Maxwell Alfred William BENOIT MM

BENOIT, Maxwell Alfred William

Service Number: VX32772
Enlisted: 5 June 1940, Royal Park, Victoria
Last Rank: Signaller
Last Unit: 8th Division Signals
Born: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 26 September 1919
Home Town: Bayswater, Knox, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Electrical testman
Died: Presumed dead, Thailand, 24 May 1943, aged 23 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Singapore Memorial - Column 117, also Roll of Honour Bayswater, Victoria, Australia
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery
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World War 2 Service

5 Jun 1940: Enlisted Private, VX32772, Royal Park, Victoria
6 Jun 1940: Involvement Signaller, VX32772, 8th Division Signals
18 Jun 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX32772
16 Feb 1942: Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore
24 May 1943: Involvement Signaller, VX32772, 8th Division Signals, Prisoners of War

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Biography

Son of Edward John BENOIT & Eliza Adelaide Jane WILLIAMS of Bayswater, Victoria, Australia.

8 Division Signals

Rank - Signalman

Military Medal awarded for Gallant Conspicuous Service. Gazetted on 5 March 1942, Page 1053 position 3.

3 March 1942: Citation reads; Sigmn. Benoit was member of of Sigs. wireless detachement which was alloted to an Inf. Bde.  When the Bde was overwhelmed, two battalions of the AIF went forward to re-establish the situation. For a period of 5 days whis detachement was continually exposed to enemy fire and air attack and, although Benoit was three times wounded and suffering severely, he remained at his post and was instrumental in assisting the leader of his detachment in maintaining communication with Force HQ until the set was finally destroyed by enemy action 

 

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