Bench, Thomas

T Bench memorial

Age: 37
Date of birth: 27th June 1880

Parents: Joseph and Elizabeth Bench
Wife: Hannah Bench (nee Checkley)
Address: 48 Chapel Street

Occupation: House Painter

Thomas was one of seven children born to Joseph and Elizabeth Bench in the Saltisford area of Warwick – 6 boys and 1 girl. Their father died in 1905.

Thomas married Hannah Checkley on 17th May, 1902

There were four brothers from the Bench family who were killed in World War I – the largest loss for any family in Warwick

Robert Bristow writes:

‘Sometime after the 1911 census, Eliza moved to 93 Broad Street, Coventry, and it was there that she received the terrible news of the deaths of her four sons, three of them within seven months of each other in 1917.

She was invited to the Dedication of The War Memorial, Coventry on the 8th October, 1927, attended by Earl Haig, the Mayor of Coventry and the Bishop of Coventry.  It is not known whether any representatives from Warwick were present.

Eliza was only allocated one ticket, despite her great loss, her surviving son Arthur was therefore not able to attend the service.

Eliza died in 1939, aged 81.’

Mrs Bench meets Gen. Haig

Military Service

Rank & Number: Private, 260264
Regiment/Service: 2nd/8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
Brigade/Division: 183rd Brigade, 61st Division
Date of death: Thursday, November 15, 1917
Cause of death/Battle: Killed in action at Greenland Hill, Arras
Commemorated/Buried: Brown's Copse Cemetery, Pas de Calais
Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Commemorated locally at: St Nicholas Church

Thomas Bench’s grand daughter, Carol Anne Witts, keeps his memorial plaque

Contributors

  • Carol Anne Witts
  • Robert Bristow – Committee Member, Heart of England Branch, Western Front Association
  • Unlocking Warwick Research Group
  • Memorial photograph courtesy of David Oliver

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