Bennett, Edward
Corporal
No. 18/578, ‘B’ Company, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Saturday 1 July 1916 (aged 18)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 A and 15 B)
Newtownards and District War Memorial
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919
for Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards
Brother of Private Hamilton Bennett (No. 104993)
BIOGRAPHY
Edward Bennett was born on 22 November 1897 in Bridge Street, Downpatrick and he was the youngest son of John and Annabella Bennett (nee Boland) who were married on 12 October 1891 in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards. John Bennett, a labourer from Newtownards, was a son of James Bennett, a labourer. Annabella Boland from Newtownards was a daughter of Robert Boland, a labourer.
The Bennett family lived in Downpatrick before moving to Frederick Street, Newtownards.
John Bennett worked as a groom and he and Annabella had six children:
James (born 4 July 1892 in Kinlis Street, Banbridge)
Robert (born 30 September 1893 in Bridge Street, Downpatrick)
John (born around 1894/1895)
Hamilton (born 26 June 1896 in Bridge Street, Downpatrick)
Edward (born 22 November 1897 in Bridge Street, Downpatrick)
Isabella (born 11 May 1899 in Bridge Street, Downpatrick)
Annabella Bennett was widowed when John died on 8 March 1899 and she lived at 11 Pound Street, Newtownards.
In October 1915 Edward Bennett enlisted at Clandeboye and he joined the 18th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
He was drafted to the 1st County Down Volunteers and went to France in 1916.
Corporal Edward Bennett served with 108th Brigade in the 36th (Ulster) Division and he was posted as missing in action after the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Just over a year later it was officially confirmed that he must be presumed to have been killed in action on that date or since.
Annabella Bennett was around 50 years of age when Edward died.
When Corporal Edward Bennett died two of his brothers were also on active service. John Bennett was serving in Egypt and Hamilton Bennett was serving with the Machine Gun Corps.
Some three months after it was confirmed that Corporal Edward Bennett had been killed, Private Hamilton Bennett was also killed in action.
Corporal Edward Bennett (No. 18/578) was 18 when he died, and he has no known grave.
Corporal Edward Bennett (No. 18/578) is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France; on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards.