Name
Charles Frederick Benslyn
20 Apr 1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/08/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
5524
Leinster Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 44.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial
Pre War
Charles Frederick was born on 20 Apr 1884 (baptised 7 May 1884 at St Peter’s, Regent Square, Camden) to John Johnson Benslyn, a general dealer, and Fanny (nee Moss). They were living at 3 Wellington Square, Camden, London.
On the 1891 Census Charles was living in Cavendish Road, St Peters, St Albans with his parents, sister Mabel (or Charlotte Matilda as baptised, born 1886), younger brother Ernest (born 1888) and sister Ethel (born 1889). Charles mother Fanny died in 1897. Charles’ father married again to Sarah Moss in 1898. On the 1901 Census Charles, a butcher was living with his father (now a butcher) and stepmother Sarah at Wheathampstead Hill, with sister Charlotte Matilda, Ernest, sisters Jessie Annie (born 1892) and Sarah Iris (born 1899). On the 1911 Census Charles was working as a butcher and living as a boarder with the Pryke family at 192, Oval Road in Croydon, Surrey. His parents were living at Wheathampstead Hill with Charlotte and Ernest assisting with the business and Sarah iris at school.
Wartime Service
No Service record could be found for Charles who was initially enlisted as 146780 Royal Field Artillery but later transferred to the Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) as Private 5524. 7th (Service) Battlion.
The Leinster Regiment were a unit of 47 Brigade, 16 (Irish) Division landing at le Havre in Dec 1915. They were involved in the Battles of the Somme 1916 and the Battle of Messines in 1917 where 16 (Irish) and 36 Ulster Divisions captured Wytschaete. It is not clear Charles was wounded in this action or later when in the Front Line at Ypres prior to the Battles of Passchendaele (3rd Ypres). He was reported to have died of wounds on 1 Aug 1917, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £4 10s and arrears of £8 9s 4d was paid to his father. Brother Ernest served with Royal Fusiliers and Labour Corps and survived the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
