
Bennett F B Pte 1115 5th London Regiment
BENNETT, FREDERICK BENJAMIN, Private, No. 1115, 1/5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of Benjamin Bennett, of 17, Airlie Gardens, Ilford, Clerk, by his wife, Alice Eliza, dau. of William Hudson, of Dalston, N.E.; b. Leyton, co. Essex, 16 June, 1896; educ. Cleveland Road Council School, Ilford, and St. George’s College, London; entered H.M. Customs as a boy clerk after competitive examination, remaining until he reached the age limit of eighteen, and was preparing for the Second Division Civil Service when war broke out. He had served a year and eight months in the Civil Service Cadets, and after passing his examination joined the London Rifle Brigade in Oct. and was picked for the drafts for the 1st Battn. at the end of Jan. He had been at the Front scarcely three weeks when, about 1 a.m. on 12 March, 1915, he was mortally wounded while on sentry duty in the trenches at Ploegsteert Woods. The Sergt. of his platoon wrote: “Your son was in my platoon and was on sentry duty in the trench on the night of the 11th-12th. At about 1 a.m. a star light was sent up by the enemy over his trench, followed immediately by a volley. Unfortunately one of the shots struck your son on the left side of the head level with the left eye. He was picked up at once and sent to the field ambulance without any delay. The wound was a very severe one, and he died the following morning about 11 a.m. . He was a fine manly chap and did his duty with the best.” He was a server at St. Clement’s Parish Church, Ilford, and was for some time secretary of the Young Men’s Guild.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1