WW1 1st July 1916 Frame 1/5th London regiment (London Rifle Brigade) KIA

WW1 certificate which commemorates 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Lionel Benns 1/5th London regiment (London Rifle Brigade), was killed on the 1st July 1916 at Gommecourt aged 24. He was the son of Roger William and Eliza Benns of 45 Bonsfield Road New Cross. He was educated at Haberdashers Aske’s, Hatcham School and Christ’s hospital where he was in the OTC and was shipping clerk with the Commonwealth and Dominion line. He played rugby for Old Blues and was assistant secretary of the Old Blues swimming club. He attested 9148 Private on 28th April 1910. Promoted lance corporal on 12th may 1915. Wounded at Ypres in March 1915. Benns commissioned into the 3/5 London rifle brigade on the 28th September 1915 joined the battalion on 5th March 1916. His body was never found and is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial to the missing.