10/261, Private, Benjamin IRELAND
Aged 21
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Benjamin Ireland was born on 9th September 1894 in Hessle (Sculcoates Q3-1894 9D:156), baptised at Wesleyan Methodist, Hessle, Yorkshire on
7th October 1894, youngest child of Charles Doughty and Ellen Margaret IRELAND (née BRIDGES). 1901 census...Aged 6, he was at 14 Arnold Street, with his father Charles Doughty IRELAND [48] Yeast Merchant's manager, born Brooke, Norfolk; his mother Ellen Margaret [48] born Hull; brother John {15] born Hull; sisters Grace [16] born Hull, Catherine [13], Violet [11] and Marion [9] all born in Hessle. Also there was a visitor, widow Jane SPENCE [[60] born Haxey, Lincs. 1911 census...Aged 16, an Architect's articled pupil, he was at "Ellesmere", Parkfield Avenue, North Ferriby, Brough, Yorks with his parents, brother John (yeast maker's clerk) and sister Marion (kindergarten student). The address for his father, to which his belongings were sent, was Messrs T Wittick and Sons, Cogan Street, Kingston upon Hull. The East Anglian School roll of honour, with its record of regiments seems to confirm his connection with the school
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An Architect's Assistant before the war he enlisted at City Hall on 2nd September 1914 joining the newly formed 10th Battalion East Yorkshire
Regiment, 'The Commercials', 1st Hull Pals. He was 5 feet 10.25 inches (178.4 cm) tall, weighed 144 lbs (65.3 kg) After training he embarked on 9th December 1915 at Devonport for the Middle East Expeditionary Force, arriving Port Said on 22nd December Suez. After defending the Suez Canal from the Turks over the winter of 1915-16, the Pals arrived in Marseilles on 7th March 1916 and proceeded north to the trenches of the Western Front. They were in the trenches in the region of what is now Serre Road No.2 cemetery. Following the bombardment of 4th June 1916, which claimed 2 officer killed, 2 officers wounded, 20 OR killed and 47 OR wounded, the battalion was relieved by the 17th West Yorkshire Regiment and came out of the line to billets at Bus-Les-Artois. Benjamin was not with them. He had been severely wounded in the back and withdrawn to No 2 Stationary Hospital, Abbeville where he died.
photo: Rodney Gibson |
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