Reginald George Bennett

Story:
Reginald George Bennett was born in 1897 in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He was the son of Thomas Bennett, a Game Keeper, and Annie Bennett (née Witt). His siblings included Bertie Harold, Thomas William and Walter Sam, born in 1889, 1894, 1885, respectively, who all died in the war. In 1891 the family was living at Philps Cottage, Five Ways, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. At the time of the 1911 Census Reginald was single and living in the family home at Ashcombe, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Southampton and joined the 134th Company of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) (Service No. 33138) and he served in Mesopotamia. At the time of his death he held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 24th February 1917 and was buried at Amara War Cemetery in Iraq (grave id. XVII.H.13).

He is remembered on the war memorial inside the church at Berwick St. John. He is also remembered as "R.G. Bennett M.G.C" on the Tollard Royal War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village. Of the five Bennett brothers only one survived the war. Frederick Harry (b.1889) served in the Somerset Light Infantry and the Devonshire Regiment during the war. He had a successful career as a gamekeeper and died in 1968.