William George Bennett. Able Seaman, (Ch) J 5491

William was born on 22nd January 1894 to parents George Alfred and Ellen Maria at 177 High Street, Plumstead, their second child.  He was baptised two months later in the parish of Holy Trinity, Woolwich, on 25th March alongside his cousin Eleanor Daisy.  She was born twelve days earlier to William, in the same house, but to her parents, Thomas and Elizabeth, Thomas being George’s brother. 

William's birthplace, 177 High Street, Plumstead.

At the time the 1901 census was taken the family had two more additions and they boarded with a widow at 32 Brookdene Road in Plumstead.  George worked as a scaffolder as well as being a Royal Navy Fleet Reserve.

When William was fifteen he joined the Royal Navy and began his training at HMS GANGES.  He was recorded as 4’11” when joining, growing to 5’5” tall aged eighteen.  He was described as having brown hair, hazel eyes and of fair complexion.  He had a scar on his right elbow along with a tattoo down his right forearm of a flower and 2 birds with “Annie” in the centre, and a tattoo of a woman on his left arm, with two flowers “Hollie” in the centre and the same again with “Lillie” in the centre.  

His service record follows:

HMS GANGES - 07/09/1909 - 01/07/1910, rising to Boy 1st Class on 25/06/1910

HMS DONEGAL - 02/07/1910 - 02/10/1910

HMS PEMBROKE - 03/10/1910 - 13/10/1910

HMS LORD NELSON - 14/10/1910 - 08/03/1913, rising to Ordinary Seaman on 22/01/1912, he was recorded aboard the First Class Battleship of the Home Fleet, positioned at 55.35N 0.20W

HMS PEMBROKE I - 09/03/1913 - 27/03/1913

HMS LORD NELSON - 28/03/1913 - 09/04/1913, rising to Able Seaman on 09/04/1913

HMS PEMBROKE I - 10/04/1913 - 05/05/1913

HMS HECLA - 06/05/1913 - 19/01/1914

HMS WOOLWICH - 20/01/1914 - 13/02/1914

HMS PEMBROKE I - 14/02/1914 - 27/07/1914

HMS LORD NELSON - 28/07/1914 - 30/09/1914

HMS PEMBROKE I - 01/10/1914 - 25/10/1914

HMS FORWARD - 26/10/1914 - 20/04/1915

HMS PEMBROKE I - 21/04/1915 - 13/05/1915

HMS VANGUARD 14/05/1915 - 09/07/1917, spending 3 days in cells on 26/02/1917, William also served aboard during the Battle of Jutland.

Following his death his Star, Victory and British war medals were awarded to his father, his mother received his war pension.

He is remembered in perpetuity on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

#323 - 72/843

Sources:

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 London Metropolitan Archives; London, England, UK; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P97/TRI/002

1901 & 1911 England Census

Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 657

British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths

CWGC Register

Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 95

Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/7; Scan Number: 0310

WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 021/0072/Ben-Ben

Photos - Kentish Independent 27_July_1917 and Google Maps