9 replies to this topic

[Steven Broomfield]

In the seminal work, The Complete A-Z of Dad's Army, (Richard Webber, with Jimmy Perry and David Croft, 2000), a photograph is posted of the actor Harold Webber, a stalwart of various episodes, playing Mr Blewitt.

Mr Webber is possibly better known for his sensitive and understated performance as Young Mr Grace, in the well-remembered and well-regarded pastiche on British corporate life, Are You Being Served?

However, the photograph in question shows a young Harold Bennett (born in 1899) in the uniform of a very young-looking Private in the Essex Yeomanry. The serious point to this post, then, is whether anyone who can do this sort of thing can find anything about Mr Bennett's service in the EY?

It interests me because the regiment took part, with the 10th Royal Hussars (PWO), in the awful action at Monchy. I suspect he would have been too young, but you never know, so any help with the service of Private Harold Bennett, EY, would be extremely gratefully received.

[roughdiamond]

His Wikipedia entry states he was a "courier, initially on horseback then on motorcycle", I'm not saying Wikipedia is anywhere near 100% accurate, but that kind of info must come from a researched insight.

There is no mention of his surname being Webber on Wikipedia or IMDB.

Sam

[Steven Broomfield]

Sorry - typo. Of course it's Bennett. Can't think why I typed Webber (except that's the name of the author!)

[IPT]

All I can find is that he left school at 12 to become an assistant in a jeweller's and that after the war he hired a bus and arranged a battlefield tour. http://books.google....weller"&f=false

I've got a suspect on the 1901 census with the middle name Frank, whose birth and death years and places match but then got no further so far. The only MIC I can find for a Harold F Bennett was ASC, but then he doesn't seem to have used his middle name.

There is no-one with that name with an MIC for the Essex Yeomanry.

[Steven Broomfield]

Thanks. I suspect the picture might be post-war, as he's wearing collar dogs. It's very much a studio shot.

Off-chance, but worth a spin.

[eyman]

Steve
Don't you love moments of serendipity?
The wikipedia biography says he was born in Hastings. I'm not sure what the source is, although the biog in the link from IPT also gives the same info. Note that it gives a different date of birth from the wikipedia version (17 Nov 1898)
Assuming the book from the google search is correct, then I am happy to confirm that Harold Frank Bennett indeed served with the Essex Yeomanry!
The only reference is his appearance in a list of members of The 2/1st Society which gives his address as 11 George Street, Hastings. The list doesn't mention the Essex Yeomanry at all but we know that most of the men in it served with Essex Yeomanry and therefore can say that they all did - and obviously they served with 2/1st Essex Yeo. Many of them didn't serve overseas (other than Ireland) and therefore didn't receive medals unless they transferred to another unit.
The actor Bennett was born on 17 Nov 1898 and this ties in with the Harold F Bennett who appears aged 2 in the 1901 census in Hastings. The wikipedia account has him dying 2 days before his 82nd birthday when he died two months and two days before his 83rd birthday.
It's a delight to know of another famous former Essex Yeoman!
Best wishes

Ian

[Steven Broomfield]

Thanks Ian - appreciated.

[GrandsonMichael]

According to the book ' The 10th P.W.O. Royal Hussars and The Essex Yeomanry, During the European War, 1914-1918' by Lieut-Colonel F.H.D.C. Whitmore, C.M.G.., D.S.O., T.D.,  80957 L/Cpl. H. Bennett was wounded on 11/4/17. (Appendix H, page 307.)

Could this be your man?

Cheers,

Michael

[roughdiamond]

GrandsonMichael, on 09 August 2012 - 07:45 PM, said:

According to the book ' The 10th P.W.O. Royal Hussars and The Essex Yeomanry, During the European War, 1914-1918' by Lieut-Colonel F.H.D.C. Whitmore, C.M.G.., D.S.O., T.D.,  80957 L/Cpl. H. Bennett was wounded on 11/4/17. (Appendix H, page 307.)

Could this be your man?

Cheers,

Michael

That'd be Henry R Bennett according to his MIC http://www.nationala...&resultcount=10 he also has pre-1917 renumbering 2240 number, likely for a man born 1898?

Possible R is a typo and it could be F (see Ian's post #7 above for his name on the 1901 Census)? Was he ever known as Henry? It'd be interesting to see if there's a "Date of Entry Therein" on the MIC.

Sam

[GrandsonMichael]

roughdiamond, on 09 August 2012 - 11:39 PM, said:

That'd be Henry R Bennett according to his MIC http://www.nationala...&resultcount=10 he also has pre-1917 renumbering 2240 number, likely for a man born 1898?

Possible R is a typo and it could be F (see Ian's post #7 above for his name on the 1901 Census)? Was he ever known as Henry? It'd be interesting to see if there's a "Date of Entry Therein" on the MIC.

Sam

Quite so Sam, thanks. His name on the MIC is Henry R. Bennett. To answer your second question: date of entry France is 14.12.15.

Cheers,

Michael