Born on the 8th November 1906, the birth being
registered during the December quarter 1906 in the
Toxteth Park R.D. - ref: 8b/207, the eldest son of
John & Lydia Agnes Benn (nee Mckay).

1911 Census - 42 Miller Street, Toxteth Park,
Liverpool.   Son - aged: 4 - born: Toxteth Park,
Liverpool.   Head of household - John Benn -
Married - aged: 26 - occ: Police Constable - born:
Toxteth.   Also Lydia Agnes Benn - Wife - aged: 26
- born: Toxteth.   Plus 2 younger siblings.

1939 National Registration - Stretford Memorial
Hospital, 226 Seymour Grove, Stretford.   John E.
Benn - Married - born: 8th November 1906 - occ:
Fireman (Fire Bridge) & A.R.P. Auxiliary Fireman. 
His wife and children were then residing at - 107
Redington Road , Liverpool.   Lily Benn - Married
- born: 5th December 1905 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.  The records of their two children are
closed.

Married Lily Percival at St. Michael's P.C.,
Garston on the 1st August 1928, the marriage being
registered during the September quarter 1928 in
the Liverpool R.D. - ref: 8b/74.  John was
recorded as a 21 year old bachelor employed as a
Engine Room Artificer, Royal Navy, residing at 7
Heald Street, Garston - his father, John Benn
recorded as a Police Sergeant.  Lily Percival was
a 22 year old spinster residing at 21 Hardy 
Street, Garston, the daughter of Thomas Francis
Percival a Railway Servant.    John & Lily had two
children and resided at 27 Lascelles Road,
Liverpool. 

His father was an ex-fire station sergeant and his
brother was a policeman in Liverpool who was
killed in a fire (Liverpool Blitz???) a short time
previously.

During the air raids on Stretford in December
1940, Sub-Officer Benn, serving with the Stretford
& Urmston Joint Fire Brigade, was in charge of a
number of pumps when a bomb fell nearby, injuring
several of his crew.    He immediately rendered
first aid to the injured and managed to get them
off to hospital.    For this act of bravery and
devotion to duty, he was awarded the MBE.

The full time Station Officer, Stretford & Urmston
F.B. Auxiliary Fire Service.    He died as a
result of shrapnel wounds on the way to hospital
and his body was taken to the Church Street
Mortuary, Stretford, where it was identified by
his father - John Benn, 36 Wingate Road,
Liverpool, to whom it was released for burial.

Liverpool Echo dated 30th August 1930 -
"Explosions at the Garston factory of the British
Thermite Company.   Fire-sergeant John Benn (John
Edwin's father), together with a another fireman
were hurled backwards by an explosion.   They
refused to go to hospital and carried on fighting
the fires.   A long report.

CWD Report No.116 and the CWGC state that he died
at Park Road (Fire Station House), but this was
his home address - the incident that killed him
was actually at Great Stone Road.

Death reported in the 25/04/1941 edition of the
Stretford & Urmston News.  Death registered in
Stretford Borough.   Buried at Liverpool
(Allerton) Cemetery on the 15th March 1941.

Following John's involvement in the Christmas
Blitz - 22nd/23rd/24th December 1940, his Chief
Officer - Joseph Clitherow, the Chief Fire Officer
of the Stretford & Urmston Joint Fire Brigade
submitted a report about Sub Officer John Benn,
Firemen Wiliam Hulme (22) & Fireman Fred Hilton
(21) as follows:-  "Sub-Officer Benn displayed
remarkable courage and coolness in dealing with a
very serious situation.  The three men had been
fire fighting almost continuously for 24 hours
when the second enemy attack commenced on the
district.  High explosive bombs were dropping and
also land mines were exploding in the area.  The
three men concerned  were in the vicinity of two
H.E. bomb explosions which killed 4 (5 actually)
Oldham Auxiliary Firemen, one civilian and
seriously wounded two other civilians in addition
thereto.  Four Auxiliary firemen and one regular
fireman were badly affected by the shock.

Gazetted on the 8th April 1941.  "Sub-Officer Benn
displayed courage and coolness in dealing with a
very serious situation when H.E. bombs caused
casualties to firemen and civilians.  He gave
first aid treatment and applied tourniquets to
three badly wounded persons.   The Sub-Officer
then went on foot through intense bombardment to
other fires.  He showed presence of mind and
devotion to duty in extremely dangerous
conditions."

Owing to the intense bombardment, the Sub-Officer
instructed the men to take shelter and from there
proceeded on foot to other fires.  He considered
the situation serious and there being no
telephonic communication with the fire station,
the Sub-Officer, together with Driver Hulme,
extracted a Leyland pumping unit out of the ring
of fires and returned to the fire station to
report the seriousness of the position so that
further assistance could be sent into the Trafford
Park area..................Signed J. Clitherow."

From another source - "During the air raids on
Stretford in December 1940, Sub-Officer Benn,
serving with the Stretford & Urmston Joint Fire
Brigade, was in charge of a number of pumps when a
bomb fell nearby, injuring several of his crew.   
He immediately rendered first aid to the injured
and managed to get them off to hospital.    For
this act of bravery and devotion to duty, he was
awarded the MBE."

The full time Station Officer, Stretford & Urmston
F.B. Auxillary Fire Service.    He died as a
result of shrapnel wounds on the way to hospital
and his body was taken to the Church Street
Mortuary, Stretford, where it was identified by
his father - John Benn, 36 Wingate Road,
Liverpool, to whom it was released for burial.

CWGC -  Station Officer, Stretford and Urmston
Joint Fire Brigade. Son of John and Lydia A. Benn,
of 36 Wingate Road, Liverpool; husband of Lily
Benn, of 27 Lascelles Road. Died at 240 Park
Road.

Manchester Evening News dated 11th March 1944 -
"In Memoriam - In remembrance of J.E. Benn ever
remembered by Officers and Men at Park Road Fire
Station".

Death registered during the March quarter 1941 in
the Barton upon Irwell R.D. - ref: 8c/1176 - aged:
34.   The death was reported in the 25/04/1941
edition of the Stretford & Urmston News.   Buried
at Liverpool (Allerton) Cemetery on the 15th March
1941.

Manchester Evening News dated 11th March 1944 -
"In Memoriam - In remembrance of J.E. Benn ever
remembered by Officers and Men at Park Road Fire
Station".

Liverpool Echo dated 11th March 1942 - "In
Memoriam - In memory of Station Officer John E.
Benn from his colleagues"

Liverpool Echo dated 11th March 1943 - "In
Memoriam - In loving memory of our eldest son John
E. Benn OBE, 36 Wingate Road".

M.I. on gravestone in Allerton Cemetery, Liverpool
- "Age shall not weary them".    His wife -
Lillian Benn, died on the 1st July 1962 - aged:
56.