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WWI veteran farewelled
May God rest your soul.Gilbert Bennion, one of Australia's last links with World War I, has been buried at a ceremony in northern New South Wales. Mr Bennion, who was affectionately known as Gillie, died last week aged 106. He was born in north Queensland in 1898 and enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in August 1918, but the war finished before he was able to serve overseas. Mr Bennion worked with Queensland Railways for 51 years and was the last station master at Coolangatta. About 100 people gathered at South Tweed for the service, in which Mr Bennion was buried with his station master's cap. Family friend Rod Bates, who delivered the eulogy, told the gathering that Mr Bennion was the quintessential good bloke. "Gillie loved his life and approached it in a humorous and inquisitive way, all 106 years of it," he said. Mr Bennion is survived by his daughter Shirley, son Neville and extended family. Posted by: God Save The World 2005-02-01 |
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