| Surname: | Bennett |
| Initials: | W E |
| Rank: | Warrant Officer I |
| Army Number: | 7691601 |
| Notes: | CMP. RMP. From Manchester 16. RSM Jan 1958 42 Inf Div Pro Coy TA. William Eustace Bennett. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Mention in Despatches (London Gazette: 37184 Page: 3741 July 19, 1945) |
| Citation: | Italy. |
| Decoration: | British Empire Medal (London Gazette: 37386 Page: 6070 Dec. 13, 1945) |
| Citation: | Italy. Citation for BEM: As a Sgt this NCO specialised in the tracking down of Absentees and Deserters and has been instrumental in capturing over 20 long-term deserters. During the first week in Aug 1944 he organised a drive which resulted in 156 absentees being apprehended in NAPLES. During this period he personally arrested No 6215880 Rfn. Manning 1 Bn Lon Irish Rifles who was wanted for manslaughter and who was armed at the time of his arrest. He was also responsible for the control of prostitution in NAPLES and the organisation of anti Black Market measure. He spared no effort to reduce the VD rate, and recovered over 8,000 worth of WD property over a period of 6 months. On 22 Oct 1944, 68 bags of Christmas mail bound for the UK from troops in CMF were stolen from a train at FRATTAMALORE. Although this theft was not reported to Sgt Bennett until 24 October by his unremitting efforts he was able to trace five of the thieves and recover a considerable amount of the stolen mail. By his example of unflagging energy over a long period, he has inspired the NCO's under him to constant effort to overcome and outwit the very real menace of the civilian Black Marketeer and Saboteur. OC 510 Pro Coy, Brig Comd 54 Area. Maj Gen Comd 3 District. National Archive WO 373/75 Pt.1. |
| Decoration: | Member of the British Empire (London Gazette: 41268 Page: 7 Jan. 1, 1958) |
| Citation: | New Years Honour. Citation for MBE, Didsbury 1 May 1947 - 21 May 1957.. WOI W E BENNETT has served under my command for ten years. During this time he served as my CQMS for 3 1/2 years and for the last 6 1/2 years as my Regimental Serjeant Major. His enthusiasm for the Territorial Army is tremendous. He is highly intelligent and his knowledge of operational Provost work is probably second to none. I have never known him absent from a Drill night or week-end training except on one occasion when he was ill. During his time as my RSM, Mr BENNETT has carried out the duties of an Officer. I have a section at LIVERPOOL, which section has been trained entirely by RSM BENNETT. This has entailed him journeying to LIVERPOOL once and sometimes twice a week, arriving home in Manchester in the early hours of the morning. He has, on every Camp since 1947, been the Officer i/c the Advance and Rear Parties. He has always made a firs class job of this and we have always arrived in Camp to find everything in a complete stage of readiness. I recently held a Recruiting Drive and made RSM BENNETT responsible for the Display in the Drill Hall. He was tireless in his efforts, with the result that the Secretary of the East Lancashire Territorial Association stated to me that the Display in my Drill Hall was one of the finest he had ever seen. I have no other Officer in my Unit either Regular or TA at the moment, and when I was recently sick with influenza RSM BENNETT took over and ran the Unit in a most efficient and exemplary manner. I cannot speak too highly of his abilities and whole hearted enthusiasm and loyalty to me, an enthusiasm and loyalty which I feel can only be rewarded by the MBE.Maj R K Mills OC 42 (Lancs) Inf Div Pro Coy (TA), Maj-Gen Commander 42 (L) Inf Div (TA). National Archive 373/165. |