Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Benjamin Henry SUTHERLAND (Service Number 11892) was born on 26th May 1885 at Thurso, Caithness, Scotland. He first worked for the NSW Railways as a temporary porter in the Traffic Branch in the Sydney District from 27th February 1912. In June he transferred to a permanent position in the Signalling Branch as an inspector’s clerk in Sydney. By May 1914 his position was described as foremen. It was from this role that he enlisted at Liverpool on 28th July 1915. Sutherland gave as his next of kin his fiancée, Miss Nellie Valentine, with the note that they intended marrying before his departure for overseas. This marriage did not occur and while Nellie remained the legatee of his estate, (her father was executor named in the will), she signed herself Miss Valentine in several items of correspondence which are now included in Sutherland’s file. On the Attestation Papers, Nellie’s name, and the proposal to marry, were ruled through and Sutherland’s brother in Aberdeen, Scotland was substituted as next of kin.  Sutherland claimed two years’ military service with the Royal Army Medical Corps in the UK before he left for Australia.

He was allotted to the 9th Field Ambulance. He embarked HMAT ‘Argyllshire’ at Sydney on 11th May 1916, already promoted to the rank of Corporal. He arrived in Plymouth (England) on 10th July. He was made Wagon Orderly Corporal later that month. He proceeded overseas to France on 21st November 1016 and was taken on strength of the 35th Battalion. He returned to the 9th Field Ambulance on 20th December. On 24th January 1917 he was promoted to (Temporary) Company Quartermaster Sergeant, but reverted to Corporal on 13th June. He was killed in action on 12th October 1917.

W Menzies (12021) reported:

‘I was about 200 yds. Away from Sutherland when he was killed. He was buried by a shell, near Zonnebeke Station, on the Passchendaele Road. He was at a dressing station aid post with the M.O., Cpt. Clark, who was also killed by the same shell. There were 5 killed. Their bodies were left there and never dug out. It would have been impossible to bring them down on account of the mud.’

The only indication of the burial of Sutherland’s body is ‘buried in vicinity between Zonnebeke and Passchendaele’ and the exact location was not identified until 1924 when remains were found at map reference Sheet 28.D.17.a.35.55. They were exhumed and re-interred at Poelcappelle British Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium.

With the body was found a wristlet watch, somewhat damaged by years of exposure to the weather. It was offered to the executor of the estate, Frank Valentine. He accepted the offer of the memento, writing:

‘I will accept the wristlet watch & hand it over to the one he loved best…… I again thank you for the memento (wristlet watch) which I am sure will be valued and cherished.’

- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.