Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Ford Bennett, one of 13 known children, was the youngest of 5 sons, he had 5 elder and 4 younger sisters. His father John Bennett native of Branxton, district of Alnwick, Northumberland, only a few miles from the English/Scottish border, born 1851, was married at the Registry Office, Berwick-upon-Tweed, February 7th 1871, to Elizabeth Drysdale, born 1851 at Berwick. Elizabeth and their first born George, 1-month old, remained after their marriage with her parents Henry and Isabella Drysdale and her 6 younger siblings, in the village of Heathery Tops, Northumberland, whilst John Bennett was living with his widowed grandfather, colliery clerk, George Bennett and his son Ralph in the village of Old Collierley, employed as a coal miner. Over the next 10 years his wife gave birth to a further 5 children, Isabella 1873, Agnes 1875, John 1877, Thomas 1878 and Harry 1880 all of whom were born at Longbenton, Northumberland, however in 1881, John, Elizabeth and their children with the exception of George, who had died in 1871, not yet 1-year old, were living at Seaton Burn. In 1891, they occupied 7, Low Cross Row North, John had been joined at the colliery by John Jnr, his elder daughters assisted their mother at home, the younger ones, including Elizabeth (9) Margaret Eleanor born 1884 and Catherine 1886, attended school and his wife had given birth to James Ford Bennett in 1888. By 1901 Thomas (22) was also employed as a coal miner, Elizabeth (19) contributed to the household as a dressmaker for her own account, although of school age neither Catherine or James are listed as scholars and the family was now complete with the birth of Phillis, Ethel May and Mary Victoria, born 1890, 1892 and 1897 respectively.
John Bennet died in 1909 aged 59 years, Elizabeth Bennett nee Drysdale aged 60 years in 1910, both registered in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland.
After the death of both parents, Elizabeth (29), took responsibility for her younger siblings who like herself were still single. She and her sisters Margaret Eleanor (27) a dressmaker on her own account, Phillis (21) a day girl, Ethel May (18) and Mary (13) moved into 3 rooms in a tenement building at 58, Wideopen, 1-5 Weetslade Parish, Cramlington. In order to survive they had also taken in a boarder, 30-year-old Henry Long, a colliery fireman at the bank.
John Ford Bennett had married prior to his parent’s demise, during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1908, Castle Ward, Northumberland, to Elizabeth Amelia Freestone, known as Amelia, born June 21st 1892 at Mutford, south west of Lowestoft, Suffolk, (not Lowestoft, Yorkshire, as per 1911 census). also the birthplace of her parents Matthew John and Rose Ann Freestone and 4 of her siblings, her youngest sister Harriet was born after the family migrated to the north east at Pelton, County Durham, in 1900. John and Amelia were living at her parent's home, 105, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, and in what appears to be an error, she is still listed as Amelia Freestone aged 17 and single, when she was in fact married and aged 19 years, her sister Lillie as 21 years of age under the surname Bennett. The two grandchildren Rose Jane (2) and new-born John Bennett were in fact offspring of John and Amelia. Their son Matthew John Bennett was born June 21st 1913.
August 1914 upon the declaration of war all regiments raised new battalions. James did not enlist immediately, it was not until July 1915 when the 30th (Reserve) Battalion (Tyneside Irish) Northumberland Fusiliers was formed at Woolsington that he joined up, assigned as Private 30/304. The 30th Battalion had been formed from the depot companies of the 24th/25th/26th and 27th Battalions as a Local Reserve Battalion. They had moved by November 1915 to Richmond in Yorkshire where they joined the 20th Reserve Brigade and went on to Catterick in December, later it became the 85th Training Reserve Battalion, 20th Reserve Home Brigade at Hornsea.
During his training period Amelia fell pregnant and their son James Ford Bennett Jnr was born during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1916 by which time Private Bennett had been transferred to the 20th (Service) Battalion (1st Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers which with the 21st/22nd and 23rd Battalions formed the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division. Having been taken over by the War Office in August 1915 they moved to Salisbury Plain and departed January 1916 for the Western Front, landing in France concentrating at La Crosse, east of St. Omer. After undergoing a period of trench familiarisation they were moved to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming offensive due to commence June 29th 1916, which because of bad weather did not take place until July 1st 1916. At 7.28 a.m. July 1st 1916 two huge mines were detonated in the explosive packed tunnels under the German lines, one to the north, the other to the south of the village of La Boisselle, near Albert. During the attack the 20th Battalion was supported by the 21st/22nd and 23rd Battalion.
Private 30/302 James Ford Bennett Northumberland Fusiliers is deemed to have been killed in action, July 1st 1916 as he has no known grave. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 72,319 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating men of the British and South African forces who died on the Somme before March 20th 1918 and have no known grave. Private Bennett was 28 years of age.
His widow Elizabeth Amelia received all monies due to him from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Elizabeth Amelia remarried during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1918 in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, to George Newton. Unfortunately, her son James Ford Bennett Jnr died aged 2 years, 4th quarter (Oct Nov/Dec) 1918. In 1929 Elizabeth Amelia Newton was living at 62, Fouracres Road, Fenham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with ex-serviceman William Waggott, born February 10th 1896, who had served as Private 325420 Durham Light Infantry during WW1. She and William were married in 1938 and in 1939 were living at Newburn where William was employed as a colliery hewer, also in the household was Elizabeth’s son Matthew John Bennet a datal colliery worker, listed as married.
Records available are conflicting as to Elizabeth Amelia’s date of birth which varies between 1894, June 21st 1892 and is compounded by the entry of death which states Elizabeth Amelia Waggott-Newton-Bennett nee Freestone born July 20th 1890 died in the district of Northumberland Central in 1970 whilst living at Alms Houses, Newburn, preceding her husband William Waggott who died in 1971, Northumberland Western.
James and Elizabeth’s son Matthew John Bennett married in 1933 to Elsie A. Carr but he was living with his mother and step-father in 1939, it has not been possible to trace Elsie. He also married for a second time in 1949 to widow Olive Gibson nee Brown, in 1953 they were living at Millfield Crescent, Newburn, Northumberland South, also in the household were a Mary Gibson, William Gibson born in 1935 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and a George C. Gibson, by 1955 Matthew and Olive had moved to 11, Northumberland Terrace, Newburn and could be found at 12, Longstone Square, West Denton in 1957-1958. Matthew John Bennett died in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland in 1988 aged 74 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Ford Bennett is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
