm wounds.
Admitted CCS, Shell wound thigh- 3 July, 1916
Admitted 12 Stationary Hospital St Pol., France - 4 July, 1916
Dangerously ill - 4 Aug, 1916
Invalided to England - 24 Aug, 1916
Admitted 3 London General Ward Hospital, London, Left leg amputated - 25 Aug, 1916
Granted special furlough from - 23 February, 1917 to 3 March, 1917
Admitted Queen Mary's Convalescent Hospital, Roehampton - 12 March, 1917
Discharged hospital, Furlough then attached Depot - 18 April, 1917
Embarked SS Missenabie from Liverpool - 20 April, 1917
To Newfoundland for discharge - 26 April, 1917
Arrived Newfoundland - 11 May, 1917
Discharged medically unfit - 30 May, 1917 at St John's.

Total service 1 year and 329 days.

Kit Bag arrived Newfoundland - 24 July, 1918
Received Kings Certificate - 24 June, 1921
Received Victory Medal and British War Medal - 23 September, 1921

John Charles returned home and was offered training in telegraphy. He learned how to operate the telegraph by spending time with a telegraph operator at Brunette Island, Fortune Bay. Returning to Hermitage he was the operator for the area up until his death on 23 July, 1947. During his hospital stays in France and England he learned many medical procedures from the doctors and staff. On his return he purchased medical supplies such as sutures and needles which he kept as a medical kit. John Charles was asked many times to attend persons who had injury or illness while waiting for the doctor or nurse to arrive and was often complimented on his techniques by these professionals.

John Charles married Marjorie Miller of Champneys, Trinity Bay in 1920 and together they raised 12 children. After Marjorie passed he married Clara Keeping of Harbour Breton and they had one child. John Charles died from surgery complications at St Pierre on 23 July, 1947.