Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Powers, a carpenter and joiner, born 1847 in Shirley, Warwks., and his wife Emma, born 1855 in Stoke Albany, Northants. Ben was born in q3 1888 in Leicester, his siblings were, William C., a shoe trade worker, born 1877, Albert E., a schoolboy, born 1883, Eliza Maria, a schoolgirl, born 1886, Susan A., born 1887, Jack, born q4 1889 and Alick, born 1891, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at Lansdowne Road, Aylestone, Leicester. In March 1901 Ben was residing in the family home at 301, Saffron Lane, Leicester, together with his parents and siblings, Charles, a shoe trade factory clerk, Albert, a carpenter’s apprentice, Lizzie, a dessmaker’s improver, Alice a glove trade worker, Jack, Emma, born 1893, Emily, born 1894 and Annie, born 1896, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester. In April 1911 Ben was employed as a postman and was residing in the family home at 301, Saffron Lane, Leicester, together with his parents and siblings, Lizzie, a dressmaker, Jack, a hosiery trade warehouseman, Emma, a hosiery trade mender, Emily, a milliner’s improver and Anne, a shoe trade worker. In the fourth quarter of 1916, Ben married Minnie Perry in the Leicester marriage registration district. In the third quarter of 1919, Ben’s widow Minnie married William R. Cockerill in the Leicester marriage registration district, and they resided at 47, Gaul Street, Leicester. His younger brother Jack was killed in action.