Frederick Robert BENSON

BENSON, Frederick Robert

Service Number: 2051
Enlisted: 2 February 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales
Last Rank: Second Corporal
Last Unit: 3rd Australian Light Railway Operating Company
Born: Granville, New South Wales, January 1897
Home Town: Granville, Parramatta, New South Wales
Schooling: Burwood Superior Public School
Occupation: Builder's Labourer
Died: Killed in Action, Belgium, 19 October 1917
Cemetery: Menin Road South Military Cemetery
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Granville St Mark's Anglican Church Memorial Windows, Granville War Memorial
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

2 Feb 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2051, Liverpool, New South Wales
13 Apr 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2051, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: ''
13 Apr 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2051, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Sydney
19 Oct 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Second Corporal, 2051, 3rd Australian Light Railway Operating Company, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2051 awm_unit: 3rd Australian Light Railway Operating Company awm_rank: Second Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-10-19

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate Saturday 17 November 1917 CORP. F. R. BENSON

Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Robert Benson, of 'Alexander,' Blaxcell-street, Granville, have been notified by the military authorities that their second son, 2nd Corp. Fitter Frederick Robert Benson, has been killed in action in France. Deceased, who was a fine young fellow, was 21 years of age. He left for the front with the 5th Reinforcements of the 3rd Battalion on11th April, 1915 as a private. He was in Egypt only eight days and fought in Gallipoli for four months, when he contracted enteric fever and was sent to hospital in Lemnos. He went from there to London, and after recovering he went back to Egypt, where he lost the sight of one eye. He afterwards went to France as a Pioneer and was eventually transferred to the 17th Anzac Light Railway Operating Section, whose lines went right up to the first trenches. The lines were used for carrying food and ammunition. He was a native of Granville, of which Mr. and Mrs. Benson have been residents for 26 years. He attended the William street public school and finished off at the Burwood Superior public school. Prior to enlisting he worked with his father as a builder.

NOTE: Frederick Robert BENSON was the second son of Leslie Robert Benson who was the third son of Paul Alfred BENSON (Paul Alfred was the First son of Paul Whitney BENSON (1814-1898) and Charlotte BENSON who are burried in St Anne's Church Ryde.

Read more...

The Sydney Morning Herald Monday 31 December 1917

Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Robert Benson, of Blaxsell-street, Granville, have been notified that their second son, Corporal-Fitter Frederick Robert Benson, has been killed in France.
Deceased, who was 21 years of age, fought at Gallipoli, where he contracted enteric fever. After recovering he returned to Gallipoli, where he lost the sight of one eye. Then, after treatment, he was transferred to the Anzac Light Railway Operating Section,
In France

Showing 2 of 2 stories

Biography contributed by John Edwards

"...2051 Private (later 2nd Corporal) Frederick Robert Benson, 3rd Battalion of Granville, NSW. A builder prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard the HMAT Kyarra (A55) on 13 April 1915. He transferred to the 3rd Australian Light Railway Operating Company and was killed in action on 19 October 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium, aged 20. He is buried in the Menin Road South, Military Cemetery, Belgium." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

Read more...