Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

ALFRED WILTON BENNETT VD (1907-1912)

Alfred Wilton Bennett was born in St Kilda in 1866. He married Elizabeth Bentley, whose father owned Craig’s Hotel, in 1887. He and his wife lived at 313 Neil Street, Ballarat. Bennett ran the family jewellery business started by his father, William Bennett. He joined the Ballarat Militia gaining his commission in the 3rd Battalion at Ballarat in 1885 and rising to the rank of Major. He was the Commanding Officer of 7th Australian Infantry Regiment from 1907-1912. Bennett was an excellent rifle shot and was in charge of the 7th Australian Infantry Regiment team which won the inaugural Schumacher trophy in the Empire Rifle Shooting Contests in 1909.

He also joined the Ballarat City Rowing Club about the same time as he joined the battalion and showed the same leadership as he did in the military filling the role of Captain and then President and Vice-president for many years. Most crucially he was elected President again at the Annual Meeting in 1918 after WW1 and was instrumental in rebuilding the club.

Lt. Col. Bennett bought with him first-hand experience of fighting at the front and would have been very supportive of any members returning to the club after being away fighting. He was also President of the Ballarat Regatta Association, post war and was umpire at many regattas on Lake Wendouree including Head of the Lake races during the 1920’s. He was President until the Annual Meeting in 1922 when another club stalwart who had served in WWI, Dr. Edward Champion was elected. This bought to a close active service for the club of nearly forty years.

On 22 July 1915 Bennett was appointed as CO 29th Battalion, AIF. Bennett was an experienced and well-regarded militia officer. In September 1915 a presentation of a gold mounted fountain pen was made to him by the officers and committee of the rowing club prior to his ‘Leaving for the Front’. The 29th Battalion was raised on 10 August 1915, as part of the 8th Brigade, at Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria.

Bennett’s battalion embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT A11 Ascanius on 10 November, 1915. He was aged 53. His battalion went to Egypt and did not serve on Gallipoli. The 8th Brigade joined the newly raised 5th Australian Division in Egypt and proceeded to France in June 1916. The 29th Battalion fought its first major battle at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. Rebuilding, the battalion would not see any further action that year.

As with most of the ‘older’ battalion commanders, Bennett relinquished command of his battalion and was posted to England on 19 November 1916. He returned to Australia on the 11 January 1917. His son, Captain Rae Gillbee Bennett (8 Jan 1889) also enlisted in WW1 serving at Gallipoli with the 8th Battalion and with his father’s battalion in France. He was wounded three times, returning to Australia with the rank of Captain on 31 January 1918.

Alfred Wilton Bennett died on 17 September 1940 aged 74 and is buried in the Ballarat New Cemetery. He was the oldest military officer in Ballarat having held a commission for 55 years. He was one of the longest serving members of the rowing club with his involvement being for forty years and his involvement with rowing in Ballarat being closer to fifty years.