Robert Woodford Bennett

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher with assistance from CL1 and Rattler, WW2 Talk. Photo source: Cliff Barry, FindaGrave.com

Robert Woodford Bennett was born on the 21st of February 1925,  the son of Frank Woodford and Elsie May Bennett (née Catmull), who had married in the June quarter of 1921 in the Southwark registration district.

Frank’s father, Thomas Woodford Bennett, had been in the Armed Forces as had Frank. On the 1891 census, Thomas Woodford Bennett and family are seen living in the 19th Hussars Calvary Barracks, Aldershot, Hampshire. He was a Sergeant Major in the Cavalry Orderly Room. Their children were Frank and Sydney Bennett. The 1911 census gives us a glimpse of Frank Woodford Bennett in the Royal Artillery Barracks (East Side), Woolwich Common, Woolwich, London. He was now aged 21 years and a Gunner in the 24th (Heavy) Battery Regiment.

We see Frank Woodford & Elsie May Bennett together on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, a month or so after their marriage, living at Frank’s father’s house at 13, Boyson Road, Newington, London. Thomas and Frank had left the army. Thomas was working as Correspondence Clerk for Gamages Ltd., Outfitters, Holborn and Frank was working as Transport Worker for Pontings Ltd., Drapers etc., Kensington, London. Elsie was working a Domestic - Private.

A daughter, May F. Bennett was born to Frank and Elsie in 1922 and then Robert Woodford Bennett was born in 1925. The next time we see the family is on the 1939 National Register which was taken on the 29th of September 1939. They had moved to 18 Elland Road, Nunhead, Southwark, London. Frank ws now employed as a Dispatch Clerk and Elsie was working as Machinist. Robert, age 14, was also employed and was working as an Office Boy.

Sadly, I have no other information on Robert Bennett, neither his early or teen years, but he was to find himself fighting on in the Battle of Normandy and laid down his life for our freedom. There is mystery as to which vessel he was on when he was killed. The CWGC citation states he was on HMS Attack and on the Registers of Reports of Deaths: Naval Ratings A – Blyth, he is stated to have been on HMS Hornet. Both were Coastal Forces Shore bases, one in Gosport and the other in Portland Harbour, but we do not know what vessel he was on when he died.

As researchers on WW2 Talk say, one could envisage movement of MTBs, MGBs and MLs between them as craft and their crews were hectically involved with offensive operations in the Channel and waters off Normandy during these early days of Operation Neptune. That might account for the occurrence of two base names mentioned.

MTB 448, 35th MTB Flotilla was known to be lost on 11 June but there are discrepancies in the nature of her loss. One says she was sunk by accident in a torpedo attack by friendly aircraft off Normandy, June 11, 1944. The Coastal Forces database gives an alternate reason:-

"MTB 448 (SO) and MTB 453 are on patrol off Barfleur when they sight the Fifth S Boat Flotilla. MTB 448 and MTB 453 make a gun and depth charge attack. MTB 448 passes through the line between the first and second E Boats and drops a depth charge which explodes abeam of the second E Boat. Both E Boats also suffer considerable gunfire damage. MTB 448 is hit by several 40mm shells below the waterline loses speed and begins to settle. MTB 453 engages the second and third E Boats expending 70 6pdr shells and 400 Oerlikon rounds. All three E Boats have serious problems. MTB 453 takes off the crew of MTB 448 two of whom are wounded. A war correspondent has been killed and his body is recovered. A scuttling charge fails to detonate and MTB 453 sinks MTB 448 with gunfire."

On the assumption that he was serving on board MTB 448, it is possible that Stoker Robert W. Bennett was one of the two wounded sailors and he died later that day of his wounds. He has no known place of burial so he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial to the Missing.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Robert Bennett. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Robert, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.