Mr George Alfred Bennett was born at 13 Princes Street, Chapel, Southampton, Hampshire, England on 23 July 1881.

He was the son of Joseph Bennett (b. 1843), a seaman originally from Portland, Dorset, and Elizabeth Hannah Shinkfield (b. 1849), a native of Southampton. His parents had married on 20 February 1868 and went on to have eleven children, with ten surviving infancy.

George's siblings were: William John (b. 1870), Elizabeth Ann (b. 1871), Hannah Shinkfield (b. 1873), Joseph Henry (b. 1874), Robert Edward (b. 1876), Jane Susan (b. 1878), Albert James (b. 1880), Florence Lily (b. 1883), Ada Annie (b. 1885) and Edith Mabel (b. 1891).

George first appears on the 1891 census living with his family at 22 River Street, St Mary, Southampton. By the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 3 Dock Terrace, Southampton but George was absent and presumably at sea. Another move undertaken by the time of the 1911 census saw George--the only remaining child of his parents still at home--and his parents living at 3 Deal Street, again in Southampton; and he was described as an unmarried ship's stoker. His father, aged in his late 60s, was also still working as a mariner.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, Bennett have his address as 3 Deal Street, Southampton and his previous ship as the Olympic. As a fireman he could expect monthly wages of £6.

George Bennett died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified. His parents later benefitted from the Titanic Relief Fund:

From the Titanic Relief Fund Minute Book number 2, Southampton Area:
Date 23rd April 1914.
Case number C36.
That a special grant of 2/6d per week for three months be made to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett (Partially dependent parents). Mrs. Bennett is suffering from acute rheumatism which is rendering her helpless.

His father died in 1915 and his mother in 1917; both were buried in Southampton Old Cemetery. In 1999 their grave was discovered and a plaque was added to the weathered headstone:

In Memory of George Alfred Bennett
Son of J. and E. Bennett
Fireman on the Titanic
Lost at Sea, April 14/15 1912
Aged 30 Years