R . I. P. Pvt. Malc Brenner 28 November 1971: Robert Malcolm Benner, 25-years-old, single and a soldier with the Queens Regiment holding the rank of Private was a native of the Irish Republic. PVT. Benner was using a 24-your pass to visit his fiancée in Dundalk. His body was found on 29th November on a border road at Teer near Crossmaglen. A farmer was driving by in his tractor and found PVT. Benners body lying on the roadside about 100 yards from the border. He was driving a Morris 1100 which was found nearby and his shoes were missing. He was apparently shot by the Official IRA. PVT. Benner lived in Leicestershire before joining the army. He was born in Dundalk and his fiancée lived in the town. They were due to get married the following March. His fiancée said: I knew the dangers of Bob coming to see me and had tried to persuade him not to come. She offered to meet him in Northern Ireland but he refused. His fiancées mother said: Bobby was a very quiet lad. You could tease him about politics or religion but he always took it well. He was not bitter at all. The only thing I can say is that he was no spy. Anybody that says that is doing him a very grave injustice. PVT. Benners father also lived in Dundalk and worked at the towns railway station. He said that his son had been warned by the IRA to stop going to Dundalk or leave the army. His commanding office said that certain regulations governed visits by military personnel to the Republic of Ireland. He explained: soldiers are allowed to go there if they are domiciled, have close relatives or have to go on urgent personal business. PVT Benner was serving with his regiments 2nd Battalion and was stationed at Ballykinler. He was scheduled to leave Northern Ireland a week after his death. LEST WE FORGET!
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:02:49 +0000
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