The town of Naours, north of Amiens is home to an underground city of tunnels and caves, originally dug from the chalk in Medieval times. During WW1 the caves were home to men of the British Army, and many have left their names on the walls of the tunnels. Management of the site got in touch with the Green Howards Museum about a number of names they believed were carved by men of the Yorkshire Regiment, including one that, though erode over time, could still be read as B Hellewell, Pogmore. On just that information they hoped that museum staff could find out more about Hellewell. And, of course, they could.
Benjamin Hellewell was born in Ardsley, just outside Barnsley in January 1894 and Baptised on 1 April. His father was also called Benjamin, and he ran a pub, and his mother was called Emily. Benjamin had 2 brothers, Victor and John and a sister, Victoria. The 1911 British Census shows the family living at 73 Pogmore Road, Barnsley, something Benjamin has noted when he made his mark in the caves, at the time Benjamin was an Apprentice Butcher.
The British Medal Roll records show that Benjamin originally served as a soldier with the 13th Battalion of The York and Lancaster Regiment before transferring to the 2nd Battalion of The Yorkshire Regiment. His Medal Index Card shows that he was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He did not qualify for either the British 1914 Star or 1the 915 Star. This means he did not land in France until after 1st January 1916.
Benjamin died of wounds on 17th December 1916. We do not know when Benjamin was wounded but, the Battalion War Diary confirms that, on 16th December men of the Battalion took part in a raid on an enemy trench near Bailleumont, during which 1 man was killed and 8 wounded. It is possible that Benjamin was one of the wounded.
Benjamin’s entry in the British Register of Soldier’s Effects shows that, at the time he died Benjamin was owed outstanding pay totalling £17, 13 shillings and 11 pence, this money went to his father. This record also shows that Benjamin died in the No. 97 Field Ambulance, a mobile front-line hospital, located at Laherliere. Benjamin is buried in Humbercamps Communal Cemetery Extension, grave I.F.2.
Amazing how a mark, left on a wall over 100 years ago, still echoes.