BENSON Thomas Brooke

After 5 years service in 2nd Battalion he went to Ceylon tea planting, returned on declaration of war and joined his old battalion.

Thomas Brooke Benson was born at Scarborough on 28th July 1884, the son of Riou George and Mary Benson. Riou was a clergyman. Thomas was educated at The Well House, Malvern and Repton before entering Sandhurst. After 5 years he retired from the army in 1911 to go tea planting in Ceylon and rejoined his regiment in October 1914. He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on 13th March 1915.

The following information has been researched by Sandra Taylor:
In 1911, Thomas was living with his widowed mother Mary Benson aged 70 and two older sisters at Harnage, Shrewsbury.

De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour:
BENSON, Thomas Brooke,
Lieut., 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots Fusiliers, 13th child and 7th and youngest s. of the Rev. Riou George Benson, Rector of Hope Bowdler, co. Salop, by his wife, Mary, daughter of Thomas Brooke, of Northgate House, Honley, co. York, and grandson of Moses George Benson, of Lutwyche Hall, co. Salop, J.P., D.L.; born 28 July 1884; educ. The Well House, Malvern Wells, Repton and Sandhurst, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 2nd Battn. of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, 16 Aug. 1905. He retired from the Army in 1911 and went to Bogowantalawa, Ceylon, and started tea planting, but on the outbreak of war came home and rejoined his old regt. with the rank he was when he left it…Oct. 1914. He was twice wounded, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle in the early morning of 12 March, 1915; unmarried.