Name
Jesse Bennett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
4/4964
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Jesse Bennett was born in 1885 at St Stephens. The St Albans Parish of St Stephens borders Bedmond, and Jesse’s Mother Hannah was born in Bedmond. Jesse was one of four children born to John and Hannah Bennett. The couple had two sons and two daughters and lived at “Knowlands”, St Stephens at the time of the 1901 Census. John worked as a Ploughman on a Farm.
Jesse’s Medal Roll noted that he landed in France on 2nd November 1914, which indicated that before the War he was probably a serving regular soldier. He was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in January 1915, and was listed serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment throughout the War.
The 2nd Bedfordshire’s served throughout the War on the Western Front. Jesse’s Service Record has not survived. He was however recorded in the Absent Voter Lists for Autumn 1918, Spring 1919, and Autumn 1919, where he was listed serving with 2nd Bedfordshire’s with the rank of Private. His home address was given at Bedmond.
A hand-written note on his Medal Roll Card indicated that an application was made for his 1914 Star medal, from Lance Corporal J.Bennett, 36B Providence Court, Railway Street, Hertford. It would appear that in the period between the Armistice and his demobilisation he had been promoted, and despite giving Bedmond as his home address for the purposes of the Absent Voter Records, he was living in Hertford. Or maybe he had married and at the time his wife was living in Hertford, and applied on Jessie’s behalf for his medal ?
Jesse Bennett survived the War.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
