Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt | I. B. 41. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.116 | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Born on 29th November, 1880, the son of W. S. Bennett of The Shrubbery, Weston-super-Mare. Husband of Mrs. W. P. Bennett, of Ballykeel, Cowley, Exeter.Education & Career :
Educated at Marlborough College (B1) from September 1894 to 1898 and at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 162nd (Siege) Battery RGA |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
- 2nd Lieutenant,RGA on 6 January 1900
- From 1900 to 1901 he was posted to No. 30 Company, Western Division, RGA at Devonport
- Lieutenant, RGA on 3 April 1901
- From 1901 to 1902 he was with 11th Company, Eastern Division, RGA at Gibraltar
- From 1902 to 190 3 posted to No. 77 Company, RGA at Gibraltar and Malta
- Lieut. No. 7 Mountain Battery, RGA at Rawal Pindi, Umballa and Jutogh from1903 to 1910.
- From 1910 to 1912 he was with No. 16 Company, RGA at Portsmouth
- Captain, RGA, 22 January 1911
- Was Battery Captain of No. 35 (Heavy) Battery, RGA at Fort Nelson from 1912 to mid-1913.
- From mid-1913 to 1914 he was an Extra Captain, Mountain Division, RGA at Murree Hills
- Major, RGA on 16 October 1915
- From 1915 to February 1916 was Officer Commanding, C Battery, 167th Brigade, RFA in the 33rd Divisional Artillery
- Wounded in action in April 1916
- From February 1916 to his death he was Officer Commanding, D Battery, 162nd Brigade, RFA
Detail :
Killed in action near Montauban on 15 July 1916
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Aldershot Army and Navy No. 1971 E.C. | Hampshire & IOW |
| Joined : | Lodge Orion in the West No. 415 E.C. | India |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
27th February 1913 | 27th March 1913 | 25th April 1913 |
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