John Walter Benner
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Son of Edwin and Elizabeth Benner John was born in Carlton in 1888. one of ten children. In 1891 and 1901 the family were living on Saviges Row, just off Main Street in Carlton. The address was given as 71 Main Street on the 1911 census. Early in 1911 John's mother died. In 1913 John married Florence Newbold and they had one child, a daughter Irene in 1914. Following the death of her husband Florence remarried in 1921 to William Vines and her address on the CWWG website was given as 146, Chandos Street, Netherfield, Notts.
John enlisted at Carlton and was posted to 17th battalion Sherwood Foresters (Welbeck Rangers). He went with them to France/Flanders, probably on 6 March 1916. He was killed in action during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge (31 July to 2 August 1917, first battle of Third Ypres) By this time he had been posted to the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters. At 3.50 am on 31st July, the 8th Division attacked with two brigades, plus one in support. 24 brigade attacked with 2nd Northant's and 1st Worcester's attacking through Bellewaarde Lake and Chateau Wood to Jacob Trench and Bellewaarde Ridge. The 1st Sherwood's then passed through them heading for the final objective which they made but came under heavy machine gun fire from Hanebeek and Glencorse Wood on the right flank. The brigade was pulled back to the shelter of Westhoek Ridge. At some point John was killed and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Ypres, (Menin Gate) Memorial. He was eligible for the British War Medal and Victory medals. John Morse
Today Bellewaarde is a theme park and shells are regularly found on the edges of it.
