Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ephraim William Bennier, known as Gandhi post war, was born at Mount Gambier on the 25th October 1909. Being the fifth child to Parents Walter and Sarah.
Gandhi attended the Kalangadoo Primary School from July 1915 to December 1924.

Like his brother’s Roy and Walter he share farmed on the family property off of Lake Leake Road. Ultimately having a partnership which was known as the Bennier Brothers.

He was given the nickname Gandhi due to his bean pole stature, similar to the Indian Mahatma Gandhi.

With Roy leaving the partnership Gandhi and Walter continued the enterprise until his enlistment, on the 6th June 1942. Older brother Walter also attempted to sign on with the A.I.F. at this time but was refused, due to him having a young family and a farm that helped “feed” Australia’s war effort.

Private Ephraim Bennier reported for duty at R.R.D Woodville South Australia, (4th Military District).

Training for active service as part of the Field Ambulance Private Bennier would spend time at 106 C.D.S Woodville, General Hospital Woodville and the 2nd/6th Field Ambulance.

On the 6th of August 1941 Private Bennier was granted eight days pre embarkation leave to return to Kalangadoo.

On the 20th August 1941 he was transferred from the 4th Military District to the 3rd Military District and embarked for overseas active service from Sydney on the 3rd September 1941.

Private Bennier arrived at Dimra (Palestine) on the 23rd September 1941 and trained until joining the 2nd/6th Field Ambulance on the 3rd November 1941 on active service. This included moving to Tripoli in December before assembling at Hill 69 (Palestine) to prepare for their return to Australia.

However Private Bennier was transferred to the 2nd/8th Field Ambulance (The 2nd/8th was raised for the 2nd A.I.F. mainly from South Australian volunteers 9th Division).

Private Bennier as part of the 2nd/8th Field Ambulance was in for a torrid time moving from Aleppo (Syria) in January 1942, Kafr Hazir in March, and Tripoli in May but returned to Aleppo in June, supporting the forward brigades in turn. After the front stabilized, all the medical units participated in the breakout from El Alamein in October. Casualties were heavy on the Australian side.

Private Bennier’s health had started to deteriorate by early 1943. This resulted in him being transferred to hospital several times with chest problems.

On the 24th January 1943 Private Bennier embarked from the Middle East for Australia. He arrived in Sydney on the 27th February 1943 and was transferred to Line of Command South Australia and granted leave with health issues with his chest still persisting and after leave was transferred to Line of Command Queensland. But he would spend many weeks in hospital with his medical classification going from A2 to B2.

In between these hospital stays Private Bennier was in training for A & E deployment to New Guinea. But his health again prevented this and finally was transferred to line of Command South Australia for general duties prior to discharge on the 12th February 1946 at Hampstead.

Private Bennier had completed 1713 days service including 543 active service overseas. An outstanding commitment by a dedicated soldier.

After taking up residence in the house that Roy built he continued the partnership with his brother Walter on the farm, rearing sheep.

Family came first during this period , after his sister Audrey’s husband (also an ex serviceman) was tragically drowned. Gandhi opened his home to his sister and his young nephew Wally.

Some of Wally’s vivid memories are of his Uncle’s love of Gardening, which always had a good quantity and variety of vegetables. As well as beautiful Gladioli and Carnations, along with the odd snake or two.

Gandhi used to go everywhere on his pushbike and went so far as to purchase a horse and cart for Audrey and Wally to use to go into Kalangadoo.

A long time bachelor Gandhi met and married war widow Dorothy Sheedy in 1950. With Dorothy having a son from her previous marriage.

Having eventually retired to Adelaide in the mid sixties upon selling his share of the farm. Gandhi after suffering from a period of ill health died on the 1st April 1979. He is interred at the Brighton Cemetery.