Claude Denman BENNETT

16 October 1914

OFFICERS GAZETTED

In the 'London Gazette' of Tuesday the following appointments were officially notified:-

To be Majors (temporarily) - J. Mackillop, late Major of the 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment; Edgar Dewhurst, late 3rd Volunteer Batt. Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment (October 14th).

To be Captains - Capt. J. H. S. Tee from the Territorial Force Reserves; W. Claughton, late captain of this battalion (temp.); N. C. Prince, late Captain of this Battalion (temp.); C. P. Charlesworth, late captain of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion West Riding Regiment (temp.); Capt. J. Groves, from the Territorial Force Reserves; N. A. England, late lieutenant of this Battalion; G. H. Ermen, late lieutenant 6th Battalion Manchester Regulars, Militia (Hon. Lieut. in the Army (temp.), October 14th.

To be Lieutenants - N. Clapham, late lieutenant of this Battalion (temp.); S. J. Rhodes, late lieutenant of this Battalion (temp.); A. E. Booth (temp.), October 14th.

To be Second Lieutenants - J. A. C. Spencer, late Second Lieutenant of this Battalion; W. K. Law, late Cadet, Aldenham School, O.T.C.; G. Broughton, C. D. Bennett, L. Jaques, N. Geldard, R. C. Barrett, G. L. Lupton, G. C. Foulds, C. G. C. Kilner, J. W. Woodhead (October 14th); R. Armstrong, Oxford University; D. V. Bernard. Cambridge University; and ... Walker, Sedbergh Grammar School.
Colonel Williamson, in command, was gazetted some weeks ago.

19 March 1915

6th WEST RIDING PROMOTIONS

The following promotions have been published in the 'London Gazette' - 6th Battalion West Riding Regiment - Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants - W. K. Law, G. Broughton. C. D. Bennett, J. W. Woodhead.

13 August 1915

PROMOTIONS IN THE 6th WEST RIDING REGIMENT

The following promotions are announced: 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment: The undermentioned lieutenants to be temporary captains - Noel Clapham, dated April 1st; Stanley J. Rhodes, dated May 5th; George Broughton, dated May 5th; Claude D. Bennett, dated May 11th; Stephen P. Ashley, dated May 13th. Harry Jackson to be second-lieutenant, dated July 28th. Rupert Montgomery Wimbush to be second-lieutenant, dated August 12th.

18 May 1917

FORMER SKIPTON OFFICER WOUNDED - CAPTAIN CLAUDE D. BENNETT

Captain Claude D. Bennett, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, headmaster of Langcliffe Council School, Settle, and son of the late Mr. John Bennett, of Airedale Terrace, Skipton, has been wounded, but happily he is progressing favourably in hospital abroad. Captain Bennett is, of course, still well known in Skipton, where for many years he was engaged at two of the local schools, while for several years he was the captain of the Settle Corps of Cadets, most of whom, along with their commander, joined the local Territorial Battalion on the outbreak of war.

After leaving Skipton Grammar School, Capt. Bennett served an apprenticeship in the teaching profession with the late Mr. Walker, headmaster of the Water Street Council School, Skipton, and later went to Westminster College to complete his training. Afterwards he was for a time a teacher at a school in the Huddersfield district, and subsequently accepted an appointment as teacher at the Water Street School where he remained about twelve months. From this school he was transferred to the staff of the old British School, and afterwards was for four years assistant master at the Brougham Street Council School.

After he was appointed headmaster of Langcliffe Council School, his mother went to live in the Settle district where she is still resident. Captain Bennett, who was married about a year ago, started service in the Army as a second-1ieutentant, and his promotion to his present rank came quickly.

15 June 1917

CLAPHAM - War Items

The parents of Pte. George Metcalfe, who was posted as 'missing' from May 3rd, have had a letter from the officer of the company, in which he states:- "I am sorry I cannot give you any news of George, beyond that he is missing, after being hit on May 3rd. Some of our wounded were undoubtedly captured by the enemy and I do trust we shall soon have news that he is alive in German hands. I miss him very much indeed from my Company, as he was one of my best Lewis gunners, and he would, I know, be doing his duty well to the front when he was hit. If I hear anything further I will let you know immediately. I give you my deepest sympathy in your anxiety. CLAUDE D. BENNETT, O.C. 'B' COMPANY."

Mr. and Mrs. J. Bell, of the Flying Horse Shoe Hotel, have been notified that their son, Pte. J. Bell, Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on April 28th. He and his two chums, Ptes. Geoff. Sedgwick and E. Fawcett, enlisted at the same time, and were drafted first into the R.F.A., and afterwards into the 'Fighting Fifth'. The two latter went to the Front some time in advance of Pte. Bell. All have made the supreme sacrifice.

And how can man die better than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his gods.

27 July 1917

BENNETT - In proud and loving memory of Captain Claude D. Bennett, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, dearly loved youngest son of Anne and the late John Bennett, of Settle, who died of wounds received for his country, July 18th 1917, aged 30 years.

R.I.P

27 July 1917

A BRAVE OFFICER - CAPTAIN CLAUDE BENNETT DIES FROM WOUNDS

With great regret we have this week to record the death from wounds in France of Captain Claude D. Bennett, headmaster, of Langcliffe Council School, Settle, and son of the late Mr. John Bennett, of Airedale Terrace, Skipton. The deceased officer was wounded early in May but he made a good recovery, and after a brief leave in England, during which he paid a visit to Skipton, he returned to France on Wednesday, July 11th - exactly a week before he received the wounds which resulted in his death on the same day.

Captain Bennett was, of course, well known in Skipton, where for many years he was engaged at two of the local schools, while for several years he was the captain of the Skipton Corps of Cadets, most of whom, along with their commander, joined the 1ocal Territorial Battalion on the outbreak of war.

After leaving Skipton Grammar School, Capt. Bennett served an apprenticeship to the teaching profession with the late Mr. Walker, headmaster of the Water Street Council School, Skipton, and later went to Westminster College to complete his training. Afterwards he was for a time a teacher at a school in the Huddersfield district, and subsequently accepted an appointment as teacher at the Water Street School, Skipton, where he remained about twelve months. From this school he was transferred to the staff of the old British School, and afterwards was for four years assistant master at the Brougham Street Council School.

After he was appointed headmaster of Langcliffe Council School, his mother went to live in the Settle district, where she is still resident. Captain Bennett, who was 30 years of age, was married about a year ago, and his widow resides at St. Paul's Road, Preston. He started service in the Army as a second lieutenant, and his promotion to his present rank came quickly.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

At the Skipton Congregational Church on Sunday evening, the Rev. L. H. Gaunt paid a high tribute to the memory of Captain Bennett. It must have been a great sorrow to everyone connected with the Church, the reverent gentleman said, to hear of the death of Captain Bennett, of the West Riding Regiment. Previous to leaving Skipton some years ago, he had for many years been a member of that church, a teacher in the Sunday school, and a member of the choir. He had always enjoyed the confidence and respect, as well as affection, of all who knew him, and they would feel that in his death the country had lost not only a brave officer but also a honourable and useful citizen.

The last time he saw him was in France, and on that occasion deceased rode a distance of some thirty miles in one day in wild weather for the sake of enjoying a short chat with him.

"I shall never forget," said Mr. Gaunt, "the happy talk we had on that occasion, when Captain Bennett spoke of his first experiences in action and the way he had tried to save the lives of his men." It was common knowledge, he added, that all the men of his company were devotedly attached to him, and that his loss would be deeply felt in the whole regiment.

The hymn, 'Captain and Saviour of the hosts of Christian chivalry' was afterwards sung in memory of the deceased officer.

26 October 1917

IN MEMORIAM - BROUGHAM STREET SCHOOL HEROES

At the Congregational Church, Skipton, on Tuesday evening, an impressive musical service was held in memory of the teachers and old scholars of the Brougham Street Council School who have fallen in the first three years of the war. Particulars of the deaths of these brave lads have appeared in our columns from time to time, and their names are as follows:- Willie Barraclough, C.D. Bennett (teacher), Arthur Bruce, Sam Cairns, Cyril Calvert, Ennie Clarke, Tom Clarke, Harry Ingham, Tom Langman, Reggie Pollard, Lewis Sedgwick, Joe Stewart, Harry Tindall (teacher), and J.W. Varley.

There was a large and sympathetic congregation, including relatives of those in whose honour the service was held. Conducted jointly by the Rev. L.H. Gaunt and Mr. A. Townsend (headmaster of the school), the service, in addition to special prayers, hymns, collects, &c., comprised anthems by the Brougham Street School Old Scholars' Choir (under the direction of Mr. Townsend), solos by Miss D. Wear and Mr. Clifford Townsend, and an address by Mr. Gaunt.

In a few introductory remarks Mr. Townsend explained the object of the service, which he said was one of praise rather than of sorrow for the splendour of the lives that had been laid down. - The anthems were 'O God, protect with Thy strong hand' (Greig), 'Rest for the Weary' (Gounod), 'The Lord is my Shepherd' (Smart), and 'Peace to the Souls of the Heroes' (Callcott), and in all these and in Nicholson's setting of the 'Magnificat' the girls' voices blended with pleasing effect, the singing being marked by a very fine tone and clear enunciation, showing evidence of careful training. Miss D. Wear sang most acceptably the exacting solo 'I know that my Redeemer' (Handel) and Mr. Clifford Townsend gave a meritorious interpretation of 'The trumpet shall sound' (Handel). In addition to playing the organ accompaniments with the customary taste and efficiency, Mr. W.H. Green contributed as a solo the 'Hallelujah Chorus.'

In his address the Rev. L.H. Gaunt expressed his pleasure that the Congregational Church should have been used for a service of that kind and said he would rejoice if it could be used more frequently for public gatherings in which not only comparatively small circle of their own congregation might join, but in which the whole town might feel that it had some part. He also expressed his agreement with what Mr. Townsend had said as to the view they ought to take of the death of their boys, and said he felt that the Bishop of London - despite the fact that he had been taken to task for his expression of opinion - was right when he said that they ought not to think of the death of their boys as sheer calamity and overwhelming sorrow. They ought to think of them as having made a sacrifice bravely and heroically at the call of their country and for humanity, and those who were left behind to cherish their memory would honour them best by thinking of that sacrifice as a victory and not as a disaster; and their remembrance of them should come as a call to follow their example, to live so that they would be worthy of the sacrifice of their loved ones, and to bring to their lives into harmony with the great high note that they had struck in their sacrifice. They thanked God for what their boys had done and suffered, and most of all for what they had been and were now, and to ask His grace to follow in their train.

A collection was taken on behalf of the proposed new memorial of the Brougham Street School, which will probably take the form of a scholarship fund.

19 July 1918

BENNETT - In tenderest and unchanging memory of a dearly loved son and brother, Captain Claude D. Bennett, who died for his country, July 17th, 1917.

Say not his life is quenched,
But rather say
His dawn has broadened into perfect day.

From Mother and Sisters and Brothers.

BENNETT - In proud remembrance of our dear brother, Captain Claude D. Bennett, who died of wounds July 17th, 1917.

He died the noblest death a man may die,
Fighting for God and Right and Liberty;
And such a death is Immortality.

From M. E. and Walter Heseltine, New Zealand.

26 July 1918

LONG PRESTON - The Late Mr. W. Ward

The, Rev. R. Shipman, vicar, writes:-- "I should, be grateful if you would give me permission to publicly rectify a mis-statement that I made at the memorial service held for the late Mr. William Ward, at Long Preston. I said that I believed that he was the first officer from the Cadets to have paid the supreme sacrifice. As a matter of fact both Captain Bennett and Lieut. Gill have so done, and both were officers in the Cadets. I much regret the error - perhaps absence from the neighbourhood may be some excuse Three officers is a record of which the Cadets must be sadly proud, and which must also be an inspiration and incentive to them as such."

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' - CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

CAPTAIN CLAUDE D. BENNETT

2/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment, son of the late Mr. J. Bennett, of Airedale Terrace, Skipton. Former Headmaster of Langcliffe Council School. Died from wounds received in action July 18th, 1817, aged 30 years.

25 July 1919

BENNETT - In proud and loving memory of our dear darling brother, Captain Claude D. Bennett, who gave his life for God and freedom France, 1917.

"Death is swallowed up in Victory."

From May and Walter Heseltine, New Zealand; also from his mother, Mrs. Bennett, Stackhouse, Settle.

BENNETT - Also in loving memory of the best of fathers, John Bennett. (Inserted by his eldest daughter, Mrs. M.E. Heseltine, N.Z.)

"And so he bringeth them into a Haven of Peace."

Also from his wife.