Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From How We Served
 
The final resting place for; - V82706 Private Rudolph Benjamin of London, England and Ballarat, Victoria had seen active service during the First World War with the 1st/5th West Yorkshire Regiment in Egypt, Palestine and the trenches of Northern France for the duration of hostilities. Rudolph received his formal discharge from the British Army following the end of the War.

Immigrating to Australia in the years of peace that followed, Rudolph had married, and was employed as a commercial traveler, when the world was again plunged into conflict.
Rudolph, now aged 50, again decided to serve, this time with his newly adopted country, and enlisted with the Australian Military Forces on the 23rd of January 1940. Accepted for fulltime service within Australia, Rudolph was posted to the 12th Garrison Battalion on the 23rd of January 1941.

His service would be continuous until Rudolph was evacuated sick and evacuated for hospitalization on the 11th of July 1943. Following a short period in the 20th Camp Hospital.

Rudolph was transferred to the 115th Australian General Hospital (Heidelberg) on the 19th of July. There was little improvement in Rudolph’s health, having been placed on the dangerously ill list, and by the 24th of February 1944, Rudolph was discharged from the 115th Australian General Hospital, and was transferred to the Austin Hospital (Melbourne) where his condition only worsened.

Whilst still under treatment at the Austin Hospital, Rudolph succumbed to illness on the 15th of March 1944, at the premature age of 54.

Following his passing, whilst again on War Service, Private Rudolph Benjamin, a British veteran of the ‘Great War’, and who had chosen to again serve in a Second World War, in the defense of Australia, was formally laid to rest within Springvale War Cemetery, Victoria.