John BENNETT, PRIVATE 26/797
* Born: 1888 at Darlington
* Son of: James and Elizabeth Bennett
* Local Address: Pearson's Buildings, Drinkfield, Darlington
* Father's Occupation: Brick Burner
* Siblings: Seven brothers, one sister, position in family 5
* Pre-War Occupation: Brickmaker
* Enlisted: January 1915
* Regiment: 26th Battalion (Tyneside Irish), Northumberland Fusiliers
* Died: Killed in Action Thursday 2 March 1916
* Age: 27
* Buried: Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension, Armentieres, France
John Bennett was born in Darlington in 1888, to James and Elizabeth Bennett. He had seven brothers and a sister and was the fifth oldest in the family. His father James was born in Richmond, North Yorkshire and his mother Elizabeth in Airdrie in Lanarkshire. In 1901 James Bennett was a puddler at the iron works, but in 1911 he was described as a brick burner (in a brickworks, a brickburner was the person in charge of the kiln, responsible for ensuring correct temperature during firing). By the time of the 1911 census John Bennett had become a brick maker, as had all four of his brothers who were still living at home. The family lived at Pearson’s Buildings in Drinkfield in a house of three rooms.
John Bennett joined 26/(Service) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers probably in January 1915 when the battalion was formed. 26/NF was one of the four battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers known as the ‘Tyneside Irish’ because it was largely made up of men of Irish extraction living in north-east England. It could be that either James or Elizabeth had Irish ancestry although none of John’s four brothers who enlisted joined the Tyneside Irish (see below).
26/NF was one of the ‘Pals’ battalions, comprising men who had enlisted together in local recruiting drives. It is not known where John enlisted, as his service record does not exist. There were recruiting offices all over north-east England but not one in Darlington. There were four battalions of Tyneside Irish which together made up the 103rd Tyneside Irish Brigade.
After the formation of 26/NF, the men were accommodated at Sunbeam Buildings in Gateshead, the home of the Sunbeam Lamp Company. On 20 May 1915 the Tyneside Irish Brigade was inspected by His Majesty the King, accompanied by Lord Kitchener. In August 1915 34th Division (which included the four Tyneside Irish battalions), after initial training in Northumberland, left for Salisbury Plain for further training. On 9 January 1916, the 26/NF left for France via Folkestone and Boulogne. The men were billeted in Armentières and on 10 February 1916 they had their first experience of trench warfare. On 2 March 1916 John Bennett’s company was in action at La Chapelle d’Armentières when at 16.00 they came under shellfire. The first shell killed two ORs including John Bennett, and wounded four. He had been in France for less than two months.
John Bennett is commemorated on a Memorial Plaque at Rise Carr Primitive Methodist Church, on the Brass Plaque mounted in the nave of St Andrew’s Church, Haughton-le-Skerne and on the Roll of Honour at the War Memorial Hospital in Greenbank Road, Darlington.
Of John Bennett’s seven brothers, four are known to have served in the Army.
A contemporary newspaper article states that:
“Of the eight sons of James Bennett of Drinkfield, Darlington, five are with the colours. Pte Joe Bennett was in the Durham Light Infantry (Special Reserve) before the war broke out and then transferred into the Border Regiment and went to the front. Some time ago he fell into a dummy trench lined with barbed wire and since then he has been in hospital first at Rouen and later at Le Havre. The other four, who were employed at Rise Carr Rolling Mills, enlisted on the outbreak of war. Mr James Bennett is proud of the military ardour of his sons, who he says are real Darlington lads, having been born and bred in the town.”
In addition to John Bennett, the four brothers who served are:
Private David Bennett, 11//Yorkshire Regiment (transferred to 5/Yorkshire Regiment in December 1915)
Private Joe Bennett 2/Border Regiment
Private James Bennett 11/Yorkshire Regiment
Private Robert Bennett 11/Yorkshire Regiment
David Bennett’s service record exists and we know that he survived the war and was demobilised on 31 March 1919 after serving 4 years 109 days. He married Ada Stokoe on 1st February 1919 and they had four children. It is believed that Joe, James and Robert also survived the war.