The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Collection relating to the First World War service of 12596 Private Charles Gordon Bennett, 2 Australian Field Ambulance, South Africa, United Kingdom and France, 1916-1918.
The collection consists of letters, telegrams and cards written by Bennett to his family in Adelaide, South Australia, between July 1916 and June 1918.
Wallet 1 of 7 - includes 19 letters, one telegram and ephemera [tram tickets from India and South Africa, a pressed flower and invitation to crossing of the equator ceremony]. Bennett writes about the voyage, working as a hospital orderly, crossing of the equator, his severe rheumatism, arrival in the United Kingdom, and subsequent hospitalisation.
Wallet 2 of 7 - includes 12 letters and ephemera [tram and theatre tickets; letter from parish priest in Semaphore]. Bennett discusses transferring between convalescent hospitals, observing British aeroplanes at an aerodrome, sightseeing, leave in London, and meeting fellow South Australian patients and medical staff.
Wallet 3 of 7 - includes 12 letters; one telegram and ephemera [cigarette cards; concert program; Red Cross card; letter card]. Bennett's letters include working in the dispensary at Weymouth Camp, night shift at Monte Video camp, and Christmas festivities.
Wallet 4 of 7 - includes 16 letters and ephemera [pressed leaves; tickets]. Bennett writes about his leave to Cornwall, the snow, and accompanying distressed soldiers to transfer hospitals.
Wallet 5 of 7 - includes 19 letters and ephemera [leave pass; ticket stubs; newspaper clippings]. Bennett's letters include commentary on the London underground, leave in London, his transfer to Parkhouse Camp, and his arrival in France.
Wallet 6 of 7 - consists of 32 letters mainly from Bennett to his family and one letter from Percy Bennett to Mrs Bennett. Subjects include leave and observations of France. Little is recorded about Bennett's work - he does not record place names nor his unit - but he is a stretcher bearer with the 2nd Field Ambulance. This tranche of letters mentions a sweetheart, Eileen, and his considering applying for a commission. Also included is a telegram and Red Cross letter to next of kin advising of Bennett's wounding near Ypres, and several letters from Bennett written in his non-dominant hand assuring family he is quite well and providing the detailed circumstances of his wounding.
Wallet 7 of 7 - consists of 14 personal letters, 6 official AIF letters and ephemera [newspaper clippings; pressed leaves]. Topics covered include moving from hospital to convalescent home, hospital routine, the weather, visitors, and news of a return to Australia.
Charles Gordon Bennett was born on 25 September 1889. At the outbreak of the First World War, he was working as a schoolteacher. Bennett enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 18 December 1915 and was allocated to the 11th Field Ambulance with the rank of private. After entering camp in January and embarking for active service from Melbourne on 30 June 1916, arrived in the United Kingdom in August. Bennett suffered from severe rheumatism on the voyage and spent several months recovering in hospital. He was finally cleared medically and went into a medical orderly role at an Australian training camp on the Salisbury Plain. By this time his unit had long since gone to France, and Bennett was transferred to the 2nd Field Ambulance. Bennett proceeded to France in June 1917 and worked as a stretcher bearer. Three months into his service, on 21 September, Bennett was seriously wounded near Ypres, with shell wounds to the chest, head and foot and a severely fractured arm. Treated at the 9th Red Cross Hospital at Calais for several months, he was medically evacuated to England in December and returned to Australia for medical discharge in April 1918.
Bennett returned to teaching and married Annie Berriman in 1923. They had three children. Charles Gordon Bennett died in 1963.
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