114822 Pte Benjamin Halstead, 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles.
Born in Briercliffe, Burnley, Lancs on 2 April 1888, Benjamin was a farmer in Vanguard, Saskatchewan, Canada when he enlisted into the CEF (9th (Overseas) Canadian Mounted Rifles Regiment) on 29th December 1914. After travelling to the UK (Shornecliffe) with the 1st CMR in June 1915, Benjamin arrived at Boulogne on 23 September 1915 and found himself in the trenches at Ploegsteert just five days later. Remaining in the Ypres salient for the best part of a year, Benjamin participated in the Battle of Mt Sorrel before being sent to the Somme where, during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916, he was taken prisoner.
Benjamin was held in PoW camps in Germany for the next two and a half years, and released following the Armistice. He had to spend some time in hospital in the UK (Orpington, Kent) suffering from a scalded foot. Due to embark for Canada on 3 January, he contracted pneumonia whilst in hospital and died of this illness just two days short of his release date. Benjamin is now buried in All Saints churchyard extension, Orpington, Kent.
1 January 1919
Research by David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
