His death was reported on page 2 of The Hong Kong Telegraph, 1894-07-04:
We greatly regret to have to record that Mr. F. H. Benning, a clerk in Jardine, Matheson, & Co.'s, who was attacked by the plague last Monday night, died on board the hospital-ship Hygeia this morning. The deceased, who was about 18 years of age, was one of the most promising of a number of young men who have in recent years received a thoroughly sound English education at the Diocesan Home and Orphanage, at West Point. Two years ago he joined the staff of the “princely house," but continued to reside at the Home. It was not until Tuesday morning that Benning developed any serious symptoms of the bubonic disease and then Dr. J. A Lowson, who was called in, at once caused him to be carefully removed to the Hygeia where the deadly plague rapidly gained complete mastery over his robust constitution, despite the untiring efforts of Doctors Lowson, Molyneux, and others to pull him through the crisis. The funeral of the unfortunate youth, which was attended by a large number of friends and acquaintances, took place at the Protestant Cemetery, Happy Valley, this afternoon. Bishop Burdon conducting the service in the Mortuary Chapel and at the grave. This will be bad news for Captain A. H. Benning, the deceased lad’s father, who for a great number of years held a command in the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Co.’s service and now lives in New York.
The inscription on his gravestone reads:
Sacred / to the memory of / Frederick Harold / eldest son of / Captain A. Benning / born 26th August 1876 / died 4th July 1894 / "Thy will be done"