S21815
BENNETTS, Francis
| Service Numbers: | 2333, S316 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 March 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Warrant Officer Class 2 |
| Last Unit: | Loveday PW Camp |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 3 March 1895 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Adelaide, South Australia , 13 September 1979, aged 84 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Peacetime
| 19 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia |
|---|
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jun 1915: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 2333, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Kanowna embarkation_ship_number: A61 public_note: '' |
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|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2333, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kanowna, Adelaide | |
| 29 Feb 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2333, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 2333, 4th Machine Gun Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, S316 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug 1947: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, S316, Loveday PW Camp |
Help us honour Francis Bennetts's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Manaswi Patel
Francis Bennetts was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 3rd March, 1895.
Before Bennetts enlisted in the war, he was a labourer. Bennetts father, John, wrote a letter to the AIF stating his permission for Francis to join the war.
A 20-year old Francis was posted to the AIF's 10th battalion and embarked to the war on the HMAT Kanowna where he joined the Gallipoli campaign. Following this campaign, Bennetts was evacuated to Egypt in December 1915. On return from Gallipoli, Bennetts was hospitalised during for 15 days for injuries.
Following his discharge, Bennetts was charged for being absent without leave from the tattoo (lights out) at 10.00pm on the 8th December, 1915 until 1030am on the 10th December. For this crime, Bennetts was awarded the second highest punishment (CPO 2) - 7 days Field Punishment (FP = confined to barracks but not handcuffed), forfeiting 14 days pay. This punishment was imposed by his Commanding Officer.
From Eygpt, Bennetts was taken on strength by the 13th Australian Machine Gun Company and deployed to France in June, 1916.
Bennetts serverd with the AIF for four years before returning to Australia in March, 1919.
For his service, Bennetts was awarded at war a Distinguished Conduct medal for "bravery and readiness to accept responsibility". Bennetts was also awarded a Military Medal for ‘’bravery and devotion’’ to duty during an attack on the Hindenburg line defences while in northern France.
Bennetts also enlisted for World War II.
Bennetts died of natural causes on 13th September, 1979.
Biography
The key photograph shows Frank in his uniform wearing a white shirt and black tie in preparation for his wedding to his sweetheart Kathleen
Frank and Kathleen were one-eyed Port Adelaide Football club supporters and so much so they rarely missed a game and Kathleen bought black and white lollies for the family to enjoy during the matches
For further reading please use links to the left of page
Click images to start slideshow.