ANZAC Day display at Mascot Library

Alfred and George Benham were brothers who grew up in Botany and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF).

These Botany soldiers had varying fortunes, which can be discovered through the collections donated by their relatives.

Visit Mascot Library from 26 April 2023 to see these items on display.

Alfred Benham

Alfred Benham (b.1895) grew up at 28 Tenterden Street, Botany. He was keen to follow his older brother and join the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) but didn’t enlist until 14 May 1915, nine months after George.

Alfred was only 20 years old when he signed up, and being under the age of 21, needed his parents’ permission to enlist. Three months later he was dead.

Studio portrait of alfred benham — Studio portrait of Alfred Benham, likely taken when he was in the 24th Infantry Militia, c.1913. *Donated by Laurel and Allan Watts to the Bayside Council Local History Collection, 2022.*

After basic training in Egypt, Alfred was posted with the 13th Battalion to Gallipoli. On 8 and 9 August 1915, his unit was involved in an attack on Abdel Raman Bar, in what was known as Australia Valley.

Acting Corporal Benham was one of 15 men wounded in action. He was evacuated to No.19 General Hospital in Alexandria on 13 August, where he died of his wounds two days later.

Alfred is buried at Chatby War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt.

image of alfred benham — Studio portrait of Alfred Benham, likely taken when he was in the 24th Infantry Militia, c.1913. *Donated by Laurel and Allan Watts to the Bayside Council Local History Collection, 2022.*

Grieving the death of her youngest son, Mrs Barbara Benham wrote to the AIF in late November 1915, asking for his personal possessions to be returned.

She received a parcel in April 1916 but, it contained a pair of false teeth and a pipe, neither of which belonged to Alfred. Mrs Benham returned these to the Army.

Alfred’s pocket watch, which was found on his body when he was wounded, was returned to her.

image of alfreds pocket watch — Alfred Benham’s pocket watch. *Donated by Laurel and Allen Watts to the Bayside Council Local History Collection, 2022.*

In 1919, the Botany Municipal Council gave beautifully decorated certificates of appreciation to George and Alfred Benham, something that his parents cherished.

certificate of appreciation for alfred benham — Certificate of Appreciation issued to Alfred Benham by Botany Municipal Council, 1919. Donated by Lyall Brown to the Bayside Council Local History Collection, 2022. Conservation and digitisation of the original certificate was proudly funded by the NSW Government and Bayside Council Library Service

George Benham

George Benham (b.1890) enlisted on 26 August 1914, 15 days after Australians could join the war.

He was assigned to the 1st Artillery Division of the AIF and was fighting at Gallipoli when his brother was fatally wounded. George also served in the Middle East and in Europe where he was gassed and wounded on two occasions.

In 1916 he was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and then promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1917. He was recovering from his war wounds at a hospital in Britain when the war ended in November 1918.

After the war, George Benham returned to Sydney, but then settled and married in Victoria, had one daughter and five grandchildren.

George died on 1 July 1951.

georges card back — The front and back of a postcard that George Benham sent to his youngest sister Irene (Rene) Benham from Albany, WA, 1914. *Donated by Lyall Brown to the Bayside Council Local History Collection, 2022.*

ben georges commission — George Benham’s certificate of commission as an Officer in the Land Forces at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant from 25 November 1916. Donated by Lyall Brown to the Bayside Council Local History Collection, 2022. Conservation and digitisation of the original certificate was proudly funded by the NSW Government and Bayside Council Library Service.

Alfred Benham

George Benham

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