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John Benton: Difference between revisions
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}}{{you may|John Benton (Inferno Earth)|n1=John Benton from a parallel universe}} | }}{{you may|John Benton (Inferno Earth)|n1=John Benton from a parallel universe}} | ||
'''John Benton''' was a member of [[Unified Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]], serving before, during, and after the [[Third Doctor]]'s [[exile on Earth]]. He was promoted from Corporal to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1, holding the post of Regimental Sergeant Major. One source says that he later achieved the rank of Lieutenant. | '''John Benton''' was a member of [[Unified Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]], serving before, during, and after the [[Third Doctor]]'s [[exile on Earth]]. He was promoted from [[Corporal]] to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1, holding the post of Regimental Sergeant Major. One source says that he later achieved the rank of [[Lieutenant]]. | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
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His [[John Benton's father|father]] also served in the military. As a boy, John wanted to be just like him. His brother, [[Chris Benton]], did not want to be a soldier. | His [[John Benton's father|father]] also served in the military. As a boy, John wanted to be just like him. His brother, [[Chris Benton]], did not want to be a soldier. | ||
In [[1944]], while his father was on embarkation leave, the Benton family had a picnic in the woods outside [[Bolton]]. While the boys were playing, Chris fell from the high wall of a ruined tower to his death. John tried to save him, but failed and blamed himself ever after. | In [[1944]], while his father was on embarkation leave, the Benton family had a picnic in the woods outside [[Bolton]]. While the boys were playing, Chris fell from the high wall of a ruined tower to his death. John tried to save him, but failed and blamed himself ever after. Sometime later, his father was killed in the [[Normandy landings]] by a [[grenade]]. ([[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Wartime (home video)|Wartime]]'') | ||
John had another brother who worked on the railways in the [[1970s]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Time Tunnel (audio story)|Time Tunnel]]'') and a [[John Benton's sister|younger sister]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Android Invasion (TV story)|The Android Invasion]]'') He also had an aunt, who was supposedly a [[Psychic|medium]] and died in the late [[1960s]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eye of the Giant]]'') | John had another brother who worked on the railways in the [[1970s]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Time Tunnel (audio story)|Time Tunnel]]'') and a [[John Benton's sister|younger sister]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Android Invasion (TV story)|The Android Invasion]]'') He also had an aunt, who was supposedly a [[Psychic|medium]] and died in the late [[1960s]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eye of the Giant]]'') | ||
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Benton was a corporal when he met the Doctor for the first time, though he was doing surveillance work rather than serving in uniform. He helped the [[Second Doctor]] defeat the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] and [[Tobias Vaughn]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'') | Benton was a corporal when he met the Doctor for the first time, though he was doing surveillance work rather than serving in uniform. He helped the [[Second Doctor]] defeat the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] and [[Tobias Vaughn]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'') | ||
Discovering RAF Lieutenant [[Mike Yates]] in a derelict [[Portsoy]] house, Benton opened fire on the [[Armidian]]s holding him hostage there as Yates broke free. The Armidian group vanished. With the Armidians still in the local area, the Brigadier ordered the [[Tharon stone]] the Armidians used to draw power from igneous rock to be destroyed. Benton led one of three groups to find the stone circles the Armidians had teleported to. Benton's group killed one of the Armidians that was trying to use the stone circles to wipe out humanity. According to this account, Yates was then promoted to captain when being recruited to UNIT by the Brigadier. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Vengeance of the Stones (audio story)|Vengeance of the Stones]]'') | Discovering RAF Lieutenant [[Mike Yates]] in a derelict [[Portsoy]] house, Benton opened fire on the [[Armidian]]s holding him hostage there as Yates broke free. The Armidian group vanished. With the Armidians still in the local area, the Brigadier ordered the [[Tharon stone]] the Armidians used to draw power from igneous rock to be destroyed. Benton led one of three groups to find the stone circles the Armidians had teleported to. Benton's group killed one of the Armidians that was trying to use the stone circles to wipe out humanity. According to this account, Yates was then promoted to [[captain]] when being recruited to UNIT by the Brigadier. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Vengeance of the Stones (audio story)|Vengeance of the Stones]]'') | ||
Following Sergeant [[Robin Marshall]]'s death, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Shadow of the Past (audio story)|Shadow of the Past]]'') Benton was promoted to Sergeant. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)|The Ambassadors of Death]]'') | Following Sergeant [[Robin Marshall]]'s death, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Shadow of the Past (audio story)|Shadow of the Past]]'') Benton was promoted to [[Sergeant]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)|The Ambassadors of Death]]'') | ||
Benton was part of a team who investigated the [[Glasshouse]]. He had discovered that someone had kidnapped [[Barbara Redworth]], a police officer who had seen [[Silurian]]s | Benton was part of a team who investigated the [[Glasshouse]]. He had discovered that someone had kidnapped [[Barbara Redworth]], a police officer who had seen [[Silurian]]s while murdering everyone else on the floor. He led UNIT troops in successfully fighting off a Silurian invasion fleet on the [[Kent]] coast. He detonated a bag full of flares at an invading [[Myrka]], killing it. He turned down a promotion to Captain because he preferred being a soldier to an officer. The promotion instead went to [[Mike Yates]], who in this account had already been working for UNIT as a sergeant. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'') | ||
While Benton tried keeping surveillance on Captain [[Chin Lee]], Chin Lee used the [[Keller Machine]] to psychically incapacitate Benton, allowing Chin Lee to escape. He later helped Yates escort the [[Thunderbolt]] missile to be dumped at the bottom of the ocean. Benton was wounded when the convoy was attacked by escaped prisoners from [[Stangmoor Prison]] who stole the Thunderbolt. After recovering, he helped take Stangmoor Prison back from {{Delgado}} and the prison's prisoners. Benton then became the prison's acting governor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mind of Evil (TV story)|The Mind of Evil]]'') | While Benton tried keeping surveillance on Captain [[Chin Lee]], Chin Lee used the [[Keller Machine]] to psychically incapacitate Benton, allowing Chin Lee to escape. He later helped Yates escort the [[Thunderbolt]] missile to be dumped at the bottom of the ocean. Benton was wounded when the convoy was attacked by escaped prisoners from [[Stangmoor Prison]] who stole the Thunderbolt. After recovering, he helped take Stangmoor Prison back from {{Delgado}} and the prison's prisoners. Benton then became the prison's acting governor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mind of Evil (TV story)|The Mind of Evil]]'') | ||
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=== Later career === | === Later career === | ||
By [[1979]], Benton had left UNIT and had | By [[1979]], Benton had left UNIT and had become a used car salesman. ([[TV]]: ''[[Mawdryn Undead]]'') Benton attended the UNIT reunion of [[1983]], by which point he had returned to active service. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Business Unusual]]'') | ||
One account stated that by [[1986]], Benton had returned to UNIT and become a commissioned officer with the rank of Lieutenant, subsequently leading a UNIT team to the [[Snowcap]] tracking base in [[Antarctica]] to clear up the chaos left by the [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]]'s attempt to drain [[Earth]] of its energy in [[December]] of that year. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (novelisation)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') | One account stated that by [[1986]], Benton had returned to UNIT and become a commissioned officer with the rank of Lieutenant, subsequently leading a UNIT team to the [[Snowcap]] tracking base in [[Antarctica]] to clear up the chaos left by the [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]]'s attempt to drain [[Earth]] of its energy in [[December]] of that year. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (novelisation)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') | ||
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In [[2009]] John Benton was invited to [[Sarah Jane Smith]]'s aborted wedding with [[Peter Dalton]], but couldn't make it because he was doing something secret in [[Malaysia]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (novelisation)|The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith]]'') | In [[2009]] John Benton was invited to [[Sarah Jane Smith]]'s aborted wedding with [[Peter Dalton]], but couldn't make it because he was doing something secret in [[Malaysia]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (novelisation)|The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith]]'') | ||
On [[24 April]] [[2010]] he attended the wedding of [[Bernice Summerfield]] and [[Jason Kane]] in [[Cheldon Bonniface]]. By this time, he was in his seventies, well-tanned and stocky. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Happy Endings]]'') | On [[24 April]] [[2010]], he attended the wedding of [[Bernice Summerfield]] and [[Jason Kane]] in [[Cheldon Bonniface]]. By this time, he was in his seventies, well-tanned and stocky. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Happy Endings]]'') | ||
Benton attended a [[Christmas]] dinner hosted by the [[Eighth Doctor]] at the Brigadier's house. Together they shared a toast to faithful friends. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Faithful Friends: Part 3 (short story)|Faithful Friends: Part 3]]'') | Benton attended a [[Christmas]] dinner hosted by the [[Eighth Doctor]] at the Brigadier's house. Together they shared a toast to faithful friends. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Faithful Friends: Part 3 (short story)|Faithful Friends: Part 3]]'') | ||
[[File:Benton Assembled-min.jpg|thumb|Benton in [[White Hart (Scafell)|his pub]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Call to Arms (audio story)|Call to Arms]]'')]] | [[File:Benton Assembled-min.jpg|thumb|Benton in [[White Hart (Scafell)|his pub]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Call to Arms (audio story)|Call to Arms]]'')]] | ||
Later in his life, Benton owned a [[pub]] in [[Scafell]] called the ''[[White Hart (Scafell)|White Hart]]''. He decided to pack up with his wife [[Margery Phipps]] and go on a cruise. When [[Kate Stewart]] and [[Petronella Osgood]] arrived at the pub he helped him. When [[Jastrok]] arrived at his pub Benton became injured. He tried to then slow the Silurian. Benton spent his time restoring [[Bessie]]. Despite leaving military service as | Later in his life, Benton owned a [[pub]] in [[Scafell]] called the ''[[White Hart (Scafell)|White Hart]]''. He decided to pack up with his wife [[Margery Phipps]] and go on a cruise. When [[Kate Stewart]] and [[Petronella Osgood]] arrived at the pub he helped him. When [[Jastrok]] arrived at his pub Benton became injured. He tried to then slow the Silurian. Benton spent his time restoring [[Bessie]]. Despite leaving military service as an RSM, he was referred to as 'sergeant' by all, including other members of UNIT. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Call to Arms (audio story)|Call to Arms]]'') Kate passed local control of UNIT in the UK to Mike, Benton and Jo due to their experience with Silurians and [[Sea Devil]]s before, whilst she couldn't get back to base. After Jo went off in a huff he went to check on her. He helped Osgood in her work. He took the Air Creatures the Silurians were using back to the [[Hebrides]] before he went back to his wife for their cruise. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[United (audio story)|United]]'') | ||
The Eighth Doctor later visited Benton to collect his third self's notes on [[William (Gone Fishing)|Isaac]]'s music. The Doctor then informed Benton that he would die soon. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[DS Al Fine]]'') | The Eighth Doctor later visited Benton to collect his third self's notes on [[William (Gone Fishing)|Isaac]]'s music. The Doctor then informed Benton that he would die soon. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[DS Al Fine]]'') | ||
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<span>Benton was a down-to-earth British infantryman and non-commissioned officer — reliable, uncomplicated and with a good dose of common sense. When the </span>[[Third Doctor]]<span> asked him if he was going to comment that </span>[[The Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]]<span> was </span>[[Dimensionally transcendental|bigger on the inside than on the outside]]<span> as everyone did, Benton's classic reply was, "Well, It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" (</span>[[TV]]<span>: </span>''[[The Three Doctors]]''<span>)</span> | <span>Benton was a down-to-earth British infantryman and non-commissioned officer — reliable, uncomplicated and with a good dose of common sense. When the </span>[[Third Doctor]]<span> asked him if he was going to comment that </span>[[The Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]]<span> was </span>[[Dimensionally transcendental|bigger on the inside than on the outside]]<span> as everyone did, Benton's classic reply was, "Well, It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" (</span>[[TV]]<span>: </span>''[[The Three Doctors]]''<span>)</span> | ||
<span>Despite not understanding what the Doctor was doing or any of his explanations, Benton always took the Doctor at his word and trusted him implicitly. He was loyal, not just to the rank, but also to the people he worked with | <span>Despite not understanding what the Doctor was doing or any of his explanations, Benton always took the Doctor at his word and trusted him implicitly. He was loyal, not just to the rank, but also to the people he worked with and was willing to disobey orders in order to help them. During one incident, he allowed himself to be rendered unconscious when the Doctor was framed so as allow him to escape and later subdued Mike Yates and </span>[[Finch (Invasion of the Dinosaurs)|General Finch]]<span>. (</span>[[TV]]<span>: </span>''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]''<span>)</span> | ||
== Other information == | == Other information == | ||
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== Behind the scenes == | == Behind the scenes == | ||
* Benton was initially supposed to have been portrayed by a different actor in ''[[The Invasion]].'' The original actor cast – who shall remain nameless – was fired by director [[Douglas Camfield]] as he was continually turning up late for filming, causing the planned shooting schedules to be changed. | * Benton was initially supposed to have been portrayed by a different actor in ''[[The Invasion]].'' The original actor cast – who shall remain nameless – was fired by director [[Douglas Camfield]] as he was continually turning up late for filming, causing the planned shooting schedules to be changed. | ||
* Benton would have appeared in a cameo in the television story ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', not recognising the Second Doctor and denying him admittance to UNIT's reunion. However [[John Levene]] declined to take up the role again on the grounds that Benton would have remembered that version of the Doctor and not made such a mistake. Instead, he was replaced by [[Sergeant (The Five Doctors)|a nameless UNIT sergeant]]. | * Benton would have appeared in a cameo in the television story ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', not recognising the Second Doctor and denying him admittance to UNIT's reunion. However, [[John Levene]] declined to take up the role again on the grounds that Benton would have remembered that version of the Doctor and not made such a mistake. Instead, he was replaced by [[Sergeant (The Five Doctors)|a nameless UNIT sergeant]]. | ||
* During his on-screen appearances, Benton's first name, John, was never given. It was first revealed in the video ''[[Wartime (home video)|Wartime]]'' | * During his on-screen appearances, Benton's first name, John, was never given. It was first revealed in the video ''[[Wartime (home video)|Wartime]]'' and later appeared in fully-licensed stories such as the novel ''[[Happy Endings]]''. | ||
* Benton was the first companion to be portrayed by a juvenile or infant actor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Monster (TV story)|The Time Monster]]'') | * Benton was the first companion to be portrayed by a juvenile or infant actor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Monster (TV story)|The Time Monster]]'') | ||
{{Companions of the Third Doctor}} | {{Companions of the Third Doctor}} | ||
