Wilfred Egbert BENNETT MM and Bar

Wilfred Egbert BENNETT MM and Bar Update Details

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BENNETT, Wilfred Egbert

Service Number:	10219
Enlisted:	7 March 1916, Adelaide, City of Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	11th Field Company Engineers
Born:	Delamere, South Australia, 16 December 1888
Home Town:	Delamere, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia
Schooling:	Delamere Public School
Occupation:	Farmer
Died:	Died of wounds, Amiens, France, 26 April 1918, aged 29 years
Cemetery:	Querrieu British Cemetery, Picardie Row B, Grave No. 12
Memorials:	Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Second Valley War Memorial, Yankalilla War Memorial Wall

World War 1 Service

7 Mar 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, City of Adelaide, South Australia
20 Jun 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 10219, 10th Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: ''
20 Jun 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Sapper, 10219, 10th Field Company Engineers, HMAT Runic, Melbourne
26 Apr 1918:	Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 10219, 11th Field Company Engineers, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 10219 awm_unit: 10 Field Company awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-04-26

Awarded the Military Medal

At MESSINES on the nights 26th/27th, 27th/28th, 28th/29th, 29th/30th, 1917. Lance Corporal Wilfred Egbert BENNETT was in charge of night working parties engaged in construction of CROSS AVENUE, the main approach on the right for the troops taking part in the assault on the MESSINES Sector on 31st July, 1917. Each night the parties were obliged to withdraw repeatedly owing to heavy shelling, and it was owing to Lance Corporal BENNETT's marked courage, energy and resourcefulness that the parties were rallied time after time, and, as soon as there was a temporary lull, brought forward again, thus enabling the main approach communication trench to be completed in time for the operations.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 9
Date: 24 January 1918

Biography contributed by Lucas Bennett

WILFRED EGBERT BENNETT

Wilfred Egbert Bennett was a soldier in WW1 who was born in Delamere, South Australia, Australia. Wilfred Bennett is the son of George Bennett and Mary Ann Bennett and was born on the 16th of December 1888. Wilfred Bennett’s home town was Delamere, Fleuriea Peninsula, South Australia and was educated at Delamere public school. Wilfred Bennett was part of the light horse military for 6 years before the First World War. Then Wilfred went back home to Delamere to become a farmer, before enlisting in the war at age 27. Wilfred Bennett had to swear oaths to the Australian Government to fight in the ‘Great War’ and signed paperwork on himself and if he is fit to go and fight as a soldier. Wilfred Bennett also had to answer questions on how willing he is to fight in the First World War and how medically fit he is. Wilfred Bennett enlisted on the 7th of March 1916, Adelaide, City of Adelaide, South Australia.

Wilfred Bennett fought in the ‘Great War’ from the 20th of June 1916, to the 26th of April 1918. Wilfred Bennett’s service number is 10219 and left Australia to go to the World War on the 20th of June 1916. Wilfred Bennett went to Melbourne to go and fight for his country during the First World War Wilfred Bennett served as a Field Company Engineer in the First World War. Wilfred left Australia to go fight in the First World War as a sapper in the 10th Field Company Engineer. The job of a Field Company Engineer is to prepare, build and supervise the construction of their defensives and field engineer. Field Company Engineers excavated the trenches and dugouts and placed wire, chose gun positions and placed many other obstacles. Field Company Engineers supplied water, built roads and bridges. Field Company Engineers also maintained roads and did obstacle breaching and crossing. Wilfred Bennett’s last unit was the 11th Field Company Engineers and Wilfred’s last rank was a Corporal.

Wilfred fought for nearly a year until he died of wounds on the 26th of April 1918, Wilfred Bennett died in Amiens, France at the age of 29. Wilfred Bennett won three medals, two of them were for his service in the war and the other was for bravery. Wilfred Bennett won the Military Medal and Bar medal because he fought bravely on land during the First World War. Wilfred Bennett’s will was that his parents and siblings will get a fair share of his money and land. Wilfred Bennett’s grave is in the Querrieu British Cemetery, Picardie, Row B, and Grave number 12.

Biography

Son of George BENNETT and Mary Ann nee MITCHELL

Biography contributed

Biography written by Ava Dauk from Investigator College, attached as a document. Winning entry for 2024 Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize.

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