The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3687) Private Leslie Edward Benning, 1st Battalion, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (3687) Private Leslie Edward Benning, 1st Battalion, First World War.

3687 Private Leslie Edward Benning, 1st Battalion
DOW 24 July 1916
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 3 October 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Leslie Edward Benning.

Leslie Benning was born in 1894 to George and Elizabeth Benning of Maitland, New South Wales. His father was the railway stationmaster at East Maitland for many years, and many of Leslie’s brothers followed his example to work on the New South Wales railways. Leslie, however, went on to become a farmer. He was known to be
"a good son of good parents [who] could be trusted everywhere and anywhere. His life was regulated by lofty principles, unassuming, but unyielding when principle was concerned; gentle but brave, obedient to his parents, attentive to his religious duties and firm in his friendships."

Benning enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915 and was posted to the 1st Battalion. He underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving Sydney Harbour on 11 December 1915 for active service overseas. He first went to Egypt, where he was joined by his younger brother Harold, who had enlisted in early January 1916.

Private Leslie Benning arrived in France to fight on the Western Front in late March 1916. The 1st Battalion’s first major action came in July of that year, when they were part of the force that was ordered to capture the French village of Pozières. On 23 July the 1st Battalion was part of the first two waves attacking the village, driving through the German defences into the centre of the town over the first day and a half of fighting. By 25 July the village was in Australian hands.

However, the 1st Battalion suffered heavy casualties, including Private Leslie Benning. After the initial attack, Benning went to visit his brother Harold. As he was walking on the open ground behind the trench, he was hit by the blast from an artillery shell and was severely wounded. As well as having a broken leg and wounded shoulder, a large fragment of shell had pierced his abdomen, and his intestines were showing. When he was brought into the trench, he told the stretcher bearer to leave him and attend to others – there was more chance for them, he said, because he was done. Nevertheless, Leslie Benning was evacuated from the battlefield on 24 July. He died of his wounds shortly afterwards, and was buried nearby.

Benning’s platoon sergeant wrote to say that Leslie
"has been greatly missed by all. He was a good lad and a good friend … It was a cruel, yet glorious fight all through, costing Australia very dearly. But there is always the strong consolation that every man who died did so bravely, proving to the whole world that Australia’s sons are the finest in the world."

Leslie Benning’s death was followed by that of his brother Harold, killed in action near Flers in November 1916. Leslie was 21 years old; Harold was 19.

Their names are listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Leslie Edward Benning and his brother Private Harold Benning, who gave their lives for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section