John William Benningfield
The soldier:
John William Benningfield enlisted in Norwich, England. He was assigned to the Norfolk Regiment and given regimental number 201245.
He served as a private in its 8th Battalion but went missing in battle and was presumed ‘killed in action’ on the 22nd October 1917, aged 36.
John William’s name is inscribed on Panel 34 to 35 and 162A of the Tynecot Memorial, West-Vlanderen, Belgium.
It also appears on both of Snettisham’s memorials.
The man:
John William Benningfield was born in 1881 in Snettisham, Norfolk to David and Mary Ann Benningfield (nee Howlett). His father, David was 34 (born Mildenhall) and his mother, Mary Ann 25 (born Snettisham).
John William had three older sisters Agnes (5), Mary Jane (3), and Alice (2).
He was christened on the 5th June 1881 in St. Mary’s Church, Snettisham.
In 1881 the family were all residing in Snettisham. David’s occupation was listed in the census as ‘general labourer’ also living at the home address at this time was his mother’s younger sister, Hannah Howlett (19).
By the 1891 census, John William (now aged 10) is still living in Snettisham with his parents and Mary Jane (now 13) who is now going by the name Emma Jane.
Agnes has left the family home and Alice (aged 12) is shown living elsewhere in Snettisham caring for her deaf elderly maternal Grandmother, Alice Howlett.
By now John has 3 younger brothers, Walter (7), Isaac Arthur (6) and Frederick (3).
By the 1901 census the Benningfield family are residing on the Docking Road, Snettisham. David, John William’s father is now aged 50 and his mother Mary Ann 48. Alice has returned to the family home.
John William (now 20) Walter (now 17) Isaac Arthur (now 16) and Frederick (now 3) are all still at home, but John is now using his second name of William and Isaac is using his second name of Arthur.
A fourth younger brother, Thomas, born in 1899 is also present.
On the 21st October 1904, John William’s father David died.
By the 1911 census, John William, now 30 and single is living at Red Barns cottages, Red Barn, Snettisham. His occupation is listed as ‘waggoner’. He is the eldest male of a household consisting of him, his mother Mary Ann (now 58), Alice (32), Arthur (26), Fred (23) and Thomas (12).
In 1920, 3 years after John William’s death his mother, now 64 married Charles Graver (aged 62) a widower from Snettisham – This explains why the Commonwealth War Graves Commission information lists John William’s next of kin as Mary Ann Graver of Station Road, Snettisham.
