BENNETT, Alfred Edward
| Service Number: | 12368 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 13 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Inveresk, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | French Polisher |
| Died: | Pneumonia, United Kingdom2nd Scottish General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland , 24 October 1918, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Edinburgh (Comely Bank) Cemetery, Scotland |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Launceston Cenotaph |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Jan 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 12368, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 12368, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne |
Help us honour Alfred Edward Bennett's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Alfred Edward Bennett was born at Launceston, Tasmania on 13th February, 1893 to parents Charles & Mary Ann Matilda Bennett (nee Cox).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 15th September, 1915 as a 23 year old, single, French Polisher from Goderick Street, Inveresk, Launceston, Tasmania.
Gunner Alfred Edward Bennett, Service number 12368, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Themistocles (A32) on 28th January, 1916 with the 6th Field Artillery Brigade, 3rd Reinforcements.
He was taken on strength of 2nd D.A.C. from Reinforcements while at Zeitoun on 29th February, 1916. Gunner Bennett was taken on strength & posted to 106th Battery at Zeitoun on 10th March, 1916.
On 18th March, 1916 Gunner Bennett proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & embarked from Alexandria. He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 25th March, 1916.
Gunner Bennett was transferred to 6th F.A.B. from 106th Howitzer Battery on 13th May, 1916.
He reported sick on 14th August, 1916 & was admitted to Corps Rest Station with a dislocated right shoulder then transferred to 4th Casualty Clearing Station on 15th August, 1916. Gunner Bennett was transferred & admitted to 8th Stationary Hospital, Wimereux on 16th August, 1916, then transferred to 1st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on 6th September, 1916. Gunner Bennett was discharged on 15th September, 1916 & joined 2nD Australian Base Depot at Etaples on 16th September, 1916. It was certified that “the accident (injury to right shoulder) occurred about 18th July, 1916 & that Gunner Bennett was not on duty at the time.”
On 28th September, 1916 Gunner Bennett was taken on strength with Australian General Base Depot at Etaples.
Gunner Bennett was transferred to 2nd Divisional Australian Field Artillery (2nd D.A.C.) on 27th October, 1916 & joined 2nd D.A.C. in the field on 2nd November, 1916. He was transferred to 6th F.A.B. (Field Artillery Brigade) on 3rd November, 1916 & posted to 106th Battery.
He was written up for a Crime – Absent without leave on 4th July, 1917 from 6.30 am till noon. He was awarded 24 hours Field Punishment No. 2.
From 15th August, 1917 to 2nd September, 1917 Gunner Bennett was on leave to UK. He was again on leave to UK from 12th October, 1918.
He was admitted to the 2nd Scottish General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland on 19th October, 1918 suffering from Influenza. He had been admitted while on leave from France. Gunner Bennett developed Pneumonia three days after being admitted to Hospital.
Gunner Alfred Edward Bennett died at 1.15 pm on 24th October, 1918 at 2nd Scottish General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland from Pneumonia.
He was buried in Comely Bank Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland where 7 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/comely-bank.html
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