ypres

According to the 1911 Census on that day he was a patient at Guys Hospital in London, he was 17 years old and was a student at Dulwich College

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

What a man! Wonder what he did in WW II.

Account of the exploits that won him the Victoria Cross.

His medals on display at the Canadian War Museum.

Willem Nice info - thanks for adding it!

nice

IWM Collections IWM Collections obvisly

The Wikipedia article records him as born 29th June 1891 in the Marylebone area of London.

However, while the dob may be correct, his birth was actually registered in the Wandsworth District in the July to September 1891 quarter, and on the 1901 census he is recorded as born Herne Hill, Surrey !.

On that census, the 9 year old Benjamin was recorded at 131 Palace Road, Lambeth, living in the household of his widowed mother, Blandinah E, (aged 55 and from Islington, London, shown as Living on Own Means). Her other children living with her are:-
Arthur B..........aged 22....born Portman Square, London....Student
Ethel M...........aged 18....born Portman Square...Student, Kindergarten College, Stockwell
Grace S...........aged 11....born Portman Square
Herbert M.........aged 19....born Portman Square...Student
Stanley...........aged 21....born Portman Square...Government Clerk, Somerset House
Winifred M........aged 26....born North Audley Street, London

The battalions war diaries have been transcribed and are on-line.

On the 17th April the Royal Rngineers had blown a mine under the German Positions on Hill 60 and the 1st Battalion were pushed forward to assist with holding the newly won ground.

12th - 19th April 1915
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ESD0011915003.pdf
20th April 1915
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ESD0011915004.pdf
21st - 22nd April 1915
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ESD0011915005.pdf

"Lieutenant" Geary gets a mention on the 8th March 1915 as being on an officer patrol at night in no mans land
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ES00119150302.pdf

Claude McCaul Alson born 29th September 1892 Allahabad, Bengal, India. The middle child, and only son of Charles Ross Alston [b.1863 d.1937] and Frances Car Alston nee Howard [b.1864 d.1949]. His father is a Barrister. The 1911 census records him living at a lodging house in Hampstead, Lonon. His occupation is recorded as being in the Army but he is further described as “Coasting”. Was he on leave as an Officer Cadet before being commissioned? According to De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, Claude was educated at Carterhouse School and joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers as 2nd Lt on 4th September 1912 and promoted to Lieutenant on 27th October 1914. An unofficial regimental history records that he was killed on the 25th October but all other sources show the 27th. This was possibly while in support of the Northumberland Fusiliers during the first battle of Ypres. His entry in the National Probate Calendar records that his estate of £95 was left to his father.