BENNETT Hugh Donald

The inscription on the memorial reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
LIEUT: HUGH DONALD BENNETT, R.N.R.
4TH SON OF THE LATE
GEORGE BENNETT, AND GRANDSON OF
THE LATE NATHAN DYER, OF BREDON MANOR,
HE LOST HIS LIFE IN THE SINKING OF
HMS CRESSY, IN THE NORTH SEA,
SEPTEMBER 22, 1914, AGED 36.

HMS Cressy was the Royal Navy’s first armoured cruiser.  The ship was on patrol in the North Sea off the Dutch coast along with three other cruisers when they were spotted by the German submarine U9. At around 06.25 on the morning of 22nd September 1914, U9 attacked first HMS Aboukir and then HMS Hogue, successfully sinking both ships. The Captain of HMS Cressy (Captain Johnson) stopped the ship in order to lower boats to rescue survivors from the two sinking ships but immediately got underway when a periscope was sighted. At around 07.20, U9 attacked HMS Cressy with two torpedoes, one of which missed the ship, the other hitting the ship on her starboard side. A third torpedo fired by U9 also hit the ship and she sank within 15 minutes. An inquiry was held into the sinking of the three ships.

Source for HMS Cressy information:
http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/cressy.htm

The following report appears in Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 26th September 1914:
Lost with the Cressy – Son of Mrs Stringer of Bredon
Amongst those who were lost in the sinking of the ill-fated cruiser Cressy was Lieut. Hugh Donald Bennett, the second son of Mrs Stringer of Bredon. Lieut. Bennett received his training in seamanship aboard The Conway, 1890-93 at Liverpool. Having completed his training, he entered the service of The Peninsula and Oriental Steamship Co., and also joined the Royal Naval Reserve. During the time he was with the P and O Company he rose to the position of first officer, and only vacated his post to take up service in the Royal Navy, and at the outbreak of the present war, being appointed to the Cressy. He was at this time 35 years of age. His mother on Thursday received a telegram of condolence from their Majesties the King and Queen, which runs as follows: “Buckingham palace. The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Navy have sustained by the death of your son in the service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow.”

Hugh Bennett has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Chatham Naval Memorial.