BENTON, George Herbert

George Benton was living at 20 William Street, Brierley Hill, in 1914. He attended King Edward’s School in Stourbridge and had been a teacher at Moor Street Schools. He volunteered for the South Staffords Territorials and served in the 1/5th Battalion in the 46th (North Midland) Division. They crossed the Channel on the 5th March 1915 and joined the troops on the Western Front. At this early stage they were trained by short attachment to units in the front line in the area of the Messines Ridge. Private George Benton was one of the Territorials’ first casualties. He was seriously injured and died of wounds on the 13th April. He was 23 years of age and is buried in Nieukerke churchyard (T 2) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill, Brierley Hill church and King Edward VI College, Stourbridge, Memorials.