Thomas Alfred Bennett

  General Notes:

Calvin Warby notes:
Interred in Ashes interred with wife in Crutchley grave, South Head NSW AUS, occupation Watch/Clock repairer. Eulogy for Thomas Alfred Bennett.
Thomas Alfred Bennett was born on 9 October 1914 above his father's butcher shop in Forest Lodge, Sydney. He was the fifth of seven children of Henry Bennett and Margaret Ellen Bennett (nee:Warby). While he was still a small child, his family moved to Wauchope NSW, where he developed a love of the bush and horses and started his scouting days. These taught him skills that served him well throughout his life. In 1926, his family moved back to Sydney, where he and his younger sisters attended Carlton school. Here in the heartland of his beloved St.George, he wooed and courted the love of his fife, Merle Lillian Crutchley. At the age of 14 he was employed by Hoffhung and Company of Sydney, as a Commercial Traveller. In this position he gained an appreciation of fine jewellery, china and silverware, travelling extensively throughout NSW. In 1939, he commenced work at Seville's China and Jewellery, as a shop assistant and storeman/packer. He also proudly served as a civilian volunteer with the horse-drawn artillery in the 118th Field Battalion. A series of severe nasal operations prevented him from joining the war effort. Merle and Tom were married at Christ Church, Bexley NSW, on 21 October 1939. At Beverly Hills NSW they started their partnership of 62 years. Their daughter Carol was born in 1942 and Christine in 1947. Tom had not long been promoted to the silver cutlery and dock department at Seville's when he was hospitalised with tuberculosis. The family struggled for several years whilst Tom recuperated in Queen Victoria Sanatorium at Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains NSW and later at home. He supplemented the family income during this period by basket making. When he had recovered, he resumed work at Seville's repairing clocks. In 1950, he joined Baden Powell Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of Lodge Beverly Hills and in later years, Lodge Thespian at Bexley. In 1966, he commenced at Hardy Bros. Jewellers as a storeman/packer and remained there until he retired in 1981 (he lied about his age to get this job)! He loved his family and was particularly happy when we were all together. He enjoyed bowls, gemstone polishing and his garden. Both he and Merle were happiest when casting a line. They made several overseas trips visiting many countries. One of the highlights was their visit to his ancestral roots in Cornwall, England. Although Merle is physically unable to join us today, and cannot tell us in words, she will agree that he has been a devoted husband and family man. He has never been a well man, being deaf for most of his life, and suffering innumerable bouts of pneumonia, several nasal operations, two multiple bypasses, two bouts of tuberculosis, and twelve months ago, the removal of his cancerous bladder, from which he has never recovered. Tom was 87 years old when he passed away in St. George Hospital last Friday. He is survived by his wife Merle, daughters Carol and Christine, grandchildren Mitchell, Kirrily, Gavin and Belinda, and great-grandchildren Charlotte, Madeline, Samantha, Carley, Jackson and Georgia.
After his death his family found this message with his papers: - Dear Ones, Do not grieve my departure Feel that I am still close to you Remember our good and our bad times with love I will love you from Heaven As I have loved you on Earth The honeymoon is now over Bless you all Dad

  Noted events in his life were:

• connection. Kirrily Stock's connection to me is as follows:
Kirrily Stock (1971)
Her father is Malcolm Stock (1940) who married Carol Bennett (1942)
Her father was Thomas Bennett (1914)
His father was Henry Bennett (1880)
His father was James Bennett (1852) who married Elizabeth Botterell (1858)
Her father was Thomas Botterell (1834) & he also had Sarah Botterell (1855) who married James Sutton (1842)
They had Margaret Sutton (1877) who married Edwin Denman (1866)
They had Edward Denman (1901)
He had Gwenneth Denman (1929) who married George Beedon
They had Alan Beedon (1956) who married Jann Nock (1956)
Her father was John Nock (1908) who married Amy Whaites (1913)
Her father was Hurtle Whaites (1886) & he also had William Whaites (1915) who married Doris Davies (1917)
Her father was Thomas Davies (1881)
His father was Joseph Davies (1852) & he also had George Arthur Davies (1894)
He had Colin Davies (1925)
He had me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950)

Thomas married Merle Lillian Crutchley, daughter of Sidney Thomas Crutchley and Charlotte Loundes, on 21 Oct 1939 in Christ Church C of E, Bexley, Sydney, NSW Australia. (Merle Lillian Crutchley was born on 18 Aug 1915 in Woollahra, Sydney, NSW Australia, christened on 9 Sep 1915 in Anglican Church, Woollahra, Sydney, NSW Australia and died on 24 Nov 2001 in Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury, Sydney, NSW Australia.)