Eugene Paul Bennett

Eugene Paul Bennett VC MC (4 June 1892 – 6 April 1970) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was born in Cainscross, Stroud, Gloucestershire, one of six children of Charles and Florence Bennett. Bennett was a pupil of Marling School from 1905 to 1908 having gained a scholarship from Uplands School, Stroud.

After leaving school, he worked at the Bank of England and joined the Artists Rifles, Territorial Force, as a private. he was awarded the Military Cross in January 1916 for service during Battle of Loos the previous autumn.

Bennett was a 24 years old Temporary Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, during the First World War when on 5 November 1916 near Le Transloy France the deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

The award citation published in the London Gazette reads:

He later achieved the rank of captain. After the war he became a barrister, being called to the bar in 1923, then practicing as Prosecuting Counsel from 1931 to 1935. until his retirement in 1961. During World War II he served as an officer in the Air Training Corps of the RAF. He retired to Vicenza, in northern Italy, where he died in April 1970 at the age of 77 and was cremated.

His VC was presented to Bennett by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 5 February 1917. It is now held by the Worcestershire Regiment collection in the Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum in Worcester, England.