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WILF Benson at his brother John’s graveside in Froyennes, just outside Dunkirk
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Finally at peace after 68 years
Ailsa Cranna10/ 4/2008
A PENSIONER has finally managed to visit his brother’s grave almost 68 years after he died defending the Dunkirk retreat.
Wilf Benson never knew where his brother John was buried, nor did he have the money to go over to France to track him down.
But now aged 78, and after saving up for years, the retired engineer has achieved his wish of laying a wreath on his grave.
Wilf, of Astley Court, in Astley Road, Irlam said: "I had been getting very emotional in the run-up to arriving at the cemetery and thought I would not be able to manage it without breaking down.
"But actually, after I got there and laid the wreath, I put my hand on the headstone and felt this incredible sense of peace."
Private John Benson, of the First Border Regiment, died on May 21, 1940, defending the Allied retreat from the beaches of nearby Dunkirk in France.
He was buried along with 26 of his comrades in a civilian cemetery at Froyennes.
John was the second of George and Margaret Benson’s 14 children - Wilf was near the middle.
A few months after learning of his death the family were dealt a double blow when another telegram arrived notifying them that their son George, who was in the Royal Navy, had been killed when his ship was sunk on Atlantic convoy duty.
Wilf said: "I was 10 at the time and heard both bits of news months after my parents did because I had been evacuated to Cleveleys.
"After the war the family became fragmented and some of my brothers and sisters might have known more about where John was buried than I did, but we lost touch.
"I couldn’t go to George’s grave so it became very important to me to find John’s but I didn’t know how to go about it - and anyway, I didn’t have the money at the time."
He achieved his ambition after a chat over a drink in the pub with a group of friends, which included Second World War amateur historian Dave Veldhoven.
Dave, 43, who last year helped POW Bill Dean track down the graves of the comrades who inspired the film The Great Escape, was keen to help Wilf.
He said: "I did the research and tracked his brother to the cemetery in Froyennes and actually went over with Wilf on the four day trip.
"It was a very special moment by the graveside, but Wilf was right, it was also very peaceful."
The only thing marring the visit was the fact it was raining heavily, so Wilf is hoping to return in the summer with his family.
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