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George Benson

The second installment of WW1 Soldier Biographies written by Mid-Staffordshire Military Appeal Tribunals 1916-1918 volunteer Judith Gilbert, at Staffordshire Records Office, who has taken the time to research the fascinating lives of some of Staffordshire’s First World War soldiers.

Benson; George Agar Trevor (1896-1916)

Born on 19 October 1896 in County Limerick, Ireland, George was the son of Arthur Benson, school chaplain at Woodard School for Girls, Abbots Bromley. In 1904, George had travelled with his father to South Africa and was sent back to England in 1911 to be educated at Blundell’s in Tiverton, Devon. It was intended that George study for a prize of cadetship at Woolwich Royal Military Academy, but, at the onset of war in 1914, George applied immediately for both Woolwich and Sandhurst, entering the latter in December 1914. After completing his training he was gazetted on 12 May 1915 as a Lieutenant with an emergency commission into the 2nd Battalion, Middlesex. He embarked for France on 25 May and was at the front by 11 June. [George’s service was followed by the girls at his father’s school and is mentioned in the school magazine.]

In May 1916, George was involved in a trench raid on the German lines near Crucifix Corner and Donnet post. His bravery won him a Military Cross, and an entry in the London Gazette on 24 June 1916, but he also suffered a number of serious wounds. He was home on leave twice during his recuperation and acted as server to his father in the school chapel. George was passed medically fit on 25 July at Rugeley Camp, returned to France and was killed in action at Les Beoufs, France on 28 October 1916 heading a company of his men into action to capture enemy trenches.

There is a brass plaque to George’s memory in St Anne’s Chapel, Abbots Bromley, another in St Nicholas’ Church and his name appears on the War Memorial in the village. At Tiverton, he is commemorated on the Old Boys’ Memorial in Blundell’s School and, in France; his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial. Georges’ father collected his personal effects from Rugeley station in November 1916. They included a locket with photos, wrist watch, letters, religious charm, pipe, nail clippers, flask and other small items. Source: Staffordshire Life, November 2007 p. 25