Sgt 21865 William James Bennett (MM)

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: London Cem Neuville-vitasse
  Panel Ref: No.2.Mem.P2

William James was born in 1892 in Bootle, Liverpool the son of John Henry Bennett and his wife Agnes (nee Alderson) who married on 06th April 1884 at All Saints Church, Sheil Road, Liverpool. John was 21 years old and a porter of 18 Beau Street, his father Thomas, whilst Agnes was aged 20 of 25 Beau Street, her father Edmundson. 

The 1901 census records the family living at 90 Benedict Street, Bootle. John is aged 37, born in Liverpool, and working as a dock labourer, Agnes is also 37 born in Whitehaven. The couple have six children born in Bootle: 16 year old Mary who is working as a boot shop assistant, Margaret aged 13, Thomas 11, William 9, Alexander 6, John 4 and Samuel aged 2. Agnes’s 87 year old mother is also living with them.

By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to 15 Clare Road, Bootle. The couple have been married for 28 years and Agnes has borne 12 children, one of whom has died. Their father John is aged 47 and working as a foreman porter on the docks, his mother is also 47 years of age. All eleven children are living at home: Mary, Margaret who is working as a drapers assistant, Thomas, William, and Alex are working in a shipping company as respectively - assistant timekeeper, porter and assistant storekeeper. Samuel, Agnes aged 10, Jessica aged 8 and Florence aged 6 are at school and Walter aged 3 is at home. Daughter, Lilian, was born shortly after the census. 

William enlisted on 14th November 1914 in Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 21865. His service record shows he was aged 22 years and 10 months and gave his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5' 10", and weighed 161lbs, chest 37", complexion fresh, grey eyes, dark brown hair and gave his religion Church of England. His next of kin was his mother Agnes, of 15 Clare Road, Bootle.

17.6.16 - appointed unpaid L/Cpl

2.7.16 - promoted Cpl then appointed Act/L/Sgt

9.7.16 - promoted Sgt

25.7.16 - to F.A. and CCS with influenza

1.8.16 - rejoined at Etaples from hospital

14.11.16 - granted Class I proficiency pay

17.12.16 - attended 30th Divn. Grenade School

12-25.1.1917 - on leave to UK

9.4.1917 - KIA

He had previously been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action during a trench raid on 15th March 1917(London Gazette 26th April 1917):

'When under a heavy fire and at great danger to himself, Sergeant Bennett carried back to safety a number of wounded men'.

He was serving as a Sergeant when he was killed in action on the 9th April 1917, aged 24, 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. 

His parents had received several letters expressing sympathy with them in their loss.

His Captain, writing to his father, says:

“That your son did not live long to enjoy his well won honour and award is sad enough, but I hope you will bear in mind the honour he brought you, and wear his decoration, for I believe that is what the War Office now allows. May the fact that your son died so gallantly help you in your trying time.”

A non commissioned officer writes:

“Only a couple of weeks ago we were all delighted when he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in a raid, and I can assure you he well earned his decoration, and was acting Sergeant-Major in the action of last Monday.”

He now rests at London Cemetery, Neuville-Vitasse, France where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:

“HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US ALL SADLY MISSED BY FATHER MOTHER, SISTERS & BROTHERS”

Neuville-Vitasse was attacked by the 56th (London) Division on 7 April 1917 and captured by the same Division on 9 April. The village was almost entirely lost at the end of March 1918 but regained at the end of the following August. It was later "adopted" by the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington. The London Cemetery was made by the 56th Division in April 1917 and greatly extended after the Armistice when graves were brought in from other burial grounds and from the battlefields between Arras, Vis-en-Artois and Croisilles. London Cemetery contains 747 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 318 of the burials are unidentified and on a screen wall are panels bearing the names of casualties buried in the following four cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire:- WANCOURT ROAD CEMETERY No.2, just East of NEUVILLE-VITASSE; NEUVILLE0-VITASSE MILL CEMETERY, close to a German strong point on the road to Mercatel; BEAURAINS ROAD CEMETERY No.2, just North-West of NEUVILLE-VITASSE; BEAURAINS GERMAN CEMETERY; and ERCHIN GERMAN CEMETERY (Nord). The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

A local newspaper reported the following

ANOTHER MILITARY MEDALLIST KILLED

In our issue of April 13th, we announced that Sergeant Wm. J. Bennett, K.L.R., had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action. On that occasion we also published Sergeant Bennett's photograph and a brief notice of his career. It is now our painful duty to record that Sergeant Bennett fell in action on Easter Monday. He is the second of five soldier sons of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, 15, Clare-road, Bootle, who have been given to their country. His elder brother, Sergeant Tom Bennett, who was connected with the R.A.M.C., contracted a fever while on duty in July last, and never recovered.

The parents have received several letters expressing sympathy with them in their loss. His Captain writing to his father, says:

"That your son did not live long to enjoy his well-won honour and award is sad enough, but I hope you wil bear in mind the honour he brought you, and wear his decoration, for I believe that is what the War Office now allows. May the fact that your son died so gallantly help you in your trying time. " 

A non-commissioned officer writes:

"Only a couple of weeks before we were all delighted when he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in a raid, and I can assure you he well earned his decoration, and was acting sergeant-major in the action of last Monday."

A memorial service for the late Sergt. Wm. Bennett, M.M., will be held in Rosalind-street Weslyan Church on Sunday evening.  

William was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 16th May 1917

KILLED

Liverpool Regt: Bennett 21865 Sgt. W. J.;

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Agnes. Personal items returned:- pocket book, photos and wristlet watch

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Bedford Road School War Memorial

Bootle Civic War Memorial

His elder brother Thomas Edmund died of fever whilst serving in the R.A.M.C. on 21st July 1916. Thomas had been serving on hospital ships as sergeant, for 12 months when he contracted fever and died aboard ship. He was interred at Dover with full military honour's. Before joining the army, Thomas was a timekeeper at Messrs: Harland and Wolff's. He was well known as a footballer, and kept goal for Orrell. He is buried in St James Cemetery, Dover at O.F.20. He was one of five soldier sons.

Tom  and William were remembered by his family on the first anniversary of his passing in the Liverpool Evening Express on 21st July 1917: 

BENNETT - In sad but loving memory of our dear sons, Sergeant Tom Bennett R.A.M.C., who died in Military Hospital, Dover, July 21, 1916, aged 26 years and was buried with full military honours at St James's Cemetery, Dover; also Sergeant William Bennett, brother of the above, Pals, aged 25 years, killed in action on Easter Monday, 1917. (Deeply mourned by father, mother and all that 15 Clare Road, Bootle, also the three brothers on active service.)  

We long for household voices gone,  

For vanished smiles we long;  

But God has led our dear ones on,  

And he can do no wrong. 

William was also remembered in the Liverpool Evening Express on 09th April 1920: 

ROLL OF HONOUR. 

BENNETT - In sad but loving memory of our dear son, Sergeant William J. Bennett (M.M.), 18th King’s (Liverpool) (Pals), killed in action April 9, 1917. (Too dearly loved to ever be forgotten by his mother, father, and sisters, 15 Clare Road, Bootle.)  

BENNETT - In ever loving memory of our dear brother, William J. Bennett, Sergt. 18th K.L.R., killed at Arras, April 9, 1917. (Sadly missed by Peg and Sid, 4 Downing Road, Bootle.) 

His father died in 1933, aged 69.

His mother, Agnes, date of birth 03rd February 1864, appears on the 1939 register still at 15 Clare Road with children Alexander, Walter and Lilian.

She died in 1951, aged 86. 

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