Category: Military
Rank: Rifleman 7983
Regiment or Ship: King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Service Number(s): 7983
Occupation: Carter
Date of Birth: 1887
Place of Birth: Sidley
Date of Death: 03.10.1918
Place of Death: Killed in action
Place of Burial / Memorials:
Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery
Address: 59 Sidley Street, Sidley
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Father: James Carey born in Sidley and died 1934 in Battle.
Mother: Ann Elizabeth Barker born 1859 in Sidley and died 1939 in Battle. They married in 1879 in Hailsham.
Siblings:
George Frederick Carey 1882-1958 B0001 CAREY George Frederick (Gov. War Work)
Richard Thomas Carey 1883 – 1963 W0151 CAREY Richard Thomas (Driver)
Edna Grace Carey 1885 – 1962
Frederick Carey 1891 – 1914 W0003 CAREY Frederick (Private)
Arthur Carey 1892 – 1947 W0152 CAREY Arthur (Driver)
Thomas Carey 1895 – 1974 W0150 CAREY Thomas (Private)
Harry Carey 1897 – 1975 W0146 CAREY Harry (Driver)
Alfred Ernest Carey 1899 – 1975 W0153 CAREY Alfred Ernest (Private)
Elsie Carey 1900 – ?
First World War Experience
Benjamin enlisted in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on 6th February 1907. He started off as Private 7983. Previously he had served in the 1st Sussex Royal Engineers. His pre-war service was partly overseas, and following the outbreak of the First World War he was posted to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 16th October 1914. On the 25th November 1915 he was posted to the Balkans (Salonika).
He had several stays in hospital throughout the war, often with his condition listed as NYD (not yet diagnosed) and was shipped back to the UK on 27th May 1918 as a malaria case. By early September he was at Southern Command Malaria Concentration Centre. He was posted to the 4th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps on the 13th September 1918. Just a few weeks later on the 8th October 1918 he was killed in action. His personal effects were listed as a pocket watch and three photos.