Name
Frederick Charles Bennett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/18838
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
North Mymms War Memorial
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, North Mymms
North Mymms Memorial Hall Memorial, Welham Green
Not on the Bengeo memorials
Pre War
Born in 1881, in Bengeo, to parents Thomas and Annie and in 1901 they were living at 78 Duncombe Road, Bengeo, and his father was employed as a mills labourer. In 1905 Frederick married Florence May Ryalls in Worksop and in 1911 they were living in Huggins Lane, North Mimms, Hatfield, with their three daughters Ethel May aged 5, Florence Ada aged 3 and Edith Mary aged 1. Ethel and Florence, both born in Bengeo, and Edith born in North Mymms in Huggins Lane, Welham Green, Frederick was working as head gardener at Frowick House.
Frereick enlisted in June 1916.
Wartime Service
He joined the 6th Bn. of the East Kent Regt (The Buffs) who were sent to France as part of the 37th Brigade of the 12th Eastern Division on 1st June 1915 where they assembled near St Omer. They took over a section of the front line on 23rd June 1915 at Ploegsteert Wood. From 30th September they took part in the Battle of Loos until 13th October, during this period over 3000 men of the division became casualties. When they left the Loos sector they moved to the Somme area and began training for the forthcoming offensive. They attacked enemy positions on 2nd July at Ovillers-la-Boiselle, and despite heavy casualties they succeeded in taking and holding the first and second enemy lines near Ovillers. They were withdrawn on 9th July but returned later and took part in the battle for Pozieres. They were then moved north where they took part in the Battles of Arras in early 1917.
Having enlisted in 1916, Frederick would have normally undergons about six-months of traimning, it is likely therefore that he joined the Battalion early in 1917. He was reported missing 3rd March 1917 and it was only several months later that it was confirmed he had been killed in action on that day during the Third Battle of the Scarpe. At the time of his death he had 5 young children.
His wife moved back to Duncombe Cottage 78 Duncombe Road Bengeo Hertford where he came from.
Additional Information
Both of his medals were returned, presumably by his widow to whom they had been sent.
Acknowledgments
Mike Allen, Terry & Glenis Collins
