Joseph George Benton Snr
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 13 Jul 1875 |
| Place of Birth | Birmingham, England |
| Death | 7 Aug 1951, aged 75 |
| Place of Death | York, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 35 years old |
| Description |
5'5" (1.65m) tall ; 120lbs 54.431 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; dark hair ; multiple tattoos |
| Occupation | Brass Finisher |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | William street, East Cannington |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Mary Ann Benton |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 998 |
| Date of Enlistment | 10 May 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | D Coy 28th Battalion / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 9 Jun 1915 ‒ 2 Jul 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A11 Ascanius |
| Date of Return | 3 Nov 1915 ‒ 26 Nov 1915 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A60 Aeneas |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (Medical) |
| Monument | Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Joseph George Benton Snr. was born 13 July 1875 and. His parents were Henry Benton and Camilla Benton (nee Sharp) were married on 15 February 1869 at St. Philip’s Church, Birmingham and his siblings were John Franklin (b. 1873); Julia Camilla (b.1878); Lucy Agnes (b.1880); Alfred (b.1881) and Eliza G. (b.1888). He married Mary Ann Goodman at St. Mark Church, Birmingham, England on 22 November 1896 and the marriage certificate recorded that his wife Mary was a brass polisher and his father was a brass worker. Their address was 2 and 4 Melbourne Place, Nelson Street, Birmingham. Joseph’s siblings John Franklin and Julia Camilla witnessed his wedding.
Joseph senior and his family appear on the Census of 1901, residing at 1/29 Barker Street, Birmingham. Following the baptism of the newest family arrival Polly, Joseph and his family embark 9 May 1907 at Liverpool for Quebec, Canada on the Dominion Line ship ‘S.S. Southwark’, arriving 20 May 1907. By this time his family comprised of Joseph (b.1898); Wilfred (b.1901), John Franklin (b. 1904) and Polly (b. 12 November 1905; bap. 3 April 1907). According to the passenger list Joseph senior had changed his trade to printer, during their time in Canada there was another addition, Thomas Richard who was born on 9 September 1911 in Toronto. According to Joseph's enlistment papers he had served with the Canadian Volunteers for two years while resident in Canada. The family departed Canada for Western Australia between 1912 and 1914 with the last of his children born in WA on 29 Dec 1915.
Electoral Roll entries: 1916 with Mary Ann at East Cannington, brass finisher
War Service
On enlistment he allocated 4/5ths of his pay to support his wife and five children. An original member of the 28th Battalion he completed training with them in Australia and travelled with them to Egypt aboard HMAT A11 Ascanius, landing at Suez on 2 Jul 1915 before travelling to Cairo by rail. On their arrival the battalion was placed in quarantine for 14 days. On 17 Aug 1915 the 28th Battalion was on Garrison duty at the Citadel in Cairo.
It appears from correspondence on his file between the Officer Commanding 'D' Company and the Battalion Commanding Officer that Joseph had sustained a bullet wound to his hand on 17 Aug 1915 and had been admitted to the Polygon Hospital the same day. The Officer Commanding the 7th Field Ambulance confirmed a bullet wound injury to the hand. There is nothing in his military file to indicate if the injury was self inflicted and with him being awarded his medals it is likely that it was deemed accidental.
Due to ankyloses to his left wrist (abnormal stiffening and immobility of a joint due to fusion of the bones) he was returned early to Australia on HMAT A60 Aeneas which departed Egypt on 3 Nov 1915, arriving at Fremantle on the 26th. Joseph was discharged by the 5th Military District on 26 May 1916.
Post War
On returning to civilian life Joseph resumed working has a brass finisher and some stage went into partnership with Douglas Rushton, Charles Richard Bushell, George Thomas Melville and John Arthur Elshaw as General Engineers and Brass Founders. This business continued until the 1940’s with Joseph retiring from the company on 12 Apr 1940.
Electoral Roll entries: 1921-1931 15 Mackie street, Victoria Park no occupation; 1936 - 1949 listed as a brass founder.
Notes
For more information about the history and heritage of the City of Gosnells, please contact the Heritage Coordinator on 9391 6011