Clement Wilder Benporath

Clement Wilder Benporath

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1882
Place of Birth	Kent, England
Death	13 Feb 1951, aged 68
Place of Death	Claremont, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	32 years, 4 months
Description	5'10" (1.78m) tall ; 145lbs 65.771 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Electrician
Religion	Church of England
Address	NOK Evelyn street, Gosnells, Western Australia (May 1917)
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Anne Marie Benporath
Military Information
Reg Number	1578
Date of Enlistment	19 Nov 1914
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements
Date of Embarkation	22 Feb 1915 ‒ 24 Mar 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A50 Itonus
Date of Embarkation	26 Dec 1916 ‒ 3 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A34 Persic Sea Transport duty
Date of Return	24 Sep 1915 ‒ ?? Oct 1915
Ship Returned On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Date of Return	12 May 1917 ‒ 23 Jun 1917
Ship Returned On	HMAT A18 Wiltshire Transport duty only
Fate	Wounded In Action 9 Aug 1915 at Hill 971, Gallipoli Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Clement had six years previous experience with the Perth Field Artillery, and he had married Annie Marie Smith during 1910. Electoral Roll entries: 1903 at 83 Wellington street, Perth, electrician; 1910 at 643 Murray street, Perth, electrician; 1916 Evelyn street, Gosnells, area officer with Anne.

War Service

Following a short period in camp, Clement was posted to the 3rd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. His records tell nothing of his time in Egypt, but show him as arriving on the Gallipoli Peninsular on 27 Apr 1915. On 13 May 1915 on Gallipoli Clement was promoted to Sergeant and then on 22 May 1915 to 2nd Lieutenant. Wounded in action on 7 Aug 1915 when the 4th Brigade attempted to take Hill 971. Clement's wounds were a minor bullet wound to the head and a severe wound to his hip/buttocks. He was carried 500 yards to safety by an unidentified Private who had 5 bullet wounds to one of his arms.

Clement was evacuated from Gallipoli aboard HMHS Devanha acting as a Hospital Ship, and on arrival in Alexandria was admitted to the 17th General Hospital on 9 Aug 1915. On 3 Sep 1915 he was sent back to Australia for 6 months from Suez aboard HMAT A38 Ulysses. On arrival Clement was placed on the Supernumerary List on 22 Nov 1915. On 15 Jun 1916 he was discharged from the 8th Australian General Hospital in Fremantle, and his Appointment was terminated, although on 30 September he issued an article calling on certain men to enlist, described as Lieutenant, Military Registrar for Fremantle Sub District. At this time he was living in Evelyn street, Gosnells.

On 19 Dec 1916 he was Appointed 2nd Lieutenant for the voyage only aboard HMAT A34 Persic from Fremantle, as he was now serving with the "Sea Transport Service". While in England he spent from 31 Mar 1917 until 10 May 1917 in the 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton with complications to his previous wound. He returned aboard HMAT A18 Wiltshire, landing at Albany on 23 Jun 1917, and this appointment was terminated 2 days later having been struck off strength of the Transport Service on 12 May 1917.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1925 - 1943 at 10 Waroonga road, Nedlands, electrical engineer.

A letter from Clement's wife Annie after his death made application for his Gallipoli Medal and indicated that during WW2, sons Major Gordon Wylder Benporath (1910 - 1982), and Lieutenant Brian Clement Benporath (1918 - 1989) as well as a daughter Pte Gweneth M. Benporath (1921 - ) served in the military. A Grandson Max Benporath, a National Serviceman went to Vietnam on 8 Apr 1967 with the 7th Battalion's first tour. He returned to Australia on 26 Apr 1968.

Notes

For more information about the history and heritage of the City of Gosnells, please contact the Heritage Coordinator on 9391 6011