John William's Story.
Private John William Bennett was killed in action on 24th March 1918 at the First Battle of Bapaume, on the Somme. He was 31 years old. He left a widow Mary Emma nee Timms (1893 - 1968) and an 18 month old son John Ernest Bennett (1916–1993).
What do we know about John?
John William Bennett was born in the summer of 1896, in Ardwick, Manchester, the son of John James Bennett (1861 - 1929) and Alice Ann nee Anderson (1861 - 1935). He had ten brothers and sisters, including Bertha. By the time he was five, the family was living at 66 London Road, Willaston, Cheshire. On March 31st 1901, their residence was at Station Road, Alsager. In April 1911, the family home was at 12 Union Street Crewe, but they had moved within the next four years to 45 Nantwich Road.
John's father was a tailor, and he followed his father into the trade, working at Watts Clothing Factory. On August 1st 1915, he married Mary Emma Timms (1893 - 1969) at the Wedgwood Chapel, in Crewe, and their son John Ernest was born on 24th September 1916.
John and Mary
John enlisted first into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (regimental number 618820) but transferred to Duke of Edinburgh's 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (number 27217). By March 1918, this battalion was part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 25th Division.
Men from 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment in France (John not shown)
John was killed in action on 24th March 1918 at the Somme. The First Battle of Bapaume, in which he died, took place during Operation Michael, a major German military offensive that began the German Spring Offensive on 21st March 1918. It was launched from the Hindenburg Line, in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin, France. Its goal was to break through the Allied lines and advance in a north-westerly direction to seize the Channel Ports, which supplied the British Expeditionary Force.
Private John William Bennett is remembered on the Arras Memorial, Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
Arras Memorial
The Army Record of Deceased Soldiers' Effects shows that Mary was his next of kin. John is listed as an individual entitled to the Victory medal.
His widow Mary did not remarry. In June 1921, we know she was living at 11 Middlewich Street, Crewe with her son, and her sister-in-law Bertha's family. Mary died on 13th December 1968.
John may perhaps be the John "H" Bennett whose name appears on a plaque at the Heritage Centre in Crewe. The plaque was originally installed at the Wedgwood Methodist Chapel in Heath Street, Crewe (which is where John and Mary had married in 1915), but after the closure of the church in 1969, it was misplaced. It was re-discovered in 2004, and transferred to Hightown Methodist Church where it was displayed until 2010. It was then placed in the Heritage Centre, where it was still on display in July 2025.
Researched by S. Lewington (July 2025) If you have further information please contact the project.
What do we know about John?
John William Bennett was born in the summer of 1896, in Ardwick, Manchester, the son of John James Bennett (1861 - 1929) and Alice Ann nee Anderson (1861 - 1935). He had ten brothers and sisters, including Bertha. By the time he was five, the family was living at 66 London Road, Willaston, Cheshire. On March 31st 1901, their residence was at Station Road, Alsager. In April 1911, the family home was at 12 Union Street Crewe, but they had moved within the next four years to 45 Nantwich Road.
John's father was a tailor, and he followed his father into the trade, working at Watts Clothing Factory. On August 1st 1915, he married Mary Emma Timms (1893 - 1969) at the Wedgwood Chapel, in Crewe, and their son John Ernest was born on 24th September 1916.
John and Mary
John enlisted first into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (regimental number 618820) but transferred to Duke of Edinburgh's 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (number 27217). By March 1918, this battalion was part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 25th Division.
Men from 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment in France (John not shown)
John was killed in action on 24th March 1918 at the Somme. The First Battle of Bapaume, in which he died, took place during Operation Michael, a major German military offensive that began the German Spring Offensive on 21st March 1918. It was launched from the Hindenburg Line, in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin, France. Its goal was to break through the Allied lines and advance in a north-westerly direction to seize the Channel Ports, which supplied the British Expeditionary Force.
Private John William Bennett is remembered on the Arras Memorial, Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
Arras Memorial
The Army Record of Deceased Soldiers' Effects shows that Mary was his next of kin. John is listed as an individual entitled to the Victory medal.
His widow Mary did not remarry. In June 1921, we know she was living at 11 Middlewich Street, Crewe with her son, and her sister-in-law Bertha's family. Mary died on 13th December 1968.
John may perhaps be the John "H" Bennett whose name appears on a plaque at the Heritage Centre in Crewe. The plaque was originally installed at the Wedgwood Methodist Chapel in Heath Street, Crewe (which is where John and Mary had married in 1915), but after the closure of the church in 1969, it was misplaced. It was re-discovered in 2004, and transferred to Hightown Methodist Church where it was displayed until 2010. It was then placed in the Heritage Centre, where it was still on display in July 2025.
Researched by S. Lewington (July 2025) If you have further information please contact the project.