Beverley Loxton Bennett

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Victoria
Death	8 Aug 1918
Place of Death	No 12 General Hospital, Rouen, France
Age at Enlistment	18 years old
Description	5' 8" (1.73m) tall; weight 150 lbs (68 kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, black hair
Occupation	orcharist
Religion	Methodist
Address	'Ventura', Bedfrdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Beverley Mansley Bennett
Military Information
Reg Number	2671
Date of Enlistment	19 Sep 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement / 11th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 - 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Fate	Wounded in Action 4 Jul 1918 at Hamel Died of those Wounds 8 Aug 1918
Monument	Armadale (Bedfordale panel) Bedfordale Honour Board
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 2 Oct 1916 and a week later was allotted to the 23rd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. Another week later he was reallocated to the 6th draft for the 44th Battalion, and finally to the 5th draft for the 44th Battalion on 2 Nov 1916.

On arrival in England he entered the 11th Training Battalion at Durrington. Before travelling to France via Southampton from Sutton Mandeville in Nov 1917, he spent 29 days over several stays in Bulford Hospital with Venereal Disease. Beverley was taken on strength by the 44th Battalion on 29 Nov 1917.

Prior to the battle at Hamel, the 44th Battalion was joined on 1 Jul by troops from B Company of the "I" Battalion, 131st US Infantry, and on the next day Australian PM [Billy Hughes] addressed them. The US troops were withdrawn on July 3rd and so the battalion reserves (including Bennett) were called up to take their place.

On 4 Jul 1918 he received wounds to his neck and left leg during the famous attack on Hamel. He received treatment by the 4th Australian Field Ambulance and he passed through the 47th Casualty Clearing Station before being admitted to hospital. His Red Cross file states that he was admitted to No 12 General Hospital Rouen on 5 Jul 1918 with a Gun Shot Wound to the chest. Next entry by the Officer Commanding the hospital states GSW to neck and right leg.

He died 6:45pm 8 Aug 1918 (more than a month after being wounded) in the 12th General Hospital, Rouen and was buried 10 Aug 1918 in Cimetiere de Saint Sever, Rouen Plot Q IV, Row D, Grave No 11. Son of Beverley Mansey Bennett and Ruth Bennett of "Ventura", Bedfordale, Western Australia.