Mervyn Roy Benham

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 03/02/2017 - 14:03

First Name:

Mervyn

Middle Name:

Roy

Last Name:

Benham

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth Benham nee Benson

Father's Name:

Benjamin Benham

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, August 12, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Sapper

Unit:

1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron

Company:

7th Reinforcements

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

1914/1915 Star

Date of Death:

Friday, August 15, 1952

Place of Death:

Tamworth

Details:

Mervyn Benham (Service No 17113) was born in Katoomba, NSW in 1897.

At the time of his enlistment, Mervyn was single, 19 years of age and employed as a telegraph operator in Wollongong, NSW. Mervyn had previously served with the 37th Infantry Cadets.

Mervyn embarked on the RMS Mooltan with the 1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron, 7th Reinforcements on 23 December 1916 for Egypt. He arrived in Egypt on 28 January 1917 and saw service in Persia and Iraq as a Signaller.

Mervyn was returned to Australia in April 1919 and discharged as medically unfit on 6 July 1919.

Mervyn married Elsie Myers in Parks, NSW in 1922 where he worked for the Railways.

Mervyn and Elsie and their 2 children settled in Tamworth, NSW where he died in 1952.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BENHAM M R