Private John Elvin BENNETT Durham Light Infantry
The Man John Elvin Bennett was born on Sunday 14th November 1897 in Leeds, son of Fred a Tailors Cutter and Agnes nee McLeod from Canada. He was Baptised on 8th June 1899 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Essex Place in Leeds and the family living at 13 Burley Place.
John was one of seven brothers, Joseph born on 3rd November 1886, Harry (1888–1956), Percy (1890–1935),
Leonard 28th February 1896, Elom (1898–) and Fred (1901–1981).
The census of 1901 shows the family living at 11 Roscoe Mount in Leeds, sadly Fred died in 1909 aged 47, leaving Agnes to care for the children. In 1911 they are living with Agnes’s mother Jane, aged 72 at 15 Tramway Street and John aged 13 is shown as an Office Boy in a Paper Manufacturers.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, John enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry as a Private with service number 53213, 11 months later on 28th June 1915 just before his 18th Birthday. He served on the Western Front, was injured and discharged on 6th December 1917 being awarded the Silver War Badge number 403960 and wound stripe; his injury notified in Amy Order 11 of 10th August 1917 and recorded on War Office Daily List 5368 on 19th September. Following the Armistice in 1918 he was also awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals.
During the last quarter of 1921 aged 24, John married Edith Ingham in Leeds, they had two sons, John Elvin junior born in 1922 and Ronald 1924. On 12th November 1922 John became a Postman still in Leeds. His appointment confirmed in the London Gazette of 5th February 1924.
By 1939 John aged 42 and Edith were living at 149 Trenton Road, Leeds together with John and Ronald, both of whom saw service in the Royal Air Force in World War II, and Agnes, now aged 71 and noted as ‘incapacitated’. John is still working as a Postman.
By 1952 John and Edith were living at 19 Chelwood Crescent, Roundhay, Leeds and in the same year aged 55, John retired from the Post Office as a Telephonist and awarded the Imperial Service Medal in the London Gazette of 30th July 1952.
Sadly John did not live to enjoy his retirement as he died on 23rd July 1952, aged just 55. Ronald was killed in a flying accident at RAF Little Rissington on 28th July 1954 whilst a student in a Meteor T7 and Edith died three years later on 8th August 1957. John junior died on 18th February 1969 aged just 47.
John was one of seven brothers, Joseph born on 3rd November 1886, Harry (1888–1956), Percy (1890–1935),
Leonard 28th February 1896, Elom (1898–) and Fred (1901–1981).
The census of 1901 shows the family living at 11 Roscoe Mount in Leeds, sadly Fred died in 1909 aged 47, leaving Agnes to care for the children. In 1911 they are living with Agnes’s mother Jane, aged 72 at 15 Tramway Street and John aged 13 is shown as an Office Boy in a Paper Manufacturers.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, John enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry as a Private with service number 53213, 11 months later on 28th June 1915 just before his 18th Birthday. He served on the Western Front, was injured and discharged on 6th December 1917 being awarded the Silver War Badge number 403960 and wound stripe; his injury notified in Amy Order 11 of 10th August 1917 and recorded on War Office Daily List 5368 on 19th September. Following the Armistice in 1918 he was also awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals.
During the last quarter of 1921 aged 24, John married Edith Ingham in Leeds, they had two sons, John Elvin junior born in 1922 and Ronald 1924. On 12th November 1922 John became a Postman still in Leeds. His appointment confirmed in the London Gazette of 5th February 1924.
By 1939 John aged 42 and Edith were living at 149 Trenton Road, Leeds together with John and Ronald, both of whom saw service in the Royal Air Force in World War II, and Agnes, now aged 71 and noted as ‘incapacitated’. John is still working as a Postman.
By 1952 John and Edith were living at 19 Chelwood Crescent, Roundhay, Leeds and in the same year aged 55, John retired from the Post Office as a Telephonist and awarded the Imperial Service Medal in the London Gazette of 30th July 1952.
Sadly John did not live to enjoy his retirement as he died on 23rd July 1952, aged just 55. Ronald was killed in a flying accident at RAF Little Rissington on 28th July 1954 whilst a student in a Meteor T7 and Edith died three years later on 8th August 1957. John junior died on 18th February 1969 aged just 47.
The Story The single Imperial Service Medal awarded to John Elvin Bennett was acquired at the Newark Runway Monday market in October 2022.
It was of interest simply because the price was reasonable and it seemed a pity that a persons hard earned medal was lying uncared for in a tray of other junk and memorabilia.
The name was unusual, only two people, the second turning out to be his son, showed on Ancestry.UK. This enabled a brief biography to be completed, including the fact John had served in WWI, been wounded and awarded the British War and Victory Medals and a Silver War Badge.
Interestingly during the course of the research, it was discovered that one of John’s sons, Ronald had been commissioned into the Royal Air Force in World War II, become a pilot but tragically killed in a flying accident whilst being trained in a Meteor at RAF Little Rissington in 1954. He was buried with a Commonwealth War Grave headstone, in St Peter’s Church, Little Rissington.
Ronald’s biography was therefore also pieced together and a photograph found on Ancestry, as well as details to the flying accident on other web sites. His medal entitlement appears to be the Defence and War Medal 1939-45.
Once again, this demonstrates the importance of thorough research, even for the simplest of medals. A medal retrieved from a tray of ‘bits and pieces’ mean that its recipient is at least now recorded for historical purposes as well as that of the tragic passing of his son and they both now remembered for posterity.
On 25th May 2023 Ronald’s grave was visited at the beautiful St Peter’s Church, Little Rissington.
It was of interest simply because the price was reasonable and it seemed a pity that a persons hard earned medal was lying uncared for in a tray of other junk and memorabilia.
The name was unusual, only two people, the second turning out to be his son, showed on Ancestry.UK. This enabled a brief biography to be completed, including the fact John had served in WWI, been wounded and awarded the British War and Victory Medals and a Silver War Badge.
Interestingly during the course of the research, it was discovered that one of John’s sons, Ronald had been commissioned into the Royal Air Force in World War II, become a pilot but tragically killed in a flying accident whilst being trained in a Meteor at RAF Little Rissington in 1954. He was buried with a Commonwealth War Grave headstone, in St Peter’s Church, Little Rissington.
Ronald’s biography was therefore also pieced together and a photograph found on Ancestry, as well as details to the flying accident on other web sites. His medal entitlement appears to be the Defence and War Medal 1939-45.
Once again, this demonstrates the importance of thorough research, even for the simplest of medals. A medal retrieved from a tray of ‘bits and pieces’ mean that its recipient is at least now recorded for historical purposes as well as that of the tragic passing of his son and they both now remembered for posterity.
On 25th May 2023 Ronald’s grave was visited at the beautiful St Peter’s Church, Little Rissington.
Medal Details:
- Imperial Service Medal: JOHN ELVIN BENNETT
This page last updated 13 Apr 23
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