No.888119, Private, Bennett PELL
Aged 36
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Bennett Pell was born on 3rd January 1882 (Hoxne Q1-1882 4A:705), baptised in St Mary's Dennington on 24th February 1882, son of John
Andrew and Rebecca Sarah PELL (née WILLIS). 1891 census...Aged 8, he was at Hooton Hall Farm, Hooton Green, Wirral with his father John A PELL [34] farmer born Newcastle on Tyne; his mother Rebekah S [39] born Ashdon, Essex; sisters Fanny M [10] and Mary A [8] both born Dennington and Helen [7] born Brundish, Suffolk; brother Paul B [4] born Brundish. 1901 census...He was in the Army in South Africa. His parents were at Court Lodge, Hooton Kirby, Wirral with his sister Mary A. His mother died in 1908 (Risbridge Q3-1908 4a:406) Aged 21, he sailed for Canada from Liverpool on 16th May 1903 aboard the SS "Pomeranian", arriving Montreal on 27th May with Winnipeg as his ultimate destination. 1911 census...His widower father was at Water Hall, Wixoe with brother Paul Brackenbury PELL working for his father on the farm At probate, his address was given as The Green Farm, Stambourne, Essex, to his brother Paul. His father had died in 1916. |
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Bennett enlisted in Maidstone on 24th January 1901, in the Imperial Yeomanry No.22135. He gave his age as 20, a farmer born in Dennington, Suffolk. he was 5 feet 8.5 inches (174 cm)
tall, weighed 114 lbs (51.7 kg), chest 33" to 34" (83.8 to 86.4 cm), hazel eyes, brown hair and Church of England. At this time his next of kin, his father, was at Court Lodge, Hooton
Kirby, Dartford, Kent. He served at home from 24th January 1901 until 21st February when he went to South Africa. He was on South Africa service until 111th August 1902 when he retuned to UK and was discharged on 18th August 1902. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal and 1901 and 1902. His intended place of residence was given as Bendyshe Hall, Radwinter, Essex. Canadian Archives:- RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7703-60-item 563079 He enlisted in Canada at Kelliher, Saskatchewan on 1st December 1915, giving his date of birth as 3rd January 1882 at Derrington (sic) England, next of kin, his brother Paul at Water Hall, Essex. He was single, resident in Lestock, Saskatchewan, a farmer and had served in the 4th Regiment, Imperial Yeomanry. he was 5 feet 8.5 inches (174 cm) tall, weighed 152 lbs (68.9 kg), chest 33.5" to 38"(85.1 to 96.5 cm). He left Halifax on 13th October 1916 and arrived Liverpool on 19th October. At Westernhanger he was transferred to the 46th Battalion and posted to France and taken on strength on 1st December. On 21st December 1916 he was transferred to the 4th Battalion joining them in the field on 2nd January 1917. On 11th April 1917 he was wounded and admitted to No.33 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux with a sprained left ankle. The same ankle was damaged again in an accident and he was admitted to No.3 Rest Camp, Boulogne on 17th August 1917 He had leave to UK from 29th November to 15th December 1917. At some time his brother's address was changed to Green Farm, Stambourne,Castle Hedingham. The battalion embarked for France on 10th August 1916 and became an integral part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division, from 11th August 1916 until the Armistice. During its active service the battalion fought in every major victory attributed to the Canadian Corp, suffering 1,433 killed and 3,484 wounded (a 91.5 % casualty rate) and earning the title of "Suicide Battalion". The war diary is far too long to include here, but his Circumstances of Death card (below) states:-He took part with his Company in an advance on enemy positions at Dury on the morning of September 2nd, 1918 but became separated from the Company before reaching the objective. His body was found the following morning with a machine gun bullet wound in the chest. He had received First Aid but had died before he could be carried out. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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