Pte 22617 Michael William Bennett

• Age: 24
• From: Derby
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 26th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.L.13

Michael William Bennett was born in the June quarter of 1891 in Derby, the fifth of seven children born to Michael, a stationary engine driver, and his wife Sarah (nee Hogan). His parents married in 1879.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 40 Uttoxeter Road, Derby. Michael W. is 9 years of age. His father, Michael, is aged 43 and is a stationary engine driver born in Dundalk, Ireland, his mother Sarah 43 born in Greenwich, Kent. His siblings are listed as; Ellen 21 dressmaker b.Greenwich,  John T. 19 joiner b.Balham, Albert 14 undertakers boy b.Derby,  Sarah 11 b.Derby, Mary 4 b.Derby, Phillip 1 b.Derby.

In 1911, Michael, and Sarah together, with their sons Albert, 24 years, and Philip, and a daughter, Mary, live at 83 High Street, Derby. They have been married for 32 years and Sarah states that she has had 9 children of whom 6 are still alive. 

The 1911 Census shows William living with his brother John and his wife Lilian and thet are living at 76 Great Homer Sreet, Liverpool. John is aged 29,born 1882 and gives his occupation as Licensed Victualler and was born in Halesford, Kent. His wife Lilian is aged 21, born 1890 no occuaption who was born in Workington, Cumberland. They have two children Philip aged 1 born 1910 and Lilian born 1911. William is aged 19, and a barman, who was born in Derbyshire. 

William attested in Liverpool on 10th November 1914, aged 24years and 180 days, he stated that he was born in Spondon, Derby, his occupation is as a clerk. He was described as being: 5' 7 and a half inches tall, weighed  127 lbs, 35" chest,  with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was stated as Roman Catholic. He joined the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22617.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His service papers have survived and show the following: 

10th-24th Feb 1915 - deducted pay for absence

27th Dec 1915 - placed under arrest

31st Dec 1915 - Tried by Field General Court Martial and on 14th Jan sentenced to 6 mths imprisonment with hard labour for "When on active service committing an offence against an inhabitant of the country in which he was serving" and drunkeness.

03rd Jan 1916 - while this was going on he was appointed unpaid L/Cpl

10th Feb 1916 - Sentence commuted to 3 mths Field Punishment No.1 [This was often done to prevent soldiers committing offences to get out of the trenches] 

19th June 1916 - slightly wounded on duty

Michael was killed in action on the 26th June 1916, aged 24. 

Graham Maddocks in his book Liverpool Pals describes how during that evening the 20^th Battalion relieving the 2^nd Bedfords in the front line near Maricourt was subject to a severe German bombardment which killed nine other ranks, fatally wounded 2^nd Lieutenant William Hall Jowett who died 2 days later, and wounded 3 other officers and 47 men.  Michael was amongst the 9 men of the 20th Battalion  killed, the others being Privates W.H.Aitken, J.Askew, W. Bowden, J. Colligan, F. Davis, A. Howell, P. Prince and P. Simmons. 

All of these men now rest at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme.

It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. 

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

The Inscription on Michael's  headstone reads:

"R.I.P."

Personal items returned:- letter, cigarette case, 5 photos, 5 cards, R.C. hymn book.

Soldiers Effects to father Michael J., Pension to mother Sarah, Gt Homer St.

In March 1929, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and were now living at 32 Durban Road, Liverpool after leaving Derby for Liverpool in 1916. They had married at St Joseph's Church, Greenwich. 

Grateful thanks are extended to Jack Richmond Valentine for permission to use the wonderful photograph of William Bennett now shown on this website. 

We currently have no further information on Michael William Bennett, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.