About Roy Bennett

Roy was born in 1892, in Zeehan Tasmania to Phillip and Lucy Bennett. He was the oldest in the family of ten children. When Roy was aged two the family moved to Fremantle where they opened Bennett & Burnside, purveyors of fine locally produced and imported food. Roy worked for the family business as a bookkeeper.

Broome Connection

Roy appeared in the Wise Directory as a clerk in 1914. Roy Bennett’s name is also on Broome’s Honour Roll.

War Service

Roy enrolled in January 1915, and was assigned to the 10th Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron and the Regiment embarked per Surada in February 1915.  In September Roy joined the rest of the 10th Light Horse in Gallipoli, where they were deployed in a dismounted role as infantry and largely used in a defensive role. The Allies launched the August Offensive and the 10th Light Horse were among the first horse men over the sandbags in the failed Battle of Nek, mounting a futile bayonet attack on the Ottoman trenches. Roy survived the battle, only to fall in the Battle of Hill 60, the last major Allied offensive operation on the Peninsula.

Enlistment Details

Newspaper Articles

Other Online Resources

View Roy Bennett’s Service Papers at the NAA
View Roy Bennett at the Australian War Memorial
Our Anzac heroes Part V (Albany Advertiser)