Benjamin Samuel Woolner

A Private with 2nd Bn., Benjamin died on 1st of July 1916 at the age of 35. 

Benjamin was born at Lowestoft on 1 July 1881, a son of Alfred and Ellen Mary Woolner. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 30 October 1881. In 1891 they lived at 109 Saint Margaret’s Road and, by 1901, they were living at 62 Cambridge Road, and this was still their address in 1911.

Benjamin was living at 62 Cambridge Road and working as a labourer for Mr. Mummery of Lowestoft, when he attested for the 3rd Militia Battalion Norfolk Regiment, at Lowestoft, on 24 January 1900. He was embodied for service from 18 June 1900 to 11 April 1902. Benjamin saw active service in the Boer War and was awarded both the Queen’s and King’s South Africa Medals. He was discharged, on completion of his engagement, on 23 January 1906. 

In 1907 Benjamin married Alice Maude Taylor at Retford. In 1911 they lived at 16 Chapelgate, Retford, and Benjamin was a gardener. In 1912 he had a business as a fruiterer. Later Alice lived at 49 Cobwell Road, Retford.

Benjamin enlisted in the Army at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. He joined the Lincolnshire Regiment, service number 18964. In 1916 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion in France.  

On 1 July 1916 the 2nd Battalion began an assault on the enemy trenches at Ovillers. The British bombardment commenced at 6/25 a.m. and immediately the German artillery retaliated and fired n the 2nd Battalion in their frontline and assembly trenches. At 7.25 the men moved into their assault positions and began taking casualties from enemy machine-gun fire and the support company suffered a lot of casualties from shell-fire. At 7.30 a.m. the advance began but due to the severity of the enemy fire the men had to advance in rushes, stopping to shoot as the opportunity allowed. On reaching the German front line they found it to be strongly held and they were met with showers of bombs. After a stiff fight, by 7.50 a.m. they held about 200 yards of the German front line. Officers rallied the men to attack the second line, but due to heavy fire they could not push on. The damage to the trench, bombing attacks, and enfilade fire, made it impossible to consolidate or advance. At 1 p.m. the battalion were ordered back to their assembly dugouts. 

The battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: four killed, two died of wounds, six wounded, three missing, three wounded and missing
Other ranks: 26 killed, 303 wounded, 89 missing, 25 wounded and missing 

Benjamin was reported wounded on 1 July and later reported to be missing. In May 1917 it was officially confirmed that he was presumed to have died ‘on or since’ 1 July 1916.  

Benjamin is buried at Blighty Valley Cemetery. This cemetery was greatly enlarged after the war as bodies were brought in from the Somme battlefields. Commonwealth War Graves records suggest that this is what happened with Benjamin’s body. 

Note: Soldiers Died in the Great War states that Benjamin was born at Retford, this is not correct: he lived there, but was born in Lowestoft.

Benjamin is commemorated on Retford War Memorial.