BERTRAM ARTHUR BENNETT
BERT
Born: 1898, at 32, Handford Road, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 12th May 1914, at St. Paul’s Church, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex – family home at “Bankipore,” Page Road, Clacton-on-Sea.
Confirmed a day after his baptism on the 13th May 1914, at St. Paul’s Church, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, with his brother, Edgar Albert Bennett.
Died: 31st July 1917; age 19; KiA.
Clacton Graphic and East Coast Illustrated News – Saturday, 11th August 1917 – FOR KING AND COUNTRY – Another local soldier has made the supreme sacrifice in recent fighting in Flanders, Private Bert Bennett, of the Welsh Guards, who was killed on the 31st July. The news of his death was received by his parent Mr. Charles Bennett, of “Bankipore,” Page Road, on Wednesday, in a sympathetic letter from a chum, who described him as a splendid soldier, of whom his comrades thought the world. Bert Bennett was 19 1/2 years of age, had joined the Army about a year ago, and had been in France about six months. Formerly, he was employed by Mr. Bebb, chemist, and to join up, he left the service of the P and O. Steamship Company, by whom he was employed as steward on the S.S. Saxon. There are three brothers still in service – S.M. Reginald Charles Bennett at the War Office, Lance Corporal Edgar Albert Bennett in the Glousters, and Stanley Walter Bennett employed as a baker in a hospital ship.
Clacton Graphic and East Coast Illustrated News – Saturday, 18th August 1917 – At ST. PAUL’S CHURCH, on Sunday morning, the vicar, the Reverend Henry Seeley, stated that on the previous day three young men, who suffered for their country, and had been baptised by him in that church, had been brought to his notice. He had welcomed one home from the trenches; he had granted a licence for marriage to another, and had sympathised with the family of the third – Bertram Arthur Bennett, who he had baptised in the church on the 12th May 1914, and confirmed the next day with his brother, Lance Corporal Bennett, now Scoutmaster of St. Paul’s 1st Clacton Troop of Boy Scouts.
Residence: “Bankipore,” Page Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
Occupation: Steward on the S.S. Saxon, of the P and O. Steamship Company.
Enlistment Location: Clacton, Essex.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 3188
Regiment: Welsh Guards, 1st Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 11.
West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
Relatives Notified & Address: Youngest son of Charles Bennett, of “Bankipore,” Page Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex & the late Selina Bennett.
CENSUS
1901 32, Handford Road, Ipswich.
Bertram was 3 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Charles Bennett, 45, a Railway Guard, born Haughley, Suffolk.
Selina Bennett, 46, born Leatherhead, Surrey.
Violet Selina Bennett, 16, born Ipswich.
Reginald Charles Bennett, 14, a Stationmaster’s Clerk, born Ipswich.
Gladys Adelaide Bennett, 11, born Ipswich.
Stanley Walter Bennett, 9, born Ipswich.
Edgar Albert Bennett, 5, born Ipswich.
1911 1, Ruby Villa, Dudley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
Bertram was 13 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Charles, 55, a Railway Guard – G.E.R.
Selina, 56.
Violet, 26.
Gladys, 21, a Shop Assistant – Boot Shop.
Stanley, 19, a Baker’s Assistant.
Edgar, 15, an Errand Boy – Chemist.
Bertram’s mother, Selina Bennett, died after a long and painful illness on Sunday, 1st April 1917, at her residence, “Bankipore,” Page Road, Clacton-on-Sea.
Soldiers’ Effects to Charles Bennett – father.
WELSH GUARDS 1st Battalion:
1st Battalion
26.02.1915 Formed by Royal Warrant at White City.
28.04.1915 Moved to Sandown Park.
04.06.1915 Moved to Wellington Barracks.
18.08.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre, joining the 3rd (Guards) Brigade of the Guards Division and engaged in various actions on the Western Front, including:
1915
The Battle of Loos
1916
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval,
1917
The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Battle of Pilkem, The Battle of the Menin Road, The Battle of Poelkapelle, The First Battle of Passchendaele, The Battle of Cambrai 1917.
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