Bolt, Benjamin

Captain Benjamin Bolt - HMS Rowan

Benjamin Bolt was born in Fremantle WA on the 31st January 1886 to Hannah and Edward Bolt. He had three siblings, Edward (born 1884), Helen (1889) and John (1891).

After being educated in Fremantle, Ben took to a life on the ocean and soon went to England where he served in the Royal Navy.

He was a Sub Lieutenant in November 1914 but was later promoted to Captain.

After serving as a Captain in the Royal Navy on HMS Rowan, HMS St. George and at the HMS Maidstone Submarine Depot.

During the war his address was c/o St John's Road East Ham London.

Ben served with the Merchant Marine after the war. He was demobilised from the Royal Navy on the 30th January 1919.

In 1919 Ben married Mabel Healy in London and they lived for a time in NSW before returning to England.

Ben held the rank of Master Mariner on several steam ships over the next 20 years.

 In World War Two while Master on a Ship he was captured by the Japanese and spent the war as a Prisoner of War in Camp Stanley Hong Kong. After the war he returned to England and died in 1951.