Photo: Dorothy Hall
3/475 Private
B. Shepherd
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
20th January 1920
Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Ben, born at Hendon, Sunderland 15th February 1891 and baptised at Monkwearmouth on March 8th 1891 the son of Robert and Elizabeth. However, there is no sign of Robert in the census a month later. The 1901 census shows Ben living with his mother, Elizabeth at Bell Street Sunderland.
In May 1909 Benjamin enlisted at Sunderland aged 18 years and three months into the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, received musketry training and then attended Annual Training Camps for the following years. He was a rivet heater at the time.
In 1911 Ben is a boarder at a house at Hazelrigg, Northumberland. He is working as a coal miner shifter.
In 1912 Benjamin married Lillian, sister of Ernest and John Kelly.
Benjamin was mobilised on August 5th and went to France October 26th 1914. He was wounded that November during the onslaught at Mons. After receiving serious head injuries he returned home for treatment. He was discharged 31st January 1915 and at this point moved to Broadgate off the Bank, Barnard Castle. His mother Elizabeth was living at Sunderland Workhouse.
He was awarded a Silver War Badge no. 45841 about 1917.
Ben died at Sunderland War Pensioners Hospital, Sunderland on January 20th 1920.
The Teesdale Mercury 28/01/2020 reports:-
Mons Hero Buried
Military Funeral at the Church Cemetery
The spectacle of a soldier who was badly shot at Mons, and who died in the Sunderland war pensions Hospital yesterday week, being interred with full military honours at Barnard Castle was witnessed on Sunday afternoon.
Private Benjamin Shepperd, of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, who resided in the Broadgates, Bank, was a reservist called up in August 1914 and re-joining the above regiment he went straight to France. He was wounded in the November following at the fearful onslaught at Mons, receiving a shell hit in the head, from the effects of which the brave soldier never fairly recovered. A portion of the skull was blown away by a German missile.
His case awakened great interest in the surgical professional circles and the wonderful operation of trepanning was at the time discussed in the Lancet and British Medical journal. Long after epileptic fits supervened. The deceased was a stout hearted young fellow and fought against his physical disadvantages with conspicuous bravery.
At the expiration of five years, however, he was compelled again to seek medical advice and attention in the Sunderland War Pensions Hospital where he received the best surgical and medical aid and where he ultimately succumbed as already stated.
A pathetic incident associated with the 'pride, pomp and circumstances of glorious war' is that immediately on poor Benny closing his eyes for ever on all earthly scenes lance Corporal Roberts, late engineer at the County Schools, who was wounded in the war, entered the Pensions Hospital at Sunderland, with the object of undergoing an operation, he having also been grievously shot in the head.
The remains of Private Shepperd were conveyed to Barnard Castle last Friday morning, and , in a fine spirit of comradeship full military honours were accorded at the internment, which was witnessed by a large concourse of spectators. A numerous body of demobilised soldiers and sailors under the command of Lieut. Raine and a firing party of ex-servicemen in charge of Sergt. Travers together with a very large following of civilians of both sexes accompanied the hearse while the Cockfield Prize Silver Band under the leadership of Mr Jackson played the 'Dead March' in Saul. To their credit be it said the really excellent band gave their highly esteemed services free of charge and thus felt another's woe in the hope alone of mercy being vouchsafed to them.
There was a silence deep as death, save the solemnity of the weird music of the funeral march. The Rev. H.W.H. Bircham conducted the service in the mortuary chapel and pronounced the committal sentences. The band sweetly played 'Abide with Me' at the graveside and three volleys were fired over the remains. Then the echoes were awakened by the shrill notes of the last post sounded by the buglers and the band returning played 'Fallen Heroes.' The scene was most impressive throughout. A committee of the Discharged Sailors and Soldiers Federation worked hard in the arrangements and on their behalf we are asked gratefully to thank all who so kindly assisted to meet the expenses incurred in honouring the memory of the brave Mons soldier in the last office of the dead.
Shepherd/Shephard/Shepeard/Shepperd are given as his surname over the years.
Benjamin Shepherd is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
