Henry (Harry) Bennett
BENNETT, Henry (Harry), MWAIE (1868-1948)
Harry Bennett was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire on February 28, 1868. He was the son of Joe Terry Bennett and his wife, Sarah Ann Bennett (nee Judge). He worked for seven years as an apprentice with Bradley & Craven in Yorkshire, presumably helping with the design and manufacture of devices such as the company's brick making machine (see illustration).
Harry Bennett travelled to Western Australia in 1892, where he joined the WA Government Railways as a Fitter on 1st August 1892, working at Fremantle. He transferred to the Public Works Department in 1896.
Harry Bennett became the Manager of the Workshops at Fremantle Harbour in 1897, an Assistant Engineer in the Public Works in 1904, and a foundation member of the Western Australian Institution of Engineers in 1910. He was the Mechanical Engineer for the Fremantle Harbour Trust in 1911, a Consultant to the State Shipping Line from 1915 onwards and gave evidence on the use of Collie Coal to the Commission in 1930.
Harry married Sarah Cooper on November 9, 1901. They had had two children (Harry Cooper Bennett born Fremantle 1896 and Jessamine Winn Bennett, born Fremantle 1900) before the marriage. In 1919, Harry Bennett sought a divorce when he found out that Sarah’s first husband was living at the time of Harry’s marriage to her. He then married Elizabeth Watson in 1920 in Richmond, Victoria.
He retired in 1934 as Works Manager of the Fremantle Harbour. Harry had also been a councillor with the Town of East Fremantle and a member of the Fremantle Tramway and Electric Light Board.
Harry died on July 22, 1948 and was survived by his second wife Elizabeth and his two children, Harry and Jessie.
References:
BB 1897;
WAPD 1901 p722;
PSL 1909, 1930;
Fremantle Harbour Trust, annual report 1911, V&P MA 1911‐2, 23;
RSC Wyndham Freezing Works and Shipping Service, V&P WA 1921 22, A2;
RRC coal mining in Western Australia, V&P WA 1930 3l, 21;
West Australian, 23.7.1948, p 1.
