Military History

Embarked Fremantle per ‘Suevic’ for UK 6.6.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 44th Battalion, 11th Infantry Brigade.
Bennie disembarked at Plymouth with his unit 21.7.1916. Bennie underwent training, but became sick and was hospitalised at Bulford with a disability 24.9.1916. He rejoined the 44th Battalion from 3rd Division Base 8.2.1916. Bennie proceeded overseas to France to join his unit 4.2.1917. He fought at Messines in June 1917 and was hospitalised in France with influenza 14.6.1917. Bennie was discharged and returned to his unit. In October 1917 he fought at Broodseinde Ridge and was wounded in action/buried by a shell 4.10.1917 and received shell burns to his back. (Reported West Australian Newspaper 20.11.1917). Of the 992 men from the 44th Battalion who were involved in this battle, only 158 survived without wounds. (Australian War Memorial 44th Battalion) He was admitted to the 16th General Hospital in France and then transferred to the 3rd Command Depot 11.10.1917. He rejoined his unit 3.12.1917. Bennie fought with the 44th Battalion at Hamel in July 1918. On demobilization, he marched out for England and return to Australia.
Embarked for Australia per ‘Somali’ 1.6.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 8.7.1919.
Discharged 22.8.1919.
Final Rank Private.
Medical Condition NK.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Photo  R.C. Bennie Fighting Nineteenth https://19btn.wordpress.com/new-photos/
            HMAT 'Suevic'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A03216
            Broodseinde Ridge. Australian Troops in Front Line Trenches October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00948
            Shelling of Hamel. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced AWM E02618
         
Information Source
AWM A03216. HMAT 'Suevic'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00948. Broodseinde Ridge. Australian Troops in Front Line Trenches October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E02618. Shelling of Hamel.  Photographer unknown, photograph sourced  from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Rolls- Robert Charles Bennie
Australian War Memorial 44th Battalion. https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U51484/
Fighting Nineteenth https://19btn.wordpress.com/new-photos/
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Guildford War Memorial
National Archive Australia: B2455, Bennie R C 775
Wesley Chapel Honour Roll
West Australian Newspaper
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

5 James Street Guildford, WA.

 

Associated Images