Alfred Bert Benton

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

772285

Unit at enlistment:

125th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Wounded:

Yes

Date of death:

April 9th, 1917

Cemetery:

Vimy Memorial - Pas de Calais, France

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Greater London

Birth city:

London

Address at enlistment:

14 Burwell Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

9 Salem Road, Brixton, London, England

Trade or calling:

Machinist

Employer:

Watson Manufacturing Co.

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

Circumstances of Casualty: Previously reported Missing believed Killed, now Killed in Action. From information available, this soldier who was a bomber was seen lying dead in a shell hole during the attack at Vimy Ridge.

BX June 19, 1917

Although not officially reported here as having died of his wounds, received during the battle of Vimy Ridge, word has been received here by Mr. Albert Marcham, 98 Oxford Street, from his chum Edward Pattison, to say the Private Alfred Benton, No. 772285, “B” Company, Brant’s First Battalion, had made the supreme sacrifice for his country on April 9.

Always a cheerful and kind disposition and much thought of by his many friends in this city, his chum writes that he died as cheerfully as he had lived, and was quite prepared to go after having done his bit. A sad feature of the case is that this is the second son of this family to give up his life for his country, while a third one lies seriously wounded in a hospital in France.

BX May 4, 1917

Two more Brantford men are reported wounded in a late casualty list today. They are Private Peter Alexander Balfour of 18 Spring Street and Private Alfred Bert Benton of 98 Oxford Street. Private Balfour is a married man who had three years’ experience with the Dufferin Rifles. He left with a draft from that regiment. Benton was a machinist. He is single and went with the first Brant County Battalion.