Name
Arthur Reginald Bennett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
15865
Mounted Military Police
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Arthur Reginald Bennett was first identified in the Absent Voter Records for Abbots Langley for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919, where his address was given at 53 Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley. He was not included in any other Parish records. A Service Record has provided more background about Arthur’s time with the Army during the Great War.
He enlisted at Watford on 19th April 1915 to the Army Service Corps (ASC). On 10th May he was posted to the ASC as a Driver. Arthur sailed from Southampton aboard the SS “Mt Temple” on 7th July 1915 and arrived at Le Harve the next day. He was granted a period of Leave from 28th May to 5th June 1916, and was awarded a Good Conduct Badge on 19th April 1917. Arthur received another period of Leave between 25th August and 4th September 1917.
On 6th July 1918 Arthur was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, and on the same day was transferred to the Mounted Military Police (MMP). He received a third period of Leave between 23rd September to 7th October 1918 and remained in France until he returned to England on 8th July 1919 to prepare for demobilisation. Arthur was demobilised at Aldershot on 5th August 1919 and returned to 53 Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley.
Arthur had been born in 1891, and on 12th November 1914 he married Florence Mary Timms at Watford. A son, Ronald Jesse Bennett, was born on 5th January 1915, and when Arthur enlisted in April 1915 he gave his address as 4 Field Terrace, Watford Fields, Watford, and his occupation as a Groom. The Timms family was listed at 51 York Road, Watford in the 1911 Census, and two of Florence’s brothers, Frederick and George both served in the War. At some point during the War the Timms family moved to 53 Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley, and it was to that address that Arthur returned following demobilisation.
Arthur Bennett survived the War as did his brother in law George Timms. However his other brother in law, Frederick Timms was killed in an accident when the ship he served aboard was destroyed in an explosion whilst moored off Sheerness in Kent on 27th May 1915.
Additional Information
Formerly, 84364 Lance Coproral in the Army Service Corps
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
