Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Roy Albert Bennier known as Dumper was born at Mount Gambier on the 11th December 1907. He was the fourth of nine children to Parents Walter and Sarah.
Roy attended the Kalangadoo Primary School from 1914 to 1921.

After leaving school Roy worked on the family farm “”Nyowee”, Lake Leake Road, which had been part of Koorine Station.

Whilst growing up on the farm Roy would take some of his younger sisters to the local dances on the back of his motor bikes. He earned his nickname “Dumper” when some of his passengers were unceremoniously despatched off the back of the bike.

Dumper married Edith Wilkins on the 15th June 1935 at the Methodist Church, Kalangadoo.

This same year, the partnership of Walter, Roy and Gandhi became known as the Bennier Brothers. Gandhi living in a hut near the main house. Roy built a house across from the main house for his new wife, which was later lived in by Walter and his family, also Gandhi until the early 1960’s. This house no longer exists having been destroyed on Ash Wednesday.

Edith and Dumper had three children, two of whom were born prior to the war, John in1936 and Keith in 1938. Christine was born post war in 1950.

Dumper decided a change was needed and the brothers parted ways, with Gandhi and Walter buying out Dumper’s share of the partnership. This saw Dumper and his family purchasing forty acres, section 94 on Buddles Lane, Kalangadoo.

Private Roy Bennier reported for duty at R.R.D., Fourth Military District on the 8th January 1942, only to be granted twenty days leave to return to the Kalangadoo family dairy.

On return he spent time at Wayville General Hospital before being attached to the 108 Convalescent Depot Fourth Military District in mid April 1942.

On the 21st April Private Bennier was moved out to X List 10 Battalion.
Records shown that Private Roy Bennier arrived at the Northern Territory Line of Command on the 11th August 1943.

In July 1943 the 18th Australian Personnel Staging Camp was established at Berry Springs with facilities able to accommodate up to a thousand troops.
A month later, 108 Australian Convalescent Depot was established and this was followed by the Australian Army Canteens Service, an Army Post Office, and an Ambulance Company.

Units also exercised in the area, including the East Timorese trainees of Z Special Unit, while others were based at nearby Airfields and Camps.

Following the end of the war most of the camp buildings and structures were disposed of at auctions, however the landings, diving platforms and work to the main pool carried out by the army remains a part of the popular Berry Springs Nature Reserve.

Being a first class carpenter Private Roy Bennier worked for almost twelve months at Berry Springs 108 Convalescent Depot.

Private Roy Bennier’s attachment was completed and was transferred back to South Australia Line of Command on the 18th September 1944.

On the 6th October 1944 Private Roy Bennier was discharged in accordance with
Australian Military Regulations and Orders 184a (I) (h) dairying.
With a medical classification of A, at Wayville, South Australia.

Private Roy Bennier had completed 1005 days service that included 907 days active service within Australia.

After the war he returned to Buddles Lane looking to re-establish the farm, while also applying to the government for assistance in the War Service Land Settlement.
He proved successful, being allocated section 445 South of Penola on the Riddoch Highway. Dumper attended Roseworthy College to learn about pasture management.

Although a qualified carpenter, farming was his first love.

Supplementing his income through his carpentry skills Dumper along with the Mills Brothers built the Seven Sisters as well as houses surrounding the Nangwarry Oval, some of which have since been removed. Building also took him further afield with the Mills brothers to Kaniva.

In 1965 Dumper and Edith moved to Kent Town where they operated the Altrevor Guest Home. This kept Edith busy whilst Dumper was successful in gaining employment doing maintenance at Queen Victoria Hospital.

Dumper led an active life with other pursuits being a member of the Kalangadoo RSL, member of the Buffalo Lodge and attending Kalangadoo Races, as well as being a keen Duck and Pigeon shooter. Once retired he played Lawn Bowls for Brompton.

Dumper was a hard working and a good provider for his family. Edith was his Angel and without her support he would not have survived.

Roy Albert Bennier passed away on the 15th December 1978 and is interred at the Centennial Park Cemetery.