- Name on Memorial: Bennett, J
- Memorial Panel: Centre
- Full Name: James "Jim" Bennett
- Rank: Gunner
- Service Details: 1458187, 88 Field Regt., Royal Artillery
- Age at Death: 21
- Date of Death: 23/12/1941
- Place of Birth: Banbury
- Son Of: John Seear Bennett and Ellen Carpenter Bennett
- Mother's Maiden Name: Cross
- Parents' Marriage Details: West Ham Mar-97
- Husband Of: unknown
- Wife's Maiden Name: unknown
- Marriage Details: unknown
- Cemetery: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
- Additional Information: James “Jim” Bennett was the youngest son of John Seear and Ellen Carpenter Bennett. Born on the 5th June 1920 at No.5 Parsons Street, Banbury, he was 2 years younger than his eldest sister Flo’s daughter Jean. He was a frail baby and would not have survived if it had not been for his mother’s devotion.Early in 1939 he joined the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars Unit of the TA. On August 29th 1939, a few days before war was declared, he was posted to 251 Battery, 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment. In September 1941 he was posted to the 88th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery and sailed on board the “Empress of Canada”. They arrived in Singapore on 28th November 1941 under the command of the 9th Indian Division, and were sent to the north of Malaya to stem the invasion of the Japanese Army.The Japanese landed at Kota Bharu at 0025 on the 8th of December 1941 local time and on the 23rd December 1941, the 88th retreated from Chemor to Ipoh. They were loading stores from a train onto lorries at Ipoh Railway Station when the station was dive-bombed at low level. An ammunition train in the station exploded, killing three men – Sgt Stephens, Driver Ingram and Driver James Bennett, aged 21. His body was never found.
Jim's parents are buried in Southam Rd cemetery, Banbury. This information was kindly supplied by Jim's nephews, John Bennett and Pat Dommett.
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