Charles Edwin was the eldest of six children born to Charles (snr) and Ruth Bennett of Lester Cottages, Goldington.

At the outbreak of the war Charles was a working as a cabinet maker for J C Williams (“Cabinet maker and house furnisher”) at 17 Midland Road, Bedford.

On 8 September 1914 Charles enlisted aged 25 years, 7 months. He was assessed by the Royal Engineers and was rated as a ‘very good joiner’ and his height is given as 5’ 11”.

On 28 July 1915 Charles was mobilised and sent with the 486th Field Co. Royal Engineers to be part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. His company was attached to the 54th Division which landed at Gallipoli at Suvla Bay on 10 August 1915. Between 3-8 December 1915 the division was evacuated from Gallipoli and Charles arrived in Alexandria on 18 December 1915.

On 2 April 1916 the division was assigned a section of the Suez Canal defences. During this time Charles was hospitalised with illness from 28 June to 14 July 1916.

Charles was wounded in action on 27 March 1917 during the First battle of Gaza, part of the Palestine Campaign, and reported as missing in action. His body was never recovered and he was recorded as having fallen on this date, aged 29.

Andrew Dennison