Barwick in Elmet & Scholes War Memorials Web Site

Arthur Benson

Unit	No. 13002444, 50th Auxiliary Military Company, Pioneer Corps.
How & When Died	Drowned at sea as a result of enemy action, 17 June 1940
Age, if known	45 years
Next of Kin details	Son of William Henry and Emily Benson; Husband of Ada Evelyn Benson, of Barwick in Elmet, Leeds.
Commemoration Details	No known grave, therefore, commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial to the Missing, Nord, France. Column 149
Other Information / Remarks	Arthur Benson was a victim of the worst Maritime disaster in British History. He was killed when the ship he was embarked on, HMT Lancastria, was sunk at sea off st Nazaire, France. HMT Lancastria was formerly RMT Lancastria of the Cunard Line and had been requisitioned by the government for war service. He was one of an estimated 2,600 members of the Pioneer Corps aboard the ship. In total the ship was loaded with possibly more than 6,000 service personnel and French civilians when it was bombed by German aircraft. The ship sank in a little more than twenty minutes and fewer than half those on board were saved. The official story of the sinking of the Lancastria is still shrouded in secrecy as it is subject to a D Notice under the Official Secrets Act. The secrecy was enforced to prevent news of the sinking affecting morale at home. The file on the Lancastria will stay closed until 2040. Arthur Benson was born in Morley in 1894. He was the son of William Henry and Emily Benson, William was a Mechanical Fitter. Arthur's birth was registered in Dewsbury and his names on the birth certificate were Reynell Arthur Benson. He had a younger brother, George. Arthur Benson served during the Great War of 1914 - 1918. He served as 185332 Gunner Reynall Arthur Benson, and was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service. I am grateful to Paul Barton for the information relating to Arthur Benson's Great War service