BENSLEY, James
| Service Numbers: | 3766, 77490 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
| Last Unit: | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Born: | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 21 May 1894 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 24 October 1957, aged 63 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Cleveland Shire Council Roll of Honour, Ipswich Men and Women of Ipswich WW1 Roll of Honour, Rosewood Shire Council Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3766, 26th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 3766, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 31 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 3766, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Brisbane | |
| 13 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3766, 26th Infantry Battalion, embarked Alexandria for Marseilles | |
| 5 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3766, WiA France; GSW thigh; K Supply Column | |
| 13 Jul 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4th Motor Transport Company, embarked England on board Persic | |
| 26 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 4th Motor Transport Company |
World War 2 Service
| 6 Aug 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 77490 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 77490, Royal Australian Air Force |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Second of four brothers who served in WWI and/or WWII, Private James Bensley (Service No:3766) enlisted in the AIF on 30 August 1915, and was attached to 26 Infantry Battalion on 31 January 1916 when he embarked with his Unit from Brisbane for Egypt on board HMAT A62 Wandilla. Private Bensley embarked from Alexandria for Marseilles on 13 March 1916, and was attached to K Supply Column in France on 5 August 1916 when he was WiA (GSW thigh). Private Bensley - graded as Driver Motor Transport - served with 6th Motor Transport Coy, and was attached to 4th Motor Transport Coy on 13 July 1919 when he embarked from Englad for the RTA, and for Discharge on 26 October 1919. Private Bensley was awarded the French Medal of Honour with Swords, Bronze on 31 May 1921.
Leading Aircraftman James Bensley (Service No:77490) enlisted in the RAAF on 6 August 1942 at No 3 Recruiting Centre Brisbane as an Aircraftman I - mustered as Carpenter General, re mustered as Carpenter Rigger. LAC Bensley was attached to HQ Maryborough and the RAAF Printing Unit, and was attached to No 7 Aircraft Depot (AD) at Discharge on 9 November 1945.
James was born in Ipswich, QLD in 1894, second of five children of Arthur Bensley Snr (b1864 in Norfolk, England) and Margaret (Maggie) Elder (b1869 in Fifeshire, Scotland). Arthur immigrated with his parents and siblings in 1871, arriving in Brisbane on board the Storm King, and Maggie arrived with her parents and siblings in Cooktown in 1884 on board the Chybassa. Arthur was a Freeholder at Rosewood on the Darling Downs, where he and Maggie married in 1890. Arthur and Maggie settled at Rosewood, where they raised their family and Arthur was a Farmer. The family then lived in Stanthorpe and Cleveland in Brisbane - Arthur was a Fruit Grower and Orchardist.
James served a five year apprenticeship, and was a Carpenter in Brisbane when he enlisted in the Army in 1915. Following his Discharge, James was working as a Carpenter in Brisbane in 1922 when he married Kathleen Helen Dewar (b1902 in Brisbane, QLD). James and Kathleen settled in Brisbane, where they raised their family and James was a Carpenter/Master Builder, with his own business - Bensley Buliding Contractors. James died in 1957 and Kathleen in 1980.
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