Beverley Loxton Bennett

Beverley Loxton Bennett

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1898
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 ; 150 lbs 68.039 kg ; fresh complexion complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair
Occupation	Orchardist
Religion	Methodist
Address	'Ventura', Bedfordale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Beverley Mansely Bennett
Military Information
Reg Number	2671
Date of Enlistment	2 Oct 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 Fremantle to Devonport
Fate	Wounded in Action 4 Jul 1918 at Hamel Died of those Wounds 8 Aug 1918
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (Bedfordale panel) Bedfordale Roll of Honour Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial
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. After another week, he was reallocated to the 6th draft for the 44th Battalion, and finally on 2 Nov 1916 to the 5th draft for the 44th Battalion. He travelled with them to England.

On arrival in England he entered the 11th Training Battalion at the Durrington camp near Larkhill north of Salisbury. On 24 Jul 1917 Beverley was seen by the Fargo Military Hospital and then admitted the same day to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford for treatment of Venereal Disease. Discharged after 29 days on 21 Aug 1917 to the Bulford Convalescent Training Depot. On 22 Sep 1917 he returned to the 11th Training Battalion. Beverley's records show him as going overseas on 20 Nov 1917 from the 11th Training Battalion and from Sutton Mandeville. So it would appear that the unit had moved from Durrington.

On arrival in France from Southampton he was taken in by the 3rd Division's Base Depot at Rouelles for three days before he was sent to join the 44th Battalion where Beverley was taken on strength by them on 29 Nov 1917 near Hazebrouck.

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 The US troops were withdrawn on July 3rd and so the battalion reserves (including Bennett) were called up to take their place.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 Field Ambulance and he passed through the 47th Casualty Clearing Station the next day and on 8 Jul 1918 he was placed on Ambulance Train No. 30 for the 12th General Hospital in Rouen on 9 Jul 1918. 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 at 6:45pm on 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.

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  St Sever Cemetery Extension
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial