| Rank | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Service # | 490832 |
| Unit # | RFC 45th Sqd |
| Resident | Chatham |
Regimental number: 490832 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 657 – 22 Item: 38661, PDF: B0657-SO22. Date of Birth 18/08/1896 at Chatham, ON. Son of Richard and Ada Bennie of Leamington, ON. A single school teacher, teaching Pellee Island; living in Leamington, ON. Attestation: 4/07/16 at Toronto, ON to University Company. CDP15/06/17.
Robert was promoted to 2nd Lieut. in the Imperial Army. Once in England he Transferred to the Royal Flying Corp (RFC). He was flying from RFC – 45th Sqd., Served in France.
Appears in the Roll of Honour of the Ontario Teachers who served in the Great War 1914-1918. (Ryerson Press: Toronto, 1922). The dedication page for Robert can be seen on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Apparent Age: 19 Years 11 months, Height: 5’ 6”, Girth: 35 “, weight: 131 ½#. Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Grey, Hair: Brown. Medical 4/07/16, at Toronto. A mole on back of his head and a scar on right calf.
He accepted for a commission in the British Army. Discharged from CEF.
Robert was promoted to 2nd. Lieut in the Imperial Army. Once in England he transferred to the Royal Flying Corp (RFC). He was flying from RFC – 45th Sqd.
Reported ‘Missing’ Presumed Killed 5/06/17. Robert was one of two Second Lieut’s. Pilots that lost their lives in 1917 during preparatory operations on the Battle of Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres. His ‘Observer’ Lieut. Lindsay DRUMMOND was also killed.
Lieut. Robert Smith Bennie flew a Sopwith-Strutter, a two-seater plane. His observer was Arthur Metheral from Moose Jaw Sask. They were taking photos over the Menin, Belgium on 5 June, 1917 when 16 German fighters appeared. While being shot down by 16 enemy planes they jumped out of their burning aircraft. In that moment they had a choice and they decided to jump together.
BENNIE, ROBERT SMITH Initials: R S Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Second Lieutenant Regiment: Royal Flying Corps Unit Text: 45th Sqdn. Secondary Unit Text: (Special Reserve), KIA Date of Death: 05/06/1917; Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Cemetery: ARRAS. Cement House Cemetery, Langmark. MIA – presumed Killed 6/06/17. FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL
For the better part of 100 years the burial place of Robert Smith Bennie was unknown. That was until Dirk Decuypere and his wife Mieke found mention of Bennie in the war diary of a clergyman in Geluwe and a report of a German officer from 1917.
Dirk and Mieke wanted to know who were the three Canadians buried at Langemark? It was a test of piecing the fates of Bennie, Metheral and Drummond. It was a hard job but by 9 February, 2017, 13 years from the start of this search. BENNIE, METHERAL and DRUMMOND were identified and a proper burial.
A proper re-burial took place at the Cement House Cemetery in Langmark-Poelkapelle, Belgium. In the afternoon there was an unveiling of a monument for them in Geluwe.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | Chatham Daily Planet (15-06-1917), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 657 - 22, LAC |
| Supplemental Information | KIA Date of Death: 05/06/1917; Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Cemetery: ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL |
| Height | 5'6" |
| Weight | 131 1/2 lbs. lbs |
| Eye Colour | Grey |
| Age | 19 yrs. 11 mths. |
| Complexion | Fair |
| Hair | Brown |
| Birthplace | 18/08/1896 at Chatham, ON. |
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