Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Tyne Cot Memorial | Panel 153. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.116 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 59A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
Born in Coalport, Shropshire around 1881 to William Henry and Mary Benbow. By 1891, the family were living in The Anchor Inn, Court Street in Madeley, Shropshire.In 1911, he was boarding at the house of Mr John Humphreys, 12 Carden Road, Peckham, London SE.
Family :
Siblings: Sarah Elizabeth (b.1867), Edward Wallett (b.1871), Florence Katie (b.1884) & William Percy (b.1886)Education & Career :
1911 - Draper's Buyer
1916 - Commercial Buyer
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 28th Battalion London Regiment (Artists' Rifles) |
1/28th (County of London) Battalion (Artist's Rifles) August 1914 : at Dukes Road, Euston Road. Army Troops attached to 2nd London Division. Moved on mobilisation to St Albans area. 28 October 1914 : left Division and moved to France. Established as an Officers Training Corps based at Bailleul, going in April 1915 to St Omer. 28 June 1917 : transferred to 190th Brigade in 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. |
| Action : The Battles of Ypres 1917 (Third Ypres, or Passchendaele) |
31 July - 10 November 1917. By the summer of 1917 the British Army was able for the first time to fight on its chosen ground on its terms. Having secured the southern ridges of Ypres at Messines in June, the main attack started on 31st July 1917 accompanied by what seemed like incessant heavy rain, which coupled with the artillery barrages conspired to turn much of the battlefield into a bog. Initial failure prompted changes in the high command and a strategy evolved to take the ring of ridges running across the Ypres salient in a series of 'bite and hold' operations, finally culminating in the capture of the most easterly ridge on which sat the infamous village of Passchendaele. The Official History carries the footnote ?The clerk power to investigate the exact losses was not available? but estimates of British casualties range from the official figure of 244,000 to almost 400,000. Within five months the Germans pushed the British back to the starting line, which was where they had been since May 1915.
Detail :
Probate shows: BENBOW, John Henry or 90 Barcombe-avenue Streatham Hill, Surrey. Private, 28th battalion London Regiment. Died 30th October 1917 in France on active service. Probate London 20th February to Edward Wallett Benbow (brother), China Potter and William Percy Benbow (brother), Commercial Buyer. Effects £1246 6s 10d.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | West Norwood No. 3598 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
19th April 1916 | 7th June 1916 | 4th September 1916 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley