Son of Thomas and Mary (nee Cochrane) Bennet

During the war, Charles was the driver of the bullet-riddled mobile canteen that followed the 28th Battalion through some torrid Middle East Campaigns. The truck had been bought with the savings by the Maori schoolchildren after the NZ Division lost all its transport to the Germans in Greece. The truck was named Te Rau Aroha, a gift of love. Charlie had countless close calls with shrapnel; even having one piece embed itself in the New Testament that was in his shirt pocket.

Received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East 7 April 1944.

Te Rau Aroha was returned to New Zealand and is now fully restored at the Army Museum at Waiouru. It was brought to Auckland for the 28th Maori Battalion Reunion (2010). The truck and the photographs of Charlie, and others from the battalion mostly copied from the lantern slides of the United Maori Mission were displayed before the Memorial Service was held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum

Veterans from the 28 (Maori) Battalion formed a guard of honour and took part in the service at the graveside. Amongst them was Wally Hayward and Muri Thompson. A service sheet for the unveiling was printed and included photographs of the burial service.

The Auckland Museum Library's manuscripts collection holds a notebook attributed to Bennet, listing the Maori schools visited and their physical locations during a tour by the mobile canteen 'Te Rau Aroha' after its return to New Zealand in 1945-46. [Ref. MS 2011/17]

Family portrait on 28 Maori Battalion site AWMM