Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 James Benson was my great grandfather who was killed at Fromelles on 19 July, 1916. His body was identified in 2016 and reinterred in the Fromelles Pheasant Wood Cemetery. Prior to that, as he was considered missing, his name appeared on one of the panels at V.C. Corner Cemetery. That panel was inscribed "Lieutenant J. Benson D.C.M." The C.W.G.C. register book also had the same entry with the D.C.M. post nominal, and on checking their website earlier today - still does. He supposedly won the D.C.M. whilst serving in the Boer War as Trooper Jens Benson No.148, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. His birth name was Jens Bengtsson - he had Scandanavian parents, but by the time of his enlistment in the A.I.F. he had completely anglicised his name to James Benson. His new headstone in Pheasant Wood Cemetery however does not include the D.C.M. I have made numerous enquiries to the Australian Army, Australian War Memorial, C.W.G.C., Boer War websites and others and have never had a satisfactory answer to its non inclusion other than "can't find any record". I've been told that some U.K. records were lost during the bombing of WW2. Seems strange to me that D.C.M. appeared on the panel at V.C. Corner Cemetery for 100 years and yet now, it has been omitted from his new headstone. Could it be that the then Imperial War Graves Commission got it wrong when the V.C. Corner Cemetery was constructed in 1920/21? A mix up of records? Wrong person? I would appreciate it if any members here could help solve this mystery as I am keen to have the D.C.M. post nominal added to his headstone if he had in fact been awarded with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesterboy Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 It is a mystery, his enlistment paper does not show DCM, you would think that he would have mentioned at that time. in the war diary for the battalion, in the list of officers missing it does not show DCM behind his name VC Corner was erected in 1920/21, so where did the DCM in the CWGC records come from, as the first mention of the DCM in his service records was from 1927 from his son Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Thanks for your help Chesterboy - I've been down every rabbit hole imaginable trying to get to the bottom of this. There appears to be no record anywhere, so my gut feeling is the D.C.M. inscription on the wall at V.C. Corner Cemetery was probably a mistake. What confuses me though is the family's correspondence with the Army, wife in 1918, son in 1927 where they specifically mention a D.C.M. - so it seems they were aware of it. All very confusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Rayner Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Having just read through his service record it is amazing that there does appear to be a family belief in the DCM and personally presented by Earl Roberts too which is a bit of specific detail from them. Still ferreting about in the sources George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 I would think that the CWGC got the DCM information from the AWM Roll of Honour circular that was completed by his wife in the 1920's James Benson | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au) Perhaps just taking her word for it... Whether he actually received it or not (?), or perhaps was recommended, but overlooked (?) - they would probably want to see the actual citation these days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Thank you George, any help is much appreciated. I don't think they would have been the sort of people to make this up, so that's why there is an element of doubt in my mind. Lt. Benson's son (my great uncle) who wrote to the Australian Army in 1927 about the D.C.M. was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Australian Navy during WW2. He had a distinguished naval career and was captain of H.M.A.S. Kiama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 (edited) Morning https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StateLibQld_2_118692_Jens_Benson,_member_of_the_third_Queensland_Contingent_to_the_Boer_War.jpg Is 118692 a service number ?? Regards, Graeme Edited 17 May , 2021 by GraemeClarke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 9 minutes ago, frev said: I would think that the CWGC got the DCM information from the AWM Roll of Honour circular that was completed by his wife in the 1920's James Benson | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au) Perhaps just taking her word for it... Whether he actually received it or not (?), or perhaps was recommended, but overlooked (?) - they would probably want to see the actual citation these days! Thanks frev that's a good point you make about taking the wife's word for it - things were much simpler in those days. You're right, the authorities have told me that they won't add the D.C.M. to his headstone until they see definite proof. I don't think that's ever likely. Hello Graeme - thanks for chasing that up and passing it on. Regards, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 9 minutes ago, GraemeClarke said: Morning https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StateLibQld_2_118692_Jens_Benson,_member_of_the_third_Queensland_Contingent_to_the_Boer_War.jpg Regards, Graeme Hello Graeme, Thanks for chasing that up and passing it on to me. Most kind. Regards, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Rayner Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Here's a report about the SA campaign Official records of the Australian military contingents to the war in South Africa (angloboerwar.com) George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Have you been able to check this book? (I don't have a copy). Note: The 2nd edition has c.120 pages, the 1st only c.80. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Hi He is NOT mentioned here https://www.angloboerwar.com/medals-and-awards/british/241-dcm Regards, Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busterfield Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 There is a site OZ-Boer database where Jens Benson makes an appearance. http://members.pcug.org.au/~croe/ozb/oz_boer_more.cgi?record=1477 Getting in contact with them may be of help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 (edited) The Nominal Roll for the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry shows the Awards in the Remarks column https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=Pre%20First%20World%20War%20Conflicts%20Nominal%20Rolls&facet_related_units=3rd%20Queensland%20Mounted%20Infantry eg: 95 Davidson, Norman Alexander (DCM): https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1069377/large/5520296.JPG eg. 297 Forbes, Arthur Edward (DCM): https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1069377/large/5520300.JPG There is no such remark for 148 Benson, Jens: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1069377/large/5520297.JPG Edited 17 May , 2021 by frev Edited to correct an error Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 53 minutes ago, George Rayner said: Here's a report about the SA campaign Official records of the Australian military contingents to the war in South Africa (angloboerwar.com) George Thanks George, Regards, Bruce 33 minutes ago, GraemeClarke said: Hi He is NOT mentioned here https://www.angloboerwar.com/medals-and-awards/british/241-dcm Regards, Graeme Thanks Graeme - I've checked that site myself previously. Regards, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 9 minutes ago, frev said: The Nominal Roll for the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry shows the Awards in the Remarks column https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=Pre%20First%20World%20War%20Conflicts%20Nominal%20Rolls&facet_related_units=3rd%20Queensland%20Mounted%20Infantry eg: 95 Davidson, Norman Alexander (DCM): https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1069377/large/5520296.JPG eg. 297 Forbes, Arthur Edward (DCM): https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1069377/large/5520300.JPG There is no such remark for 148 Benson, Jens: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1069377/large/5520297.JPG Thanks frev - I've checked that site myself some time ago. You'd think if the D.C.M. had been awarded it would have appeared there. I'm thinking the original inscription of the D.C.M. post nominal beside his name on the wall at V.C. Corner Cemetery was a mistake. Regards, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 I cannot find him listed in the London Gazette for 1901-02, although others are under 'Colonial Forces' listings as 'Queensland Contingent' (e.g.): https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27359/page/6329 The LG of 31 Oct 1902 (p.6909) has some 'Queensland Contingents' listed for DCMs too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 1 hour ago, Ivor Anderson said: Have you been able to check this book? (I don't have a copy). Note: The 2nd edition has c.120 pages, the 1st only c.80. Thanks Ivor - I'd say that this would be a definitive source of information which would prove it one way or the other. I'm in Australia, and don't have a copy either. I'll see if I can track down a copy on inter library loan. Very interesting that Volume 2 has an additional 40 pages than Volume 1. Must have been a lot of omissions in the first publication. Gives me some hope that records may have been a bit dodgy. Regards, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 12 minutes ago, Ivor Anderson said: I cannot find him listed in the London Gazette for 1901-02, although others are under 'Colonial Forces' listings as 'Queensland Contingent' (e.g.): https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27359/page/6329 The LG of 31 Oct 1902 (p.6909) has some 'Queensland Contingents' listed for DCMs too. Thanks again Ivor, I've had no luck with the London Gazette either. Just had another thought about the book on D.C.M. recipients - the Australian War Memorial will have a copy, so I'll email them and ask them to check it. They are very helpful to deal with and offer a great service. Regards, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 (edited) Or a kind ebay seller might look it up for you! I've just sent a request to 2 of them - here's hoping! 26/39 extra pages in the 2nd edition seem to relate to SA 1899-1902. Edited 17 May , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce L Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 2 minutes ago, Ivor Anderson said: Or a kind ebay seller might look it up for you! 26/39 extra pages in the 2nd edition seem to relate to SA 1899-1902. An eBay seller - that's thinking outside the box Ivor! Interesting to see that the 2nd edition extra pages relate to the South African War. The Australian War Memorial will check it for me. I got them to investigate this about 10 years ago and they came up with nothing then. Maybe the additional pages in the new edition may have something. Regards, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 This page from ebay shows the sort of detail included in the book. There is a Davidson from a Queensland unit on the left page: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 18 May , 2021 Share Posted 18 May , 2021 One kind 2nd Edition ebay seller replied to my Q: Does this book include a Trooper Jens Benson No.148, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry under the South Africa/ Boer War? with 'no, sorry'. However, it is strange that his DCM was included on the memorial panel and in the CWGC register post WW1. Questions: If his wife and son corresponded about the DCM in 1918 & 1927 they obviously believed he got a DCM. Jens/James must have been the source of that information - is there any indication that they ever actually sighted the medal? Such an award may have been reported in a local newspaper. Why was his named photo in the The Queenslander, 3 March 1900, p. 407? https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StateLibQld_2_118692_Jens_Benson,_member_of_the_third_Queensland_Contingent_to_the_Boer_War.jpg Could it be that he received a different medal, or (as prev. stated) was he recommended for one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travers61 Posted 18 May , 2021 Share Posted 18 May , 2021 The photo on wikimedia from the Queenslander of 3 March 1900 is part of a much larger article about the 3rd Queensland Contingent going overseas & has photos of many of the contingent. Jens is listed as 148 in the rank and file as single & address care of Mrs A Benson, Curtis Street, Bundaberg. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/2518780 Jens Benson's photo(no 148) is here: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/2518779 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 19 May , 2021 Share Posted 19 May , 2021 (edited) Great links. They certainly did their leaving soldiers proud in 1900! Another reply from an ebay seller of the pre-WW1 DCM book that I contacted: "No-one of that name & regiment is included. There is a JT Benson of the East Yorks." Edited 19 May , 2021 by Ivor Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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