mbenne
master brummie
My GGF, who was in both RWR and Labour Corps had four cousins from the same family who are dedicated on at least two war memorials in Warwick/Coventry). One was was Charles Wm Bench, with whom my GGF originally enlisted in 1895. Charles became a career soldier but my GGF left in 1897 and re-joined in 1914. Unfortunately Charles was killed - Royal Warwickshire Regiment Service Nos 950 and 6266. Died Jul 1917.
Warwick War Memorial Site
Charles was one of seven children born to Joseph and Elizabeth Bench in the Saltisford area of Warwick – 6 boys and 1 girl. Their father died in 1905.
There were four brothers from the Bench family who were killed in World War I – the largest loss for any family in Warwick.
Sometime after the 1911 census, Eliza moved to 93 Broad Street, Coventry, and it was there that she received the terrible news of the deaths of her four sons, three of them within seven months of each other in 1917.
Extract from letter from his commanding officer read:
He met his death like the very gallant soldier he was whilst manning the parapet. He did not suffer and was killed almost instantaneously. Knowing of your other numerous losses, I put him in the second line this time instead of the first, it being the safer place, but as fate determined, he was our first casualty.
Charles's mother was invited to the Dedication of The War Memorial, Coventry on the 8th October, 1927, attended by Earl Haig, the Mayor of Coventry and the Bishop of Coventry. It is not known whether any representatives from Warwick were present.
Eliza was only allocated one ticket, despite her great loss, her surviving son Arthur was therefore not able to attend the service.
Eliza died in 1939, aged 81.’
-------------------------------
Have just located his Army pension record which shows his mother at Broad St Coventry but also a Ms Ethel Farrell (Farnell or as edited on another record, Avern?) Her address is given as 58 or 68 Parkes St Warwick and is named as the guardian of an illegitimate child. I don't have access to census records and am unable to verify the correct surname or who the child may be. BDM records draw a blank for Avern, and Farnell but I did find a birth for a Arthur Farrell in Warwick in 1910. The only Ethel Farrell I can find in BDM that would be of child bearing age around 1910 was from Birmingham.
I have researched the family quite a lot over the years and even contributed info to the author of a book concerning the Coventry War memorial but this latest find was quite unexpected. Can anyone shed any light on this and what may have happened to Charles's son?
Warwick War Memorial Site
Charles was one of seven children born to Joseph and Elizabeth Bench in the Saltisford area of Warwick – 6 boys and 1 girl. Their father died in 1905.
There were four brothers from the Bench family who were killed in World War I – the largest loss for any family in Warwick.
Sometime after the 1911 census, Eliza moved to 93 Broad Street, Coventry, and it was there that she received the terrible news of the deaths of her four sons, three of them within seven months of each other in 1917.
Extract from letter from his commanding officer read:
He met his death like the very gallant soldier he was whilst manning the parapet. He did not suffer and was killed almost instantaneously. Knowing of your other numerous losses, I put him in the second line this time instead of the first, it being the safer place, but as fate determined, he was our first casualty.
Charles's mother was invited to the Dedication of The War Memorial, Coventry on the 8th October, 1927, attended by Earl Haig, the Mayor of Coventry and the Bishop of Coventry. It is not known whether any representatives from Warwick were present.
Eliza was only allocated one ticket, despite her great loss, her surviving son Arthur was therefore not able to attend the service.
Eliza died in 1939, aged 81.’
-------------------------------
Have just located his Army pension record which shows his mother at Broad St Coventry but also a Ms Ethel Farrell (Farnell or as edited on another record, Avern?) Her address is given as 58 or 68 Parkes St Warwick and is named as the guardian of an illegitimate child. I don't have access to census records and am unable to verify the correct surname or who the child may be. BDM records draw a blank for Avern, and Farnell but I did find a birth for a Arthur Farrell in Warwick in 1910. The only Ethel Farrell I can find in BDM that would be of child bearing age around 1910 was from Birmingham.
I have researched the family quite a lot over the years and even contributed info to the author of a book concerning the Coventry War memorial but this latest find was quite unexpected. Can anyone shed any light on this and what may have happened to Charles's son?
