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1st Bn Royal dublin Fusiliers


mgbarrett1

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NAME: Benton Thomas

Initials: T

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Age: 45

Date of Death: 07/08/1915

Service No: 18172

Additional information: Son of John and Margaret Benton.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 190 to 196.

Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

Hi all,

I am looking for information on the the above casualty Pte Thomas Benton he died on the 7th of August 1915

1.Has anyone got info on the unit diary for that day.

2. I am also trying to find out if he was with the initial landings on the 25th seeing that he was with the 1Bn or did he land later.

regards Martin

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Hi,

Looks like he enlisted in Manchester

Regards Mark

Name: Thomas BENTON

Regiment, Corps etc.: Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Battalion etc.: 1st Battalion.

4.8.14 Madras. 19.11.14 sailed from Bombay for U.K. arriving Plymouth 21 Dec. to Torquay in billets. Jan. 1915 to Nuneaton joining 86th Bde. 29th Div. 16.3.15 sailed from Avonmouth arriving Alexandria 30 Mar. 9.4.15 to Mudros. 25.4.15 landed at Helles. 30.4.15 after heavy casualties amalgamated with 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers to form a composite bn. known as the "Dubsters" in 87th Bde. 19.5.15 resumed identity. 1.1.16 left Gallipoli for Mudros and on 8 Jan. to Egypt. 13.3.16 sailed from Alexandria for France, arriving Marseilles 19 Mar. 19.10.17 to 48th Bde. 16th Div. 10.2.18 absorbed 10 officers and 200 men from 8th/9th Bn. 14.4.18 1st and 2nd Bns. amalgamated at Clety, south of St. Omer. 19.4.18 1st Bn. reconstituted with personnel from 2nd Bn. which was reduced to cadre. 26.4.18 to 86th Bde. 29th Div. from 16th Div. 11.11.18 86th Bde. 29th Div. Belgium; St. Genois, S.E. of Courtrai.

Last name: Benton

First name(s): Thomas

Initials: T

Birthplace: Kilcommon, Co. Tipperary

Enlisted: Manchester

Residence: Kilcommon

Rank: PRIVATE

Number: 18172

Date died: 7 August 1915

How died: Killed in action

Theatre of war: Gallipoli

Soldiers Died in the Great War database © Naval and Military Press Ltd 2006.

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Hi,

His medal card has Date of Entry 28/7/15 (2b) Balkans

Pres Dead 7/8/15

Regards Mark

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Thanks very much Mark,

New to me that he enlisted in Manchester have to find out more about that why he went to England.

also thanks for the info on the unit. have you anything on the unit for the day he was killed or can you point me in the right direction

martin

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From the Corps Reserve at Gully Beach they went up to the firing line on the right of Gully Ravine on 7th August and were in action at Southern Barricade the next day 8th August.

They were relieved and went to Y Ravine on 16th August, having lost 25 Other Ranks killed and 3 Officers plus 150 Other Ranks wounded

Details from Westlake's 'British Regiments at Gallipoli'

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HellesLayeredMapII.jpg

The above map shows Gully Beach and Gully Ravine, while the map below shows the top of Gully Ravine [with Front Lines as at the evacuation in Jan 1916]. Southern Barricade where the Dubs were at this time (7-16th Aug 1915) is in the bottom RH corner

GullyRavineforGrantowi.jpg

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Michael and mark thanks a lot

Thanks very much for the info very much appreciated.

Mark i assume (2b) Balkans was used for gallipoli and does not mean 2nd Battalion

regards Martin

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It shows the area of operations

For disembarkations up to 31 December 1915

1 Western Europe (France)

2 Balkans (inc Gallipoli)

3 Egypt

4 Africa

5 Asia

6 Australasia

For disembarkations from 1 January 1916

1A France and Belgium

1B Italy

2A Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria or European Turkey

2B Gallipoli

3 Russia (up to 1/2 July 1920)

4A Egypt (up to 18/19 March 1916)

4B Egypt (from 18/19 March 1916)

5A East Africa, Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia

5B South West Africa

5C Cameroon

5D Nigeria

5E Togoland

6A Hejaz

6B Mesopotamia

6C Persia

6D Trans-Caspia

6E South West Arabia

6F Aden

6G Frontier regions of India

6H Tsing-tau

7A New Britain

7B New Ireland

7C Kaiser Wilhelmland

7D Admiralty Islands

7E Nauru

7F German Samoa

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Mark thanks a lot " it's a bad day that you don't learn something new"

thanks again

Martin

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I have the transcript of Aug 1915 War Diary of the battalion here

The 1 RDF War Diary entries continue to be still comparatively sparse in Aug , and information on the Battalion's movements has been augmented with data from the 86 Brigade War Diary.

The actual War Diary is here

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Thanks very much a great help in my research

thanks again

Martin

I have the transcript of Aug 1915 War Diary of the battalion here

The 1 RDF War Diary entries continue to be still comparatively sparse in Aug , and information on the Battalion's movements has been augmented with data from the 86 Brigade War Diary.

The actual War Diary is here

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hi Martin

not sure if you already have this, taken by us of the relevant panel on Helles. If you would like a better resolution copy please send me your email address by PM and we'll send it to you.

Kind regards

Lyn (and Keith, who is the photographer!)

post-10445-1277547279.jpg

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many of the dubs featured locally in papers in warwickshire before they went to Gallipoli as he was Nuneaton may be out of the Coventry range someone on the forum might have been trhough the Nuneaton papers

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Martin, his number suggests he joined the RDF in January 1915.

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  • 1 year later...

I have the transcript of Aug 1915 War Diary of the battalion here

The 1 RDF War Diary entries continue to be still comparatively sparse in Aug , and information on the Battalion's movements has been augmented with data from the 86 Brigade War Diary.

The actual War Diary is here

Hi corisande, I am researching CES Rucker of the Rifle Brigade, and just got his files from WO 339. I had no idea he fought on Gallipoli until I saw the files yesterday, as the Rifle Brigade were not present. However, his files mention he was wounded on 28th June, and was evacuated to England with his wounds and dysentry. I guessed this was because he was attached to another unit, but had no clue which so I googled his surname and Gallipoli and came up with your transcript! That mentions him as RGS Rucker from 14th Rifle Brigade, but I'm sure its him. He was with the 15th RB as far as I can tell. But the date matches so I'm fairly he must have been attached to the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

I've tried looking at the other entries to see when he was attached / arrived, but can't see anything.

Can you recall where you got the information from? Was it the actual diary before it was lost, or from the Brigade Diary? Just hoping to dig a bit more to see if I can find the transfer date.

Paul

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If you look at the top of my transcript page for Jun you will see

"The 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusilier War Diary appears to have disappeared for June 1915. One can get details of their movements from the 86 Brigade War Diary"

Within the errors of my transcription of handwriting and of the original officers mistakes, they do look like the same man

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