Benthien, Walter Thorwall

2638 Private Walter Benthien - 3rd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron

In the official records Waldemar Thorvald Vilhemm Frederick Benthien was born in Fremantle on the 30th November 1897 to Svend and Selina Benthien. However this name was later anglicised to Walter Thorwall Benthien. He had an older brother Henry Herman Benthien who had been born in Melbourne in 1895 and a younger sister Marnie born in Fremantle in 1900. 

The family moved to WA from Victoria circa 1897 and took up residence in 183 Holland Street East Fremantle. (now 108 Holland Street). In 1901 his father Svend died.

Walter was educated at East Fremantle Primary School and after leaving school secured work with the WA Government Railways. During his early years Walter had also served in the Cadet scheme of the Citizen Military Forces.

On the 28th February 1916 Walter enlisted into the AIF in Fremantle. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording Walter's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 5 inches tall;

Weight - 125 lbs;

Chest Measurement - 34-38 inches;

Complexion - Ruddy;

Eyes - Light Brown;

Hair - Light Brown.

After his successful enlistment Walter was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He had a week in No.53 Infantry Training depot and after applying to join the Light Horse, on the 14th March 1916 was posted to No.14 Depot Squadron. Walter would have to prove that he was a good horseman and had above average riding abilities to join the Light Horse.

After two months in the Light Horse Training Squadron, Walter was posted to the 17th Reinforcements to the 10th Light Horse Regiment on the 13th May 1916. As this reinforcement group was full, three days later Walter was moved to the 18th Reinforcements to the 10th light Horse Regiment.

Walter only had a few more weeks of training in WA as on the 6th June 1916 his reinforcement group boarded the transport ship RMS Morea and set sail for Egypt.

After his arrival Walter was sent to the 3rd Training Squadron and instead of joining the 10th Light Horse Regiment he joined the newly forming 3rd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron.

Walter was in action with the unit straight away, seeing action at the Battle of Romani in August 1916. A fellow Fremantle Trooper in the Machine Gun Squadron, Allan Cooke was killed at Romani but fortunately Walter came through the action unscathed.

On the 1st October 1916 Walter was evacuated sick and was sent to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital at Port Said. He remained here till the 1st November when he returned to the 3rd Training Regiment. He remained in the camp until he regained his full fitness.

Walter rejoined the 3rd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron on the 31st December 1916 and served with them in January 1917 at Rafa. Walter missed the action at Gaza in April 1917 as he had become ill and was evacuated to hospital. He rejoined the 3rd LHMGS on the 9th May 1917.

He served for the next two months but on the 11th July 1917 was sent to a rest camp suffering from debility. The conditions of the desert campaign were harsh and it took a toll on the soldiers.

A week out of the line improved his health and Walter rejoined his unit on the 18th July 1917.

In August 1917 Walter and a section of the 3rd LHMGS were sent to protect the construction of the railway which was following up the advance of the British and Australian forces.

Walter remained with the 3rd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron for the next several months, seeing action at Beersheba in October 1917 and Jerusalem in November 1917.

The advance then ground to a halt for the summer months in the desert as the men were in the Jordan Valley.

In July 1918 Walter fell ill and was evacuated to the 26th Casualty Clearing Station and was then sent to the 36th Stationary Hospital at Gaza. He was then transferred to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital at Port Said. It appears he had the next few months here and at a rest camp.

He missed his unit's final campaign when Damascus was captured and the end of the war but rejoined the 3rd LHMGS on the 18th November 1918.

Walter remained with his unit through the next several months into 1919 and also saw service during the Egyptian uprising.

On the 10th July 1919 Walter boarded the transport ship HMAT Oxfordshire and set sail for Australia, disembarking at Fremantle on the 4th August 1919.

His mother Selina had died in Fremantle in 1918, and after returning from the war, Walter returned home to Holland Street for a short time then his work with the Railways took him to Country WA. In 1924 he lost many of his possessions when his accommodation at Kondinin burnt down.

In 1927 he married Leila Lupton in Narrogin. They had a son called Kevin born in 1935.

Tragically in 1930, his brother Henry Herman Benthien who had been working as a Lumper on Fremantle Harbour, died in Fremantle Hospital.

In World War Two Walter again offered his services to the Australian Army. He put his age down one year and was accepted for service.

Walter was assigned to the Fremantle Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps with the regimental number W48262. He served from 1942-43 before being discharged.

During the years of the Second World War Walter seems to have been based at 100 Hubble Street East Fremantle.

Walter Benthien died in North Fremantle in 1965.