Benthien, Henry Herman Svend Riburg

1460 Gunner Henry Herman Svend Riburg Benthien - 36th Heavy Artillery Group

Henry Herman Svend Riburg Benthien was born in Melbourne Victoria in 1895 to Svend and Selina Benthien. The family soon moved across to WA and took up residence in Holland Street East Fremantle. Three more children were born in WA, Waldemar in 1897, Walter in 1898 and Marnie in 1900. In 1901 his father Svend died.

Henry was educated at East Fremantle Primary School and after leaving school he took up an apprenticeship as a jockey. The apprenticeship was with a Mr. WD Attwell. The apprenticeship lasted for a year and it appears that Henry took up work as a dairyman.

Prior to the Great War Henry began to serve in the Citizens Military Forces with the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery. Henry was based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks for this service.

When many of the permanent Gunners who were at the Artillery Barracks volunteered in June 1915 to form the 36th Heavy Artillery Group, many of the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery replaced them in this service at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks.

However replacements were constantly needed in France and on the 20th April 1918 Henry enlisted at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks. The medical examiner passed him as fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 inches;

Weight - 133lbs;

Chest Measurement - 37 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment, Henry was sent across to NSW to complete his training. This occurred at South Head Barracks Sydney. Unfortunately news would soon reach him of his Mother's death in Fremantle on the 21st May 1918.

On the 17th July 1918 Henry went aboard the troopship HMAT Borda in Sydney and set sail for England, disembarking at London on the 27th September 1918.

After being disembarked Henry was sent to the Heavy Artillery Training Brigade at Devonport. He had the next several weeks in training here and was still at Devonport when the Armistice was declared on the 11th November 1918.

However on the 21st November 1918 Henry was assigned to a draft of reinforcements and went to France. He was taken on strength of the 1st Siege Battery of the 36th Heavy Artillery Brigade. Many of the original Gunners were now being released from service to return home, so Henry was one of those who stayed in Belgium with the 36th Heavy Artillery Group until the unit was dissolved in May 1919.

On the 27th May 1919 Henry returned to England and was sent to the AIF Camp to await being assigned a berth on a troopship home.

On the 15th July 1919 Henry boarded the transport ship City of Exeter and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 16th August 1919. Henry was then discharged from the AIF on the 1st September 1919.

Post the Great War Henry married Marjorie McAtee and they had a son Glenn. Henry was employed at Fremantle Harbour as a Lumper. The family continued living at 183 Holland Street East Fremantle. (Now 108 Holland St)

On the 5th April 1930 Henry died in Fremantle Hospital aged 35. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican Mon AA 0984