BENHAM, Frederick Reuben
| Service Number: | 1436 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Drysdale, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Drysdale State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 27 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Borre British Cemetery Plot I, Row B, Grave No. 20 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Drysdale Methodist Church Honor Roll, Drysdale State School No 1645 Honor Roll, Drysdale War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1436, 4th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 1436, 4th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Palermo embarkation_ship_number: A56 public_note: '' | |
| 29 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 1436, 4th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Palermo, Melbourne | |
| 11 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, Egypt | |
| 29 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, Egypt | |
| 30 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 1436, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, Battle for Pozières | |
| 2 Oct 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 7th Infantry Battalion, Belgium | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1436, 7th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 27 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1436, 7th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, Contusions in back. | |
| 27 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1436, 7th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918 |
A Mother's Lament
I sadly farewelled four sons as they sailed proudly off to war
They did their loyal duty but they gave so much more.
And I dream that Fred is here with me, smiling and clasping my hand
But you far away and buried in a foreign land.
I pictured your safe returning, Fred, and I longed to hold you tight;
But God has postponed this meeting, and though I pray each night
That it were different and you would walk back through my door
My heart is forever broken, and I ask ‘what was it all for?’
You fought bravely in bloody battles where the fighting was intensive
Egypt, Pozieres, Broodseinde Ridge, and the German Spring Offensive,
All accounts of these battles tell of the carnage and on reflection
Each one was ill conceived, poorly planned, and hopeless without exception
But despite the slaughter that raged around you, you did not flinch or cower
You endured the pain and suffering against a foreign power
What ever decisions were made, you followed them stoically through
I love you son, I miss you so, and I am so very proud of you.
Submitted 21 November 2023 by Peter Bennett
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