Difference between revisions of "Harry Wallace Benson"
From Our Contribution
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| eyes = grey | | eyes = grey | ||
| hair = brown | | hair = brown | ||
| − | | descriptionnote = | + | | descriptionnote = scar on left shoulder |
| occupation = Prospector | | occupation = Prospector | ||
| religion = Roman Catholic | | religion = Roman Catholic | ||
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| rank = Private | | rank = Private | ||
| unit = [[2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion]] | | unit = [[2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion]] | ||
| − | | 1stembarkationdatefrom= | + | | 1stembarkationdatefrom= 20 Apr 1940 |
| − | | 1stembarkationdateto= | + | | 1stembarkationdateto= 17 Jun 1940 |
| − | | 1sttransportembarked= | + | | 1sttransportembarked= HMT Nevasa |
| − | | 1sttransportnote= | + | | 1sttransportnote= Fremantle to Kantara, Egypt |
| 1stembarkationdatefrom1tran= | | 1stembarkationdatefrom1tran= | ||
| 1stembarkationdateto1tran= | | 1stembarkationdateto1tran= | ||
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| fate1 = Prisoner of War | | fate1 = Prisoner of War | ||
| − | | fate2 = | + | | fate2 = Returned to Australia |
| fate3 = | | fate3 = | ||
| fate4 = | | fate4 = | ||
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==War Service== | ==War Service== | ||
| − | Harry enlisted in Subiaco on 7 Nov 1939 and he was allocated to the [[2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion]] | + | Harry enlisted in Subiaco on 7 Nov 1939 and he was allocated to the [[2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion]]. On 19 Nov 1939 he was charged with having overstayed his leave for which he received a fine of 5/- (50 cents). On 30 Nov 1939 Harry and his unit embarked in Fremantle to join the 18th Brigade of the 6th Australian Division at Greta in New South Wales. In Sydney Harry was AWOL from midnight 6 January until 10:00am the following day. Fined £2 ($4) on this occasion. |
| + | |||
| + | The battalion returned to Western Australia in the middle of March 1940 for pre-embarkation leave and embarked on [[HMHS Nevasa]]* the at Fremantle for service overseas on 20 Apr 1940. They disembarked at Kantara in the middle of the Suez Canal on 17 May 1940. On 29 May 1940 Harry was charged with having been absent between 6:30pm and 9:00pm. Punishment was a fine of 15/- ($1.50). AWOL again, between 8:30am and 11:00pm on 26 Jun 1940, this time he was sentenced to 14 days detention (spent in [[1st Australian Detention Barracks]] and the automatic forfeit of 15 day's pay. | ||
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| + | The battalion saw action in Libya against Italian forces around Bardia, Tobruk and Derna during January 1941, and then near Benghazi the following month. The battalion boarded ship in Gaza harbour on 10 Apr 1941 for Greece, landing at Pireus. On 4 Apr 1941 Harry was admitted to the 26th British General Hospital with an infection. The next entry in Harry's records lists him as missing on 4 Jun 1941, and believed to be a POW on 8 Jun 1941. | ||
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| + | Forced to be evacuated to Crete on the SS Thurland Castle on 25 & 26 Apr 1941 | ||
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| + | On 31 Mar 1941 Harry and his battalion boarded | ||
Captured by the Germans in Greece on 28 Oct 1941. | Captured by the Germans in Greece on 28 Oct 1941. | ||
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
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<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 18:58, 22 May 2021
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 21 Jan 1916 |
| Place of Birth | London, England |
| Death | 1975 |
| Place of Death | New South Wales |
| Age at Enlistment | 26 years, 9 months |
| Description | 5'8" (1.73m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair ; scar on left shoulder |
| Occupation | Prospector |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | River road, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Henry Benson |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX466 |
| Date of Enlistment | 7 Nov 1939 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 20 Apr 1940 ‒ 17 Jun 1940 |
| Transport Details | HMT Nevasa Fremantle to Kantara, Egypt |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate |
Prisoner of War Returned to Australia |
| External Monument(s) | The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries: 1943 River road, Kelmscott, debt collector
War Service
Harry enlisted in Subiaco on 7 Nov 1939 and he was allocated to the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion. On 19 Nov 1939 he was charged with having overstayed his leave for which he received a fine of 5/- (50 cents). On 30 Nov 1939 Harry and his unit embarked in Fremantle to join the 18th Brigade of the 6th Australian Division at Greta in New South Wales. In Sydney Harry was AWOL from midnight 6 January until 10:00am the following day. Fined £2 ($4) on this occasion.
The battalion returned to Western Australia in the middle of March 1940 for pre-embarkation leave and embarked on HMHS Nevasa* the at Fremantle for service overseas on 20 Apr 1940. They disembarked at Kantara in the middle of the Suez Canal on 17 May 1940. On 29 May 1940 Harry was charged with having been absent between 6:30pm and 9:00pm. Punishment was a fine of 15/- ($1.50). AWOL again, between 8:30am and 11:00pm on 26 Jun 1940, this time he was sentenced to 14 days detention (spent in 1st Australian Detention Barracks and the automatic forfeit of 15 day's pay.
The battalion saw action in Libya against Italian forces around Bardia, Tobruk and Derna during January 1941, and then near Benghazi the following month. The battalion boarded ship in Gaza harbour on 10 Apr 1941 for Greece, landing at Pireus. On 4 Apr 1941 Harry was admitted to the 26th British General Hospital with an infection. The next entry in Harry's records lists him as missing on 4 Jun 1941, and believed to be a POW on 8 Jun 1941.
Forced to be evacuated to Crete on the SS Thurland Castle on 25 & 26 Apr 1941
On 31 Mar 1941 Harry and his battalion boarded
Captured by the Germans in Greece on 28 Oct 1941. Demobilised on 19 Feb 1946.
On 12 May 1945 Harry arrived in the UK, as a recovered POW, by plane from Europe. He was taken on strength by the 1st AIF Transit Camp (UK). On 18 Jun 1945 he embarked on J11 in England for the New South Wales Recruit Reception & General Details Depot, arriving in Sydney and disembarking on 24 Jul 1945. On 31 Jul 1945 he was transferred to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot
Post War
During 1949 married Dorothy Mabel Isabel Spencer in Perth
Electoral Roll entries: 1958 - 1963 at 6 Stanbury street, Gladesville, NSW, student with Dorothy working as a clerk; 1968 - 1980 an industrial chemist living with Dorothy at 58 Bellevue avenue, Denistone NSW.
Notes
External Links
- Ballarat POW Memorial[[Category:]]
[[Category:]]