Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Beniston a Coal Miner (Hewer), born 1867 in Coalville, Leics., and his wife Elizabeth Newbold Beniston, born 1869 in Coalville, Leics. Frank Percy was born in 1894 in Swannington, Leics., his siblings were Laura Ann, born 1891, Eva Martha, born 1893 and Doris Elizabeth, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Coalville, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Margaret Street, Coalville, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Coalville, Christ Church. In April 1911 Frank was employed as a Below Ground Horse Driver and was residing in the family home at 13, Owen Street, Coalville, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Laura, Eva, Doris, John Eric, born 1903, Walter Edwin, born 1905 and Bernice Baker Beniston, born 1909, the latter three siblings were all born in Coalville, Leics. The Memorial shows the incorrect surname spelling of Benniston.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday September 29th, 1916

COALVILLE BANDSMAN KILLED

Mr and Mrs John Thomas Beniston, of 18, Scotlands Road, Coalville, have been notified that their eldest son, Frank, has been killed in action.

Private C. Stoner, of the L.M.S. Section, writes, “I hope you will not think I am taking a liberty in writing to you, as your son, Frank and I were great friends, and I am sorry to tell you that he was killed in action on September 9th. I can assure you he was a good chap, and did his duty well, and he was well-liked by all his comrades of the machine gun section. He was by my side when he was hit by an explosive bullet, and I did my best to try and save him by getting him under cover and dressing the wound, but he died almost immediately. It was also his wish that I should write and let you know if anything happened to him and not to myself, so I think it is my duty to let you know. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement.”

Private Frank Beniston was in the Royal Sussex Regiment, and before the war worked at the Snibstone Colliery. He was 22 years of age, and enlisted in February, 1915, and had been about nine months in France. He was a popular young man in the town and well-known by his association with various bodies. He was a member of the Coalville Coronation Brass Band (of which his father is also a member), a Good Templar in the Vorley Lodge, member of the choir at the Coalville Ebenezer Baptist Church, and also attended the Young Men’s Bible Class there. He formerly attended the Coalville Wesleyan Day School and is another of Mr T. Frith’s old boys to make the supreme sacrifice.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 13th, 1916

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service for Private Frank Beniston, of the Royal Sussex Regiment, recently killed in action, was held at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, on Sunday evening. Deceased, who was a son of Mr J. T. Beniston, of Scotlands Road, Coalville, was a chorister at the church. He was also a Good Templar, and a member of the Coalville Coronation Brass Band, the members of which attended the service, also a number of Good Templars wearing their regalia. Members of the V.A.D. including Commandant Eames, and Dr. J. S. Hamilton were also present, and there was a large congregation. The service was conducted by the pastor, the Rev. W. H. Wills, who preached an appropriate sermon from the text, “No night there”. Deceased’s favourite hymns were sung, and at the close of the service, the band played the “Dead March,” one of the members also sounding “The Last Post.” The service was of an impressive character.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 10th, 1916

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS

Mr and Mrs T. Beniston, of Scotland’s Road, Coalville, wish to thank most sincerely all friends for expressions of sympathy with them on the death of their son, Frank, killed in action.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 10th, 1916

Mr and Mrs J. T. Beniston, of the Scotland’s Road, Coalville, have now been officially notified that their son, Private Frank Beniston, of the Royal Sussex Regiment, has been killed in action. They had previously received the news from a friend of the deceased. Private Beniston was formerly a collier, and a member of the Coalville Coronation Band.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 15/10/2017