Fatum, Christian Emil [8877] in English

Fathers fathers father: Ludvig Heinrich Anton Fatum [8873] (1823-1904)
Fathers fathers mother: Marie Nielsen [8874] (1815-1882)
Fathers mothers father: Thomas Poul Lund [9470] (1812-1857)
Fathers mothers mother: Ane Dorthea Jørgensen [9471] (1814-1872)
Mothers fathers father: Rasmus Sørensen Thaaning [8888] (Abt. 1798-)
Mothers fathers mother: Inger Rasmusdatter [8889] (Abt. 1806-)
Mothers mothers father: Anders Pedersen [9475]
Mothers mothers mother: Anna Marie Madsdatter [9476]
Fathers father:
Heinrich Vilhelm Fatum [3230] (Abt 1847-1885/1901)
Fathers mother:
Oline Christine Lund [3231] (1852-1903)
Mothers father: Søren Taaning [8883] (1827-)
Mothers mother: Karen Andersen [8884] (Abt 1836-)
Father:
Ludvig Martin Fatum [3229] (1874-)
Mother:
Maren Taaning [8876] (1876-1943)

Christian Emil Fatum [8877] (1898-) aka Jack Henderson



Christian Emil Fatum aka Jack Henderson in the Canadian military uniform

Notes:

  • Christian Emil Fatum seemingly changed his name to Jack Henderson when enlisted in the Canadian Army (Not legally confirmed)
  • Occupation: Sailor/Seaman, Machinist, Canada (Perhaps a ship’s machinist)
  • The police registers in Copenhagen states his birth at the 18 Mar. 1898, but his military papers state the 13 Mar. 1897 and the 18 Mar. 1897 (from two different military sources)
    • Christian Emil Fatum is almost certainly the same as Jack Henderson, who went to (or jumped ship at) Newcastle, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada, where at the age of 17, he was enlisted in the infantry of Canadian Army, 26th Battalíon [2nd Canadian Division] on the 20 Dec. 1915. At “The Canadian Great War Project” he is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall (1 meter and 67,64 cm). In the Copenhagen Police Registers, it is stated that he was born in Copenhagen on the 18 March 1898, but the military papers state the 13 March 1897 as his birth date, and elsewhere the 18 March 1897, his profession as sailor, his marital status as single, with previous military experience (previous enlistment unknown), his chest measured 36 inches (expansion 2 inches), his religion Lutheranian, and that he was later transferred to the 132th Battalion.

      Henderson was – after a brief period of training in England – sent to service in Belgium and France with his, and several other Battalions and English airborne troops, where a lengthy trench war was fought out. In May of 1918 he was wounded by a soldier’s pick axe while working the trenches, and Jack was shortly after dismissed and sent home to Canada, whereafter he left no tracks, except for a military item being sent to Angel’s Island, Californien, USA in 1922, and an attempt to re-enter Canada in 1929, which was denied.

      As a sailor by trade, it is possible that Jack was hired on a merchant ship, and simply jumped ship at Newcastle, a small harbour with pulp and paper trade with Europe. He has probably wanted to stay in Canada, and his only means were an enlistment in the army. However, Christian Emil/Jack left Copenhagen for good on May 1 1915, according to the Police Registers, which does suggest an emigration. At this time he was only 17 years old, and as such too young to enlist in Canada. He may have cheated himself a year older to become a soldier.

      At his marriage with Hilda Irene Robertson on March 2nd 1920, in Newcastle, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada, it is stated that both he and the bride were baptists, although his military papers says lutheran.

    • From “The Canadian Great War Project”:

File notes: Son of Hubert and Martha Henderson of Copenhagen (Not correct, his parents were Ludvig Martin Fatum [3229] and Maren Taaning [8876].
30 Jul. 1917 change next of kin to Mrs. Maren Fatum of Copenhagen.
Transferred to 104th Battalion late in 1916.
Recommended to be sent home to Canada on 7 Mar. 19.. [1918?]
11 May 1918, working at night in a forward trench, while with 26th Battalion,
Private Leonard accidentally struck Private Henderson in his left elbow with his pick axe.
Discharged 18 May 19.. [1918?]

Events:

  • Birth/Baptism: 17 Apr. 1898, Horsens Vor Frelser, Nim, Skanderborg, Denmark
  • Emigration/Defection: From Denmark to Canada, about 1 May 1915
  • Military service: In the Canadan army, 1916-1918, Belgium and France
  • Marriage: 2 Mar. 1920, Newcastle, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada. Jack married Irene Hilda Robertson [8918] a daughter of Albert H. Robertson [9812] and Jessie Brooks [9813], 20 years old. Jessie was born 8th August 1899, Newcastle, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada.
  • Children:
    • A daughter, Irene Jennie Henderson [8919] was born on 27 Sep. 1920 in Newcastle, New Brunswick, Canada
  • Around 1922, he temporarily left his wife and daughter to find work, but for some reason or other he never returned. His whereabouts from then on are unknown.
  • Death: Possibly in California, USA
  • Burial:

Sources:

Problems:

  • Christian Emil Fatum [8877] aka Jack Henderson?
  • It’s probably true, but not confirmed that Christian Emil Fatum [8877] changed his name to Jack Henderson in relation to the defection/enrolling in the Canadian Army in 1915-1916.
  • No official documents support the assumption, but there are several facts hinting to it as true:
  1. Christian Emil left Copenhagen for good around 1.st of May 1915. He was a sailor (machinist), and may have sailed Newcastle, New Brunswick, Canada, a smaller harbor with export of paper pulp to Europe, where he may have jumped ship, but he may simply have emigrated. 
  2. Christian Emil left no trace in Denmark after 1915.
  3. Challenges with his family may have played a role.
  4. His birthday and -place fits Jack Henderson’s military records, except for the fact that Christian Emil was born on 18. Mar. 1898, and in “The Canadian Great War Project” it says that Jack Henderson was born on 13. Mar. 1897 (enlistment record says 18 Mar, 1897). He left Copenhagen around 1. May 1915, and arrived in Canada some weeks later, where he enlisted in the Canadian Army on the 20 Dec 1915. Being only 17 years of age, he must have “cheated” himself a year older, as the required age for enlisting was 18 years of age. This is the hypothesis we have chosen to stick with.
  5. I seriously doubt that the photo (below left) supposedly of Christian Emil, found on MyHeritage is actually Jack Henderson. Look closer on the photos of Jack in the Canadian uniform, and compare with the supposed photo of Karl Ludvig Fatum, you’ll se a striking resemblance.

Who is who? The above is a mystery that hopefully will be solved soon. In my opinion there’s not a shadow of doubt that the two photos to the right are the same person, or possibly brothers as the case actually is. Take a close look at the nose, the mouth, the ears and the eyebrows. Despite the relatively poor quality of the photos, it is also clear that the photo to the far left is of a more recent date than the two to the right. The uniforms also speaks clearly of the dates. For these reasons I am claiming that the photo to the far right (supposedly of Karl Ludvig) is in reality Christian Emil, and vice versa. This census from 1911 (Brigadevej 14, København) shows the birthdates of all Maren’s children.
After having studied the photos carefully, I have reached the conclusion that the far right photo very well COULD be Karl Ludvig Fatum, b. 1909, but I still find it hard to place the far left image. I don’t think he looks like the two others.