Thomas Benson

Died of Wounds on the 12/01/1918 received at the Battle of Jaffa

Thomas was with the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers (8329) and the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment (4187) before joining the 1/4th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers who were part of the 155th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division. Thomas arrived in the Balkans on the 25/04/1915 with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. The Battle of Jaffa (including the passage of the Nahr-el-Auja) 1917 : XXI Corps had moved to the coastal plain on the 7th of December. The Corps' three Divisions were all in the front line, with the 52nd (Lowland) Division on the coast. The Commander of that Division believed that a surprise attack would be able to cross the river between the three strongly defended posts, where the Turkish patrols were few in number. The required equipment was secretly moved up to the south bank of the river under cover of darkness. Heavy rain on the 19th-20th of December actually helped the British, swelling the river to the point where the Turks believed it would be impossible to cross apart from at the fort or the existing bridges. On the night of the 20th/21st of December they were proved wrong. Three British Brigades were able to cross over using a combination of rafts and pontoon bridges. The 155th Brigade crossed over east of Jerisheh, and then turned right to attack the Turkish position at Hadrah. The attack was a complete success. The Turks were caught out by the surprise attack, and by the end of the 22nd of December had been pushed back five miles along their entire front. SEE PHOTOS x 34 FOR THE 52nd (LOWLAND) DIVISION BOOK FROM DECEMBER 1917 - JANUARY 1918. Thomas is also remembered on the online Dublin Roll of Honour and is listed in the Irelands Casualties of WW1 (see photos). See photos for Thomas' Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, Ramleh War Cemetery, the King's Own Scottish Borderers Cap Badge, his former Regiment the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Cap Badge, Thomas' Pension Record x 4. the 1901 Ireland Census x 2, the 1911 Ireland Census x 2 and Thomas' Will left to his mother x 3.