Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Benton a Watchmaker and Silversmith Dealer, born 1871 in Bottesford, Leics., and his wife Mary Elizabeth, born 1871 in Donbrad St. Andrew, Wilts. John was born in 1896 in Melton Mowbray, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at 13, Market Place, Melton Mowbray, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Melton Mowbray, St. Mary. In April 1911 John was residing in the family home at 13, Market Place, Melton Mowbray, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Lionel, born 1902, Frederick, born 1903, Alfred, born 1905, Winnie, born 1906, William, born 1907 and Margaret, born 1909, all his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray, Leics. On Friday June 29th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS” – DEATHS. BENTON.- On the 21st June, at the 7th Casualty Clearing Station, Jack the dearly loved son of Mr and Mrs Benton, Market Place, Melton Mowbray. For England, dear England, the land of his birth. In the same issue the following further article was published under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – LOCAL SOLDIERS KILLED. Much sympathy is also felt for Mr and Mrs J. Benton, Market Place, Melton Mowbray, in the loss they have sustained by the death of their eldest son, Pte. J. Benton of the Leicester’s, who died on the 21st inst from gas poisoning. On Saturday morning Mr Benton received the following telegram: “Regret to inform you that No. 240760 Pte. J. Benton, Leicestershire Regt., dangerously ill, gassed, in 7th casualty clearing station France 21st June. Regret permission to visit him cannot be granted. Officer in charge Territorial Force records, Lichfield.” This was followed by another telegram on Tuesday morning stating that Pte. Benton died in the 7th casualty clearing station on June 21st. Deceased who was 20 years of age, joined the Territorial on his 18th birthday in September 1914, and had been out at the front a year and five months, being in the Lewis Gun section. Prior to that he had assisted his father in the watch making and repairing business. He wrote home as recently as Tuesday in last week, and his parents received it on Friday, the day after he died. He also wrote to his fiancée, who lives at Asfordby, on the Wednesday, the letter reaching her last Saturday morning. Deceased had only recently been in hospital for a month. The War Diary for today records. RED MILL. Accidental gassing of C Coy by ROYAL ENGINEERS, cylinders of gas fell in our line. Casualties 3 officers and 91 other ranks of whom 22 died.