Bennett, Roy
No.365 – Trooper Roy Bennett – 10th Light Horse Regiment
Roy Bennett was born in Zeehan Tasmania in 1892 to Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Bennett. The family moved to Western Australia while Roy was still young as he was educated at Fremantle Boys School. After leaving school he took up work as a clerk/bookkeeper and was studying to become an accountant. During this time Roy was residing with his father in Alexandra Road East Fremantle.
When war was declared, Roy’s brother Cyril enlisted in September 1914 and was assigned to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital. He embarked from Fremantle in December 1914. Perhaps spurned on by his brother’s departure, Roy enlisted into the AIF in January 1915. Roy wanted to join the Light Horse and presented himself at Claremont Camp where he was found to be 5 feet 9 ½ inches in height; weight of 154 lbs; chest measurement of 33-35 inches; medium complexion; grey eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.
On the 14th January 1915 Roy was appointed to “A” Squadron but on the 16th January he was sent to help form “C” Squadron. The 10th Light Horse Regiment left Fremantle Harbour on the 17th February 1915 aboard the A52 “Surada”. After their arrival in Egypt, the troopers of the 10th Light Horse joined up with the 8th & 9th Light Horse Regiments and formed the 3rd Light Horse Brigade.
While the Australian & New Zealand Infantry left for Lemnos Island, the Light Horse stayed in the Egyptian desert. The news of the landing at Gallipoli no doubt would have raised many questions as to when they would join the infantry, however due to the terrain at Anzac; it wasn’t thought that the conditions were appropriate for mounted warfare.
Due the casualties incurred on the infantry; the Light Horsemen were asked whether they would consider going to Gallipoli without their horses. Most accepted and in May sailed for Anzac Cove, with the 10th Regiment arriving at Anzac around May 19th. However, there were men of each Regiment appointed to stay and look after the horses in Egypt. Roy was one of these men and he would spend May, June, July and into August on such duties. It was only when the 10th Light Horse was severely cut up during their assault at the Nek and needed Reinforcements that Roy embarked for Gallipoli. He arrived at Anzac Cove on the 17th August and was taken straight up to the Regiment. After only three days Roy was sent to hospital with diaorrhea, but only had a short time away from the Regiment. He was back in the threadbare ranks of the 10th when they were ordered to take the Turkish trenches at Hill 60. The 10th successfully captured part of the trench and one of the fiercest bomb fight seen at Gallipoli broke out between the Australians and Turks.
In this action Lieutenant Hugo Throsell won his Victoria Cross, but Roy Bennett was severely wounded in the face and eyes by a Turkish grenade.
He was evacuated back to the Hospital Ship H.S. “Gloucester Castle” and sent to the 1st Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis Egypt. Unfortunately, the wounds proved too severe, and Roy died of wounds on the 11th September 1915. He was buried in the New Protestant Cemetery of Cairo. This cemetery was later renamed Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, and Roy lies in Plot D.99.
Roy’s brother Cyril on his return from Gallipoli with the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital later erected a memorial of Roy’s grave. Cyril would visit his brother’s grave again as he transferred from the medical corps to the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment. He would stay in the desert till 1919 and return home.