| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Benjamin was born in Beverley in 1882, the son of Alfred Smith, a tanners’ labourer, who was born in Chesterton, Oxfordshire, and Ann Eliza Jackson, born in Grainthorpe, Lincolnshire. In 1901, aged 18 benjmain was employed as a tanners’ labourer.
In February 1907, Benjamin married Mary Alice Nicholls in St Mary’s Church, Beverley. In 1911 Benjamin and Mary were living in Well Gardens, Well Lane, Beverley.
Benjamin enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 11 Nov 1915 and was based in the UK until Nov 1916 when he was posted to the British Expeditionary Force. He was injured twice, in Sep 1917 he suffered gunshot wounds to his neck and right hand. These injuries were classified as ‘mild’ but he was admitted to the General Hospital in Boulogne; and in Sep 1918 he sustained a further gunshot wound to his left leg, which was classified as ‘severe’ and he was admitted to hospital in Rouen. He was subsequently transferred to hospital near Edinburgh, as reported in the Beverley Guardian dated 14 Sep 1918. He was demobilised on 25 Feb 1919, and transferred to the ‘Z’ Reservists. Benjamin was awarded the British War & Victory medals.
At the time of his enlistment, Benjamin and Mary Alice were living at 13 St Andrew Street, Beverley, and were still at that address in 1939, Benjamin is listed as “Incapacitated”, in the 1939 Register, he died in 1940.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |