Pte 57912 William Henry Bennett

• Age: 26
• From: Holloway, London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

William Henry was born in 1891 in Islington, London, and was the second son of Edwin Bennett and his wife Sarah Jane (nee Johnson) who were married in St Clement's Church, Islington in October 1888.

In 1891 the baby William was 3 months old when the census was taken. He lived at 39 Andover Road, Islington with his father Edwin who was 26 and working as a carman, his mother Sarah aged 24 and his elder brother 2 year old Edwin Frederick Martin.

The family cannot be found in the 1901 census, but when sister Hetty was admitted to St James School, Islington their address was 59 Georges Rd, Holloway where they stayed until 1910. By the time of the 1911 census they had moved to 62 Whistler, Drayton Park, Highbury, Edwin and Sarah have been married for 44 years, Sarah has borne 10 children but only 6 are alive, and all six are living at home. Edwin is working as a painter, Sarah is looking after the house and the family and the grown up children are working. Edwin junior is a warehouseman in a laundry, William is a carman, Arthur is 18 and a glass blower as is Cyril aged 15. Hetty aged 11 and Florence aged 5 are both at school.

Pearson's Weekly 11th May 1911

HOLLOWAY.

Mr. E. Bennett, 62 Whistler Street, Drayton Park, Holloway, London, writing on the 11th March, 1911, says:—" I have used Dr. Tibbles Vi Cocoa for ten years and have found it to be very strengthening..."

William married Selina Neaves on Christmas Day 1913 at Christ Church Highbury. William’s occupation on his marriage certificate is bus conductor. The couple had a baby son in 1915 named George Henry Cyril Bennett.

William enlisted in Holloway, London and was formerly 617, London Divisional Cyclist Company and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57912 when he was killed in action on the 9th April 1917 aged 26 during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

His loss was not the only one that had to be endured by the family. His brother, Edwin, served in the 19th London Regiment number 615608. He was killed on the 28th October 1918 at the age of 29. He is buried in the Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt at II.N.30 a few miles away from his brother’s memorial. Edwin's headstone bears the poignant epitaph:

"ASLEEP WITH JESUS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN"

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Lena.

After the war their parents lived at 62 Whistler St, Drayton Park, Highbury, London and William’s wife, Selina Bennett at 52 Elthorne Rd, Upper Holloway, London.

In the 1939 Register, Selina was living in Islington with their 24 year old son George who was a cabinet maker.

Brother Arthur Thomas enlisted as Pte 46323 Queen's (West Surrey) Rgt, BEF, but after a disability transferred to 75694, Labour Corps. 

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