Name
Frank John Benger
31/8/1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/04/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
14286
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Aldenham, St John the Baptist Church Roll of Honour, Aldenham, Letchmore Heath Village Memorial, Ewell War Memorial, Surrey
Pre War
Frank John Benger was born on 31 August 1893, in Devizes, Wiltshire, son of Joseph William Benger (a General Dealer) and Eleanor Dangerfield Benger (nee Phillips). The eldest of three children, William (B 1895 and Alfred (B 1901).
1901 Census records Frank aged 7, living with his parents and two brothers at 54, Northgate Street, Devizes, Wiltshire. His mother’s sister Florence Phillips was recorded as a visitor.
By 1903, the family were living in Ewell, Surrey, where Frank and brother William entered Ewell Boys school in November 1903. Frank left school in September 1907, and work as an Errand Boy.
1911 Census records Frank aged 17, living with his parents and two brothers at, 30 North View, Ewell, Surrey. He is employed as a Domestic Gardener. His father is now employed as an Asylum Attendant.
Franks mother Eleanor died aged 44, in 1914.
At the outbreak of war Frank was working as a Gardener in Aldenham, Herts.
Wartime Service
Frank enlisted at Watford, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 14286. He was Killed in Action on 12 April 1917, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing in France.
Additional Information
The value of his effects was £9-15s-4d, Pay Owing and £13, War Gratuity which went to his father Joseph. His brother Sergeant William Joseph Benger MM, served with the Royal Flying Corps, as an Observer/Gunner in a Bristol two-seater fighter, he is credited with five Victories. He died along side his pilot when their plane was shot down over Poelcapelle, Belgium, on 17 October 1917, both were taken prisoners but died of their injuries, shortly afterwards. William was awarded the Military Medal. Both brothers are Commemorated at the same Cemetery. Frank, Arras Memorial to the Missing and William, Flying Services Memorial Arras. Their father Joseph William Banger also served, enlisting at Whitehall, London in October 1917, aged 46, joining the RAMC as Private 126959 Joseph William Banger. In December 1917, he was appointed Sergeant without pay. He worked at The Manor Hospital, Epsom, Surrey. He was discharged from the Army in April 1919.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
