Bennett, George Arthur

If you can add any information about this soldier, please use the comment form at the bottom of this page.

If you would like to be informed of any additions or amendments to The Great War Project, please join our Facebook group.

The Great War Project navigation

Overview  A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   R   S   T   W

George Arthur Bennett

Second Lieutenant, 2/6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Territorial Force)
Killed in action, 3 December 1917, aged 31
No known grave (Cambrai Memorial, France)

CWGC registered (no family details)

George Arthur Bennett was the son of George Samuel Bennett and Sarah Jane Halford. He was born in Birmingham on 27 August 1886 though his parents did not get married until 1891. The cencus for that year records the family living at 39 Temple Street, Birmingham, George Samuel Bennett being described as a caretaker. George attended George Dixon School and his sister Ethel was born on 21 August 1893. In 1901, the family still lived at Temple Street, Birmingham, George (junior) being described as a cabinetmaker. George was also a student at the Midland Institute School of Music where he later became a teacher of the French horn. He was a member the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Festival Choral and other societies. He played with the Kilties Band of Belleville, Ontario during a tour of England and afterwards accompanied it through Canada and the United States in 1906.

George married Madeline May Wright at St. Mary’s Church, Smethwick on 29 May 1909. George joined the Hallé Orchestra in 1910 and during its summer break played in the Llandudno Pier Orchestra. The following year, George and Madeleine lodged at 17 Maple Road, Bramhall, Cheshire. George was described as a musician in an orchestra. On 28 March 1912, George departed Liverpool for New York on tour with the London Symphony Orchestra and returned to Plymouth on 10 May 1912. Curiously, George named his father as his next of kin. George and Madeleine’s son, John Leslie Bennett, was born in Manchester on 17 October 1914.

George enlisted at Llandudno on 12 December 1915. It was not until 28 October 1916 when George joined the 2/28th (County of London) Battalion (Artist’s Rifles) Territorial Force at the Dukes Road Drill Hall, Euston Road, London with a regimental number of 9114 (later 763118). On Boxing Day 1916, he played his final engagement with the Birmingham Festival Choral Society. On 27 June 1917, George received a commission as a second lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers and was attached to the 2/6th Battalion Territorial Force.

George Arthur Bennett was killed in action on 3 December 1917 aged 31 during a German bombardment and attack near La Vacquerie, during the Battle of Cambrai. It was reported that he was hit by a shell after leaving a dug-out. He has no known grave. His medal index card gives his widow’s address as “St. Leonard’s”, Charlton Street, Llandudno.

In 1939, George’s mother, widow, sister and son resided at 26 Belgrave Road, Birmingham.

Known memorials:

• Cambrai Memorial, France
• Birmingham Roll of Honour
• Llandudno Roll of Honour
• Llandudno War Memorial
• Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno