Corporal Frederick Benson
- Rank
- Corporal
- Service number
- 4236
- Unit
- 3 Tunnelling Company
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- France
- Date of death
- 4 February 1917
- Age
- 41
- Plaque number
- M313A
- Co-located plaques
- M313 - SGT Joseph Allen
- Dedicated by
- Family on 16 February 2013
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Corporal Frederick Benson was born at Pentridge, Victoria. He was one of ten sons and two daughters of Henry and Isabella Benson of Coburg, Victoria.
Little is known of his education or when he came to Western Australia.
He lived and worked around Kalgoorlie, Menzies, Picton and Bunbury, mostly on the railways as a platelayer and line runner. He also possibly worked in the mines.
He was married to Ellen and they had four daughters and one son. They lived in Sylvester Street, Coolgardie.
Frederick put his age down to enlist at Blackboy Hill Military Camp in February 1916. After training he embarked on HMAT Warilda at Fremantle in June 1916.
He disembarked at Plymouth in July and was taken on strength of 3 Tunnelling Company. Frederick spent some time in hospital with dental problems and was able to re-join his unit in January 1917.
Corporal Frederick Benson, service number 4236 of 3 Tunnelling Company, was killed in action in France on 4 February 1917. He was 41 years of age.