SAPPER WALTER BENSON
3961 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Warrnambool, Victoria was the birthplace of Walter Benson on July 6, 1889 the son of Robert & Emma Alice (nee Redman, formerly Gallagher) Benson. He married Grace Good Hunter in 1909 and they were residing at Allanford, Vic where he worked as a labourer.
At the Melbourne, Vic Recruiting Depot on March 18, 1916 at twenty-six years of age he applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination his description on enlistment was 173cms (5ft 8ins) tall, weighing 53kgs (117lbs) with a chest expansion of 82-89cms (32-35ins). Complexion was dark with brown eyes and black hair. Presbyterian was nominated as his faith. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Grace Benson of No. 1 Doveton Street, Ballarat, Vic and later 20 Raglan Street, Ballarat. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Enlistment’ the same day.
Basic training began at Broadmeadows camp, Melbourne on March 21, 1916 and assigned to the No. 5 Tunnelling Company in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 3961.
The No. 5 Tunnelling Company was recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania and made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.)
Early in May 1916 No. 4 Tunnelling Company recruits embarked from Brisbane, Qld aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections. At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713-ton transport Warilda sailed from Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Vic the No. 5 company departing on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs, set forth on their voyage the same day.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front at Perham Downs’ camp.
The Reinforcements proceeded overseas to France on August 28, 1916 marching in to the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot the next day.
Sapper Benson was attached to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company on September 27, 1916 and the following day attached for duty with the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company. On October 7 he was re-attached to the A.E.M.M.B.C.
He was taken on strength with the Company on June 4, 1917.
Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for twelve months service abroad.
In an audit of the Company he was recorded as still with his unit on March 23, 1918 which was two years since he had enlisted for service.
His wife wrote to Base Records on March 20, 1918 advising that her address had changed to care of Mrs J.C. Hunter, Atkins Street, Warrnambool, Vic.
After Peace was declared the Company continued their work supplying and servicing generators for electric lighting and pumps for drainage to rehabilitate the district.
Leave was granted from December 17 until December 31, 1918.
Orders were received to prepare for Demobilisation in the field on March 26, 1919 and they returned to the A.I.B.D. and departed from Havre on April 4 crossing the English Channel arriving at Codford to the No. 3 Group camp.
On April 25, 1919 Sapper Benson went sick with Influenza to the 1st Aust General Hospital at Sutton Veny remaining until discharged on May 8, 1919.
The return voyage to Australia was aboard the H.T. Nestor departing on May 20, 1919 from Liverpool for discharge. His wife was advised by Base Records on June 13 that he was on his way home and the journey ended in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on July 2, 1919.
Military Discharge was issued in Melbourne, (3rd M.D) on August 16, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
Their address later that year was Atkins Road, Warrnambool, Vic with the occupation of engine-driver.
Sapper 3961 Walter Benson, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued for serving his country the British War Medal (45561) and the Victory Medal (44590).
The medals were not collected from the designated barracks and were returned to Base Records on May 10, 1923. A letter was sent to him care of the last known address which was care of Mrs J.C. Hunter, Atkins Street, Warrnambool, Vic advising where to collect them.
On September 1, 1923 Base Records received a request from Mr F. Sale, Sulky, via Ballarat requesting particulars about the soldier in connection with school records, possibly for a Roll of Honour.
The following year they were residing at 18 Kruger Street, Warrnambool and was still an engine-driver. By 1936 and 1937 they are recorded at Fernlie, Pomporeit Street, Warrnambool. From 1942 are registered at 43 Murray Street, Warrnambool and he worked as a linesman. They were still there in 1963.
Legal representations of deceased estates by him were advertised in:
During World War II Walter enlisted at Warrnambool on April 15, 1942 with the Australia Army. Service number was V375581 and served as a Signaller with Signals 3 Lines of Communication Area until discharged on January 17, 1947. Next-of-kin was his wife Grace Benson.
A letter was received by Base Records from the Victorian Branch of the Repatriation Department on June 6, 1961 requesting service and medical documents for the ex-member as a claim had been made for repatriation.
Walter Benson passed away in 1972 aged about 83 years of age.
His brothers also served:
PRIVATE ROBERT REDMAN BENSON
6714 – 6th Battalion
Robert Redman Benson was born about 1887 at Warracknabeal, Vic. In 1914 he was a labourer at Miner’s Rest, Ballarat, Vic.
He was a twenty-nine year old farm hand when he applied to enlist in Melbourne and passed the medical examination on August 31, 1916. Attestation Forms reveal that he was 174cms (5ft 8¼ins) tall, weighed 59kgs (130lbs) with a chest expansion of 82-89cms (32-35ins). Complexion was fresh with blue eyes and brown hair and distinctive marks were two vaccination scars on his left arm, scar on right hand palm and left knee and had moles on his back. Church of England was his religious faith. Next-of-kin given was his aunt Miss Ethel M. Benson of 13 Nelson Road, Camberwell, Vic. Swearing in took place on September 6, 1916.
Basic training commenced as a Private with the 22nd Reinforcements to the 6th Battalion on September 20, 1916.
The 6th Battalion Reinforcement along with 516 Reinforcements for the Tunnelling Companies departed Melbourne, Victoria on October 25, 1916 at 1.30pm aboard the transport HMAT A38 Ulysses. The Australian coastline disappeared from view on October 30, 1916 with the port of Durban reached at 11.30am on November 13, 1916. Windy weather was experienced going around the Cape and arrived at Cape Town at 7am on November 19. Sierra Leone was the next port of call but their departure was delayed until December 14, 1916 as it was not safe to proceed further. Arrived at Plymouth, England on December 28, 1916 after 65 days at sea, with the troops disembarking at 1.30pm and detrained to the station at Tidworth. The Reinforcements to the 6th Battalion went to the 2nd Training Battalion at Durrington.
Private Robert Benson’s service continued as follows:
28/2/17 Sick to Parkhouse Military hospital
17/3/17 Marched in from hospital
23/3/17 Sick to Parkhouse Military hospital
19/4/17 Proceeded to France via Folkstone
20/4/17 Arrived at 1st Aust Base Depot in Etaples
11/5/17 Taken on strength with 6th Battalion
20/9/17 Wounded in action
Admitted to 139th Field Ambulance with gunshot wound to his back and transferred to the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Conveyed on Ambulance Train to 22nd General Hospital at Camiers on September 21 he remained there for five days. Was then transported to England on the hospital ship Newhaven and entered Beaufort war hospital diagnosed with severe shrapnel wound to his back.
He was discharged to the 3rd Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on October 12 and left for the Depot at Weymouth on October 24, 1917.
29/10/17 Transferred to Hurdcott No. 3 Depot
28/11/17 Classified with B1a2 debility
1/8/18 Classified with B1a3 debility
23/3/18 Marched into overseas training depot
17/4/18 Proceeded overseas to France to N.Z. Base Depot at Etaples
22/4/18 Rejoined Unit
On August 25, 1918 was wounded in action by gas and admitted to the 2nd Aust Field Ambulance and transferred to the 41st C.C.S. The next day was moved to the 41st Stationary Hospital. Three days later he was relocated to the 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen and on September 2 transported on the hospital ship Gloucester Castle and admitted to the Cheltenham Hospital. He was discharged to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on October 30.
12/11/18 Granted Furlough until 26/11/18
26/11/18 Marched in to No. 1 C.D. at Sutton Veny
On January 2, 1919 was invalided home due to gas poisoning to Australia on the H.T. Karmala and arrived in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on February 15, 1919.
Military Discharge was issued on March 17, 1919 in Melbourne as medically unfit. He returned to 13 Nelson Street, Camberwell with the occupation of agriculturist and in 1924 was a dairy farmer at Dreeite, Vic.
Private Robert Redman Benson, 6th Battalion was issued with the British War Medal (58809) and the Victory Medal (57257) for serving his country.
Robert Redman Benson was killed by lightening on February 16, 1929 at Dreeite aged 43 years. Family notices appeared as follows:
A Statement of Service was issued from Base Records to the Repatriation Department on March 2, 1929.
A letter was issued from Solicitors St John Clarke & Eva at Colac, Vic on May 3, 1929 inquiring from Base Records if a Will had been deposited with them. In their reply dated May 8 advised that no Will had been executed by the late ex-member during his service with the 6th Battalion.
PRIVATE WILLIAM BENSON
1020 – 19th Battalion
Warrnambool, Vic was also the birthplace of William Benson who was born in 1891. Giving his age as twenty-one years the farm student enlisted at Liverpool, NSW on March 1, 1915. Declared fit from his medical examination Attestation Forms were completed revealing he was 165cms (5ft 4¾ins) tall, weighed 59kgs (130lbs) with a chest measurement of 76-84cms (30-33ins). Fair was his complexion with blue eyes and fair coloured hair. Church of England was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his brother Robert Redmond [Redman] Benson of 13 Neptune Street, St Kilda, Vic and later changed to Mrs V. Benson, 84 Ruskin Street, Elwood, Vic. Swearing in took place on March 2, 1915.
Basic training began at Liverpool Camp until he was allotted to ‘C Coy’ 19th Battalion on May 10, 1915. Regimental number was 1020 in the rank of Private. On June 21 June the following occurred:
Crime: Breaking away from Theatre party
Award: 3 days Pack Drill
The Reinforcement embarked on June 25, 1915 on board HMAT A40 Ceramic under the Master of the Ship John Stivey RNR and Officer Commanding Troops Lt-Colonel K.S. McKenzie. The ship arrived at Aden and spent July 16 in port before departing the same day for the Suez arriving on July 20. After an overnight stay left the next day sailed to Port Said remaining all night at the dock and left the following day. Alexandria, Egypt was reached on July 23, 1915 after a voyage of 29 days at sea.
On August 16, 1915 the troops proceeded to join the M.E.F. with the 19th Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli. Eight days later on August 23 he was wounded receiving a gunshot wound to his right foot and taken to the 16th Casualty Clearing Station, No 2 Post then transferred to Mudros for treatment. He was evacuated to Malta on the hospital ship Ascanius for further care, diagnosis now gunshot wound to knee and leg when entering on August 31. He boarded Regina de Italia from Malta on October 21, 1915 for England and admitted to King George Hospital in Stamford Street, S.E. London as sick but classed as slight.
On March 17, 1916 Private Benson embarked from Portland, England for Australia on the H.T. Ascanius for discharge after suffering Pulmonary Tuberculosis. The ship arrived in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on April 30, 1916.
A copy of his service was made for War Pension’s Department on June 12, 1916. Military Discharge was issued in Melbourne as medically unfit on August 12, 1916.
His address in 1919 was 13 Nelson Street, Camberwell, Vic with the occupation of agriculturist.
For serving his country the 1914/15 Star (18907), the British War Medal (16579) and the Victory Medal (16475) were issued to Private 1020 William Benson. These were collected on May 19, 1921.
From 1924 onwards his address was recorded as 84 Ruskin Street, St Kilda, Vic with his wife Victoria Benson. A Statement of his Service was forwarded to the Victorian Branch of the Repatriation Commission on September 22, 1936.
William Benson died on April 2, 1938 aged 44 years and Family Notices were published in:
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