Benson, John George (John)
Private
No. 13014845, Pioneer Corps
Died of illness on Monday 13 March 1944 (aged 60)
Buried:
Drumcree Church of Ireland Churchyard, Co. Armagh (New Ground Grave 325)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Benison.
John George Benson was a nephew of the late William H. Willis of 75 Victoria Avenue, Newtownards and, after John died on 13 March 1944, his cousins placed a Died on Active Service notice in the 18 March edition of the Newtownards Chronicle.
John George Benson was born on 22 March 1885 and he was a son of John and Jane Benson (formerly Trueman, nee Willis, daughter of Thomas Willis) of Cannagola More, Portadown. Both were widowed when they got married on 8 March 1870 in Tartaraghan Church of Ireland Church (St. Paul’s), Co. Armagh. Jane had previously been married to Samuel Trueman (11 October 1866 in St. Paul’s, Tartaraghan).
John Benson Senior (son of James Benson) was a farmer and he and Jane Benson (formerly Trueman, nee Willis) had at least eight children:
Elizabeth (born 15 January 1871)
Ann (born 8 October 1872)
Margaret (born 4 June 1875)
Teresa (born 12 September 1877, died in infancy)
Thomas William (born 17 January 1880)
Teresa (born 15 October 1882)
John George (born 22 March 1885 in Cannagola More, Portadown)
James (born 7 February 1889 although he declared 8 February 1891 in his attestation papers)
Two of John George Benson’s sisters died in infancy; his father John died on 19 October 1913 (aged 71 although 85 is inscribed on his headstone); his brother James died on active service in Belgium during the First World War; his mother Jane died on 22 January 1929 (aged 87) and his sister Elizabeth died on 6 September 1931 (aged 60).
Private James Benson (No. 55571) enlisted in Toronto, he served with the 19th Battalion, Canadian Infantry and he was 27 when he died on 25 July 1916. He was buried in Bedford House Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Enclosure No. 41. G. 2).
During the Second World War John George Benson served with the Pioneer Corps (No. 13014845) and he was 60 years old when he died of a stroke at 1.30 am on 13 March 1944 in a Military Hospital in Glasgow. At the time of his death he was stationed in Bellahouston Camp, Glasgow and his home address was 12 Gaffikin Street, Belfast. He was a single man and in civilian life he worked as a clerk. Private John George Benson was buried in Drumcree Church of Ireland Churchyard, Co. Armagh.