[1] After leaving school, he worked at the Bank of England and joined the Artists Rifles, Territorial Force, as a private.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the The Worcestershire Regiment in December 1914,[3] he was awarded the Military Cross in January 1916[4] for service during Battle of Loos the previous autumn.

[2] Bennett was a 24 years old Temporary Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, during the First World War when on 5 November 1916 near Le Transloy France the deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

Lieutenant Bennett advanced at the head of the second wave and by his personal example of valour and resolution reached his objective with but sixty men.

Isolated with his small party, he at once took steps to consolidate his position, under heavy rifle and machine gun fire from both flanks, and although wounded, he remained in command, directing and controlling.