Pte. James Robert Bennet

James Bennet was born at Millers Flat, Central Otago District, Otago, New Zealand on 15 March 1896 (reg. 1896/18555). His parents were James Bennet and Barbara Bennett (née Patrick) who at married at Teviot in Otago in 1887 (reg. 1887/3204). James was educated at Kūmara on the West Coat, and when he left school worked as a farm hand for his father at Lillburn Valley near Clifden in Southland. During World War I James served with the Otago Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion (Service No. WWI 29910). He was killed in action at Havrincourt in France on 29 September 1918. 22-year-old James was buried in the Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery [IV. H. 9.]. The Southland Times of 26 October 1918 reported on the death of James, and also mentioned that two of his cousins had been killed and three severely wounded. One cousin was James William Bennet (WWI 3/208) who was killed at Gallipoli on 11 June 1915. Bio by Debbie McCauley (7 October 2024).

Sources

1. Cenotaph: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/...
2. New Zealand and World War One Roll of Honour: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/nzefrohBa.html / Ref 4.4.2021
3. Southland Times (26 October 1918, p. 2).