Ernest C Benn - Liverpool

[ALCAVTAY]

Hello again, I have another help request from the war memorial.

Ernest C Benn was listed on the WW1 memorial.

There is only one Ernest C (Charles) Benn in the area in BMD and census records and he was born 29th May 1888 to Elizabeth and William Benn (occupation: shipwright)

There is only one E Benn on the CWGC database but the Soldiers Died in the Great War entry shows this is Edward Benn from Stratford.

There is only one Ernest C Benn medal card - Lancashire Fusiliers - but no record that he was a casualty of war.

any thoughts???

Ta
Mand

{edit} forgot to say there is a Benn, first name unknown died 1918 on the marine deaths register but I don't have a subscription to findmypast to get further details...

[crisane]

{edit} forgot to say there is a Benn, first name unknown died 1918 on the marine deaths register but I don't have a subscription to findmypast to get further details...

This is Victor E Benn

[ALCAVTAY]

Thanks *crosses another bright idea off the list* 

[mmm45]

Mandy
Theres an Ernest Benn b 1858?? on Mercantile Marine Medal Cards.
If he died but unattributable to enemy action he wouldnt be on CWGC

I have no more info though

Ady

[forester]

Mand,

Presumably the memorial you refer to is in Liverpool? When was it dedicated?

Ernest Charles Benn does seem to disappear without trace, but looks worth pursuing. I can't see a marriage or death for him on FreeBMD. If you have access to the full BMDs on Ancestry etc, try to locate a death for him in later years, if only to rule him out.

Are there any AVLs for your area?

It is also worth checking the Scottish BMDs as there were several military hospitals across the border. He may have died post-discharge, without returning home, which means he could be missing from CWGC. One of my Non-Comms probably never left hospital, but died 6 months after being discharged from the Army.

To help you narrow it down a bit, I checked the airmen's index in AIR 78 and also the CEF and AIF records, just in case. I couldn't see anything.

Phil

Edit: Ignore the first bit. I've found it.

http://thewarmemorial.blogspot.co.uk/

[ALCAVTAY]

Phil,
Thanks for checking those records. I do have access to Ancestry and can't find any marriage or death records for him. In the 1911 census he was 22, single and worked as a coal dealer, still living with his mum.
Unfortunately there aren't any AVLs for Liverpool.
I'll have a look through the Scottish BMDs, thanks for the tip.

Mand

[forester]

Mand,

There appears to be a family grave at Toxteth Park, but Ernest is not buried in it from what I can see. Nor is his father, William, but if there is a headstone, it may be worth checking if he is mentioned on it.

Phil

[sirim]

 2 pieces of information which may be of assistance....

1.  The following Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve: Record of Service is listed at the PRO: -
      WW1Name    Benn, Ernest Christopher
   1894-1922   ADM 337/127 (The usual payment required to view the record on-line).

2.  An E.C. Benn appears on the LNWR (London & North Western Railway) Great War Roll of Honour. Here is the entry...
      Benn, E. C.      Scaffolder    Edge Hill     Royal Navy    Seaman.

[ALCAVTAY]

Thanks for the leads, can I just ask, the LNWR roll of honour, does it definitely say Royal Navy? I checked the online database and that just said Seaman which could be the Merchant Navy and would make more sense, with him not having a CWGC entry.

He seems to be the best bet so far, as he was definitely in Liverpool and died in the war. Unfortunately Ancestry don't seem to have any record of him in their LNWR collection.

The only Ernest Christopher Benn I can find in the BMD records was Welsh and survived the war, living until 1981.

Thanks again
Amanda