BENNETT, Frederick Thomas
| Service Number: | 2581 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 August 1915, Holsworthy, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Redfern, New South Wales, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | St Peters (NSW), Inner West Council, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 15 May 1917, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Grevillers British Cemetery Grevillers British Cemetery Plot V, Row A, Grave 19, Grevillers British Cemetery, Grevillers, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Holsworthy, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2581, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2581, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 15 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2581, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2581 awm_unit: 56th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-05-15 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Frederick Thomas BENNETT was born at Redfern in Sydney on 8 October 1890. He went to school at St Peters Public School and Tempe Public School. He joined the NSWGR&T as a boy labourer (temporary) in the Electric Tramways, based at Randwick Workshops. On his 21st birthday his status changed to that of labourer (temporary) but it was not until 5 May 1912 that his position became classified as permanent. On 18 September 1912 he became a lifters’ assistant, remaining in this position until 9 May 1913 when he was appointed turners’ assistant. On 9 March 1914 he reverted to lifters’ assistant and he remained in that position for the remainder of his employment.
On 12 August 1915 Frederick was released from duty to join the AIF. He joined at the rank of Private (Service Number 2581) and he was assigned to the 6th Reinforcements to the 20th Infantry Battalion. He nominated his father, Mr Albert Bennett of St Peters, as his next of kin.
He embarked aboard HMAT A14 ‘Euripides’ at Sydney for Egypt on 15 November 1915. He remained in Egypt until 19 June 1916, spending some time with the 5th Training Battalion before being transferred to the 56th Infantry Battalion on 16 February 1916. He also suffered a number of illnesses, including Influenza, which kept him hospitalised for a fortnight.
Frederick arrived in Marseilles on 29 June 1916 and proceeded to the front. On 2 November 1916 he was admitted to hospital, sick, with a hand injury, which kept him away from his unit until 17 December 1916. On 19 March 1917 he was again admitted to hospital, sick, this time with a septic toe, returning to his unit on 29 March 1917. On 15 May 1917 he was wounded in action near Bullecourt, receiving injuries to his legs and right hand, and he died of his wounds on the same day. His grave is in Grevillers British Cemetery, Grevillers, Picardie, France.
Subsequently his mother was granted a war pension of £2 per fortnight, with effect from 23 July 1917.
(NAA B2455-3072730)
Submitted 11 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography
Son of Albert Louis and Rachael Jane Bennett, of 56, George St., St. Peters
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal