BENNING, Leslie Edward
| Service Number: | 3687 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia, 20 August 1894 |
| Home Town: | East Maitland, Maitland Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | East Maitland Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Wounds, South Midlands Field Ambulance, France, 24 July 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension Plot V, Row E, Grave No. 18. AT REST |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, East Maitland Lodge McCubben 3295 Honour Roll, Gunnedah Public School WW1 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3687, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3687, 1st Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Mooltan embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 11 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3687, 1st Infantry Battalion, RMS Mooltan, Sydney |
Help us honour Leslie Edward Benning's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Leslie Benning arrived in Egypt after Gallipoli had been evacuated. During the taking of Pozieres, he was severely wounded in the abdomen and leg by shrapnel. He was evacuated to the South Midlands Field Ambulance near Warloy-Baillon on 23 July 1916, but died of his injuries the next day.
His younger brother, 4647 Pte. Harold Vincent Benning also served in the 1st Battalion AIF and died of wounds in France on the 14 November 1916, aged 19.
They were the sons of George Henry and Elizabeth Mary Benning, of Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales. Both boys had been born in Gunnedah, NSW.
Leslie's father, Mr G.H. Benning, of East Maitland, received a letter from Sergeant J. Price which was printed in the Maitland papers during 1916. Price refers to the death of the late Private Leslie Benning, who, he states, was wounded on July 23 and died from his injuries in the South Midland Field Ambulance the following day. “Knowing Leslie, a little, being sergeant of his platoon”, he writes, I must say he has been greatly missed by all. was a good lad and a good friend. It was on the night of the great charge, that he was hit. You have no doubt read a great deal about the taking of the important German position by the Australians. It was a cruel, yet glorious fight all through, costing Australia, very dearly. But there is always the strong consolation that every man who died did so bravely, proving to the whole world that Australia's sons, are the finest in the world.” He added that Mr. Benning’s other son, Harry, was quite well and that he was also a good lad.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.
On the 24th July 1916, Private Leslie Edward Benning, 1st Battalion (Reg No-3687), dairy farmer from Ann Street, East Maitland, New South Wales, Died of Wounds (gunshot wound to the stomach or enemy shrapnel) at the South Midlands Field Ambulance, Battle of Pozieres, France, age 21 years 11 months.
Born at Gunnedah, New South Wales on the 20th August 1894 to George Henry (died 5.9.1940, age 91, Hamilton, N.S.W.) of 48 Wilton Street, Merewether, New South Wales and 39 Hamilton Street, Hamilton North N.S.W. and Elizabeth Mary Benning (died 5.9.1926, age 68, Hamilton, N.S.W.) of 48 Wilton Street, Merewether, New South Wales and 39 Hamilton Street, Hamilton North, N.S.W., mother of 10 sons, Les enlisted on the 12th August 1915 at West Maitland, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT Mooltan on the 11th December 1915.
Wounded in action - 23.7.1916 (GSW abdomen).
Les is resting at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Plot V Row E Grave 18.
Place of Association – East Maitland, Maitland, New South Wales, Australia.
Mr. Benning’s name has been inscribed on the Book of Gold, East Maitland St. Peter's Anglican Church Roll of Honour Tablet, East Maitland Soldiers' Memorial, East Maitland Public School Roll of Honour, Gunnedah Public School WW1 Honour Roll and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall. A member of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows.
Younger brother Harold Vincent (Harry, born 9.6.1897, Gunnedah, New South Wales, grocer (Maitland Co-operative store) from Ann Street, East Maitland, New South Wales, enlisted 12.8.1915, 1st Battalion, Reg No-4647, died of wounds, 14.11.1916, age 19, Battle of Flers, France, resting at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France. Block O Plot II Row C Grave 9), memorialised same location.
I have placed poppies at the memorialised Benning gravesite in remembrance of the service and supreme sacrifice of their two sons for God, King & Country. ANGLICAN 1-78. 112.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
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