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Is there any record of him? If all he said was true, he had an impressive army career.

On Tuesday, at St. Helens Police Court, John Benson Wells, of Liverpool, a corporal in Roberts' Horse, who had served through the South African War, was charged with drunkenness. - In answer to questions by the bench, Wells said he belonged to the Canadian Regiment, but was a Liverpool lad. He went to Canada in 1890, and was at the Indian frontier in 1891 with the Royal Horse Artillery. He volunteered for two years, and was afterwards in Egypt, where he went through the battle of Omdurman under Lord Kitchener. After that he went to South Africa, and was with Buller in his attempt to relieve Ladysmith. He was wounded at Colenso by a bullet, which passed through his cheek, smashing the jawbone. He was present at Spion Kop, and afterwards went to Fourteen Streams, Magersfontein, Bloemfontein, and was at Pretoria when the Union Jack was hoisted. He added that he had 27 bullet marks on his body. He returned to England last Friday, and was going back to South Africa again to rejoin his regiment last week. - The Clerk remarked that he appeared to have had an interesting career. - The bench discharged him, and Wells saluted the magistrates as he left the court.

(St. Helens Reporter, 4 January 1901)

He actually went to Magersfontein after Spion Kop!
Really?
Was, or perhaps I should ask, is, this particular gentleman, a time lord?

The only Wells to serve in Robert's Horse was Samuel Scott Wells who joined after Spionkop (and Magersfontein:)

This chap must have taken advantage of the euphoria around those who had served in the war with his scarcely credible story. With the technological limitations they had to make do with it wasn't hard to pull the wool over peoples eyes.

Regards

Rory

There is a john Benson Wells (11923 RFA) who was born in Everton, Liverpool. He was stationed in Glasgow where he enlisted in Aug 1900. He seems to have spent a lot of time on desertion from the depot and awaiting trial by civil powers. He never served abroad and the army seem to of got fed up with him in 1902 and dispensed of his services. All his former service (18 months). Could be the same bloke as we used to say in the army , a bit of a bullsh***ter .

trooper922 wrote: There is a john Benson Wells (11923 RFA) who was born in Everton, Liverpool. He was stationed in Glasgow where he enlisted in Aug 1900. He seems to have spent a lot of time on desertion from the depot and awaiting trial by civil powers. He never served abroad and the army seem to of got fed up with him in 1902 and dispensed of his services. All his former service (18 months). Could be the same bloke as we used to say in the army , a bit of a bullsh***ter .

He certainly had the gift of the gab!

Brilliant info, many thanks.

If this was the same fellow, the court must have been rather ill informed, or actually, completely blind, as it would certainly have been a little unusual for a nine year old to have been engaged on Foreign Service, or indeed, any service, for that matter, with the RHA in 1891!

BereniceUK wrote:

trooper922 wrote: There is a john Benson Wells (11923 RFA) who was born in Everton, Liverpool. He was stationed in Glasgow where he enlisted in Aug 1900. He seems to have spent a lot of time on desertion from the depot and awaiting trial by civil powers. He never served abroad and the army seem to of got fed up with him in 1902 and dispensed of his services. All his former service (18 months). Could be the same bloke as we used to say in the army , a bit of a bullsh***ter .

He certainly had the gift of the gab!

Brilliant info, many thanks.