Lieutenant Trevor Moutray Bennet MC - died 10/11/1916 Royal Flying Corps 70th Sqn, Secondary Regiment 10th Royal Irish Rifles Trevor was the son of James Bennet, a retired banker, of 1 Chlorine Place, University Road, Belfast, and Catherine Adeline Bennet. He was born on 5th February 1897 in Belavon, Belmont, Belfast. Before Inst, he attended Methodist College, Belfast. He was working in the linen trade, and joined the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1913, followed by the Ulster Division on its formation. He was gazetted to Second lieutenant on 22nd September 1914 and promoted to Lieutenant the following year, serving in France and Flanders from October 1915. He took part in the advance on Thiepval on 1st July 1916, and before becoming attached to the RFC in September, was awarded the Military Cross. The citation, published in the London Gazette on 20th October 1916, reads as follows - "For conspicuous gallantry in action when his platoon suffered heavy casualties, he rallied all available men and got them forward into the enemy's lines' Later, when put in charge of an attack, he reached his objective, consolidated it and held it against repeated bombing attacks." He was killed in aerial combat on 10th November 1916 while flying a Fienvillers Sopwith 1½ Strutter. Lt Morton Allport of the RFC was also killed in the incident. The plane came down behind the German lines. He was 19 years old. Major Laurence, RFC, wrote "he was just the sort of fellow we want. He had taken very quickly to the work, and had made a very keen and good observer. He was always so cheery and willing too, and we shall all miss him very much. He was a fine brave boy, and I shall always think of him with admiration." Captain Vancour, RFC wrote, "it was a frightful blow to us all when your son went down, for he was the most popular in the mess, and we all thought a great deal of him. He was always so cheery and full of life and such a plucky little fellow. Major Gordon, 2nd in command, 10th Royal Irish Rifles, after the fighting at Thiepval, wrote "Under the most difficult circumstances and murderous fire, he behaved with coolness and gallantry for two whole days and nights, in spite of his being the only officer left in the company. I am sure you will feel proud of him, as we all do." He was originally buried where he was found, to the south east of Bapaume, in a spot described as "a few yards west of the Rocquigny-Le-Mesnil road and a few yards north of the railway, close to the point where the railway cuts the road." Trevor was subsequently reburied in Hermies Hill British Cemetery (ref. I A 5), Pas De Calais, France. http://www.instgreatwar.com/page4.htm
In Memory of Lieutenant TREVOR MOUTRAY BENNET M C 70th Sqdn., Royal Flying Corps and , Royal Irish Rifles who died age 19 on 10 November 1916 Son of James Bennet, of 1, Chlorine Place, University Rd., Belfast. Remembered with honour HERMIES HILL BRITISH CEMETERY
Lt T M Bennet was the observer in Sopwith 1½ Strutter A885 of No 70 SQn RFC, flown by 2Lt Morton Allport from Tasmania, when it was shot down near Havrincourt at about 11:30 on 10 November 1916. Ltn Hans von Keudell of Jasta 1 was credited with a victory over a 'Sopwith 2 seater'; it was the 7th of his eventual 12 victories before his death in action on 15 February 1917. Gareth
As Morton Allport is an unusual name ... wonder if this is his family ?? http://images.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/Search/Search.asp?Letter=A&Subject=Allport, Morton - 1830-1878
I found this yesterday .... there's supposedly more information here !! RFC and RAF Officers believed to have served in Warwickshire in WW1 and 1920s 31/08/1916 - 16/09/1916 2/Lt Morton Allport 54 Squadron http://www.couplandbell.com/marg/officersa-e.htm
Annie I think that it has to be the family - Tasmania isn't all that large a place and the name isn't common. No 54 Sqn RFC was formed at Castle Bromwich from No 5 Reserve Squadron on 15 May 1916, and remained there until 22 December, when it moved to London Colney, prior to going to France two days later. It was initially equipped with the BE 2c and other types before becoming a Sopwith Pup unit in October. Regards Gareth
Thanks for that Gareth ! This is where he was reported missing ....... http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916 - 1085.html And this is a Roll of Honour ...... BENNET, TREVOR MOUTRAY, M.C.. Lieut., 10th (Service) Battn. (South Belfast) The Royal Irish Rifles, attd. R.F.C., vst. s. of James Bennet. of Chlorine, Belfast, Retired Banker, by his wife, Catherine Adeline ; b. Beiavon, Belmont Belfast. 5 Feb. 1897 ; educ. Methodist College, and the Roval Academical Intitution. Belfast ; was engaged in the Linen business ; joined the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1913 ; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war, and joined the Ulster Division on its formation ; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Irish Rifles 22 Sept. 1914. and promoted Lieut. 1915: served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Oct. 1915 : took part in the advance on Thiepval, during the Battle of the Somme. 1 July. 1916; became attached to the R.F.C. in Sept and was killed in aerial combat at Rocquigny http://www.archive.org/stream/rollofhonourbiog02ruvi/rollofhonourbiog02ruvi_djvu.txt
