Pte
William Bradford Bennett
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 08/07/1882 |
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Place of birth: Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand |
General information
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Last known residence: Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Profession: Foreman Joiner |
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Religion: Methodist |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 49664 |
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Enlistment date: 22/02/1917 |
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Enlistment place: Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Units: — Wellington Regiment, 3nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/12/1917 |
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Place of death: Jetty Wood, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 35 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XXVII Row: C Grave: 5 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place |
My story
Private William Bradford Bennet was 34 years of age when he enlisted the Wellington Regiment, part of the New Zealand Expedition Force. He sailed to Europe as member of the 3rd Battalion part of the 4th Brigade.
He worked in Wellington, NZ, as foreman joiner and lived as single man at home with his parents, William Henry and Phoebe Emely Bennet.
Up to the end of 1917, the Allied posture had been on the basis of an early resumption of the offensive. However, it soon became apparent that the Russian collapse (the Revolution had by now taken place) would be followed by a German drive on the Western Front in the Spring.
This fact, together with the desirability of waiting for the American forces indicated a need to strengthen defences instead.
This, accordingly, became the priority on the New Zealand Division’s front, as elsewhere, and a great deal of effort was made to this end in difficult winter conditions.
Minor raids and skirmishes by both sides continued, and from time to time, artillery fire intensified. There was a great deal of shelling on cross-roads, and other centres of activity, and casualties were occasioned in rear areas.
On the 15th December 1917, the 3rd Battalion entrained on the light railway at Dickebush Siding for Hellfire Corner, and from there proceeded to the line, relieving 2nd Otago and going into the Reutel Sector for the first time. Owing to the severeness of the weather, the difficulty of the overland routes and the bad state of the sector taken over generally, the men during these period had a trying time. Nor did they escape casualties for eight were killed, and twenty-five wounded, while sick evacuations were heavy. The 3rd Battalion was to remain only a week in the trenches, and, on the 22nd December, it was relieved by 2nd Otago.
It was in these circumstances that private William Bradford Bennet was killed in action at the age of 35. He is resting now in peace , on Buttes New British Cemetery, plot XXVII, row C, grave 5.
He worked in Wellington, NZ, as foreman joiner and lived as single man at home with his parents, William Henry and Phoebe Emely Bennet.
Up to the end of 1917, the Allied posture had been on the basis of an early resumption of the offensive. However, it soon became apparent that the Russian collapse (the Revolution had by now taken place) would be followed by a German drive on the Western Front in the Spring.
This fact, together with the desirability of waiting for the American forces indicated a need to strengthen defences instead.
This, accordingly, became the priority on the New Zealand Division’s front, as elsewhere, and a great deal of effort was made to this end in difficult winter conditions.
Minor raids and skirmishes by both sides continued, and from time to time, artillery fire intensified. There was a great deal of shelling on cross-roads, and other centres of activity, and casualties were occasioned in rear areas.
On the 15th December 1917, the 3rd Battalion entrained on the light railway at Dickebush Siding for Hellfire Corner, and from there proceeded to the line, relieving 2nd Otago and going into the Reutel Sector for the first time. Owing to the severeness of the weather, the difficulty of the overland routes and the bad state of the sector taken over generally, the men during these period had a trying time. Nor did they escape casualties for eight were killed, and twenty-five wounded, while sick evacuations were heavy. The 3rd Battalion was to remain only a week in the trenches, and, on the 22nd December, it was relieved by 2nd Otago.
It was in these circumstances that private William Bradford Bennet was killed in action at the age of 35. He is resting now in peace , on Buttes New British Cemetery, plot XXVII, row C, grave 5.
Sources 2
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Cunningham W.H., Treadwell C.A.L., Hanna J.S., The Wellington Regiment N.Z.E.F. 1914-1919, (Uckfield, The Naval & Military Press Ltd, 2003), page 236-237. Sources used |
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Gray J.H., From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth, the New Zealand Division on the Western Front 1916-1918, (Christchurch, Willsonscott Publishing, 2010), page 175-177. Sources used |
More information 5
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480119 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=7cc8a506-ed30-4613-ad0c-af53975a204c |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7170956 |
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The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=18124 |
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Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/c1056 |