Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Edward Boughton Benford a farm labourer, born 11th September 1870 in Narborough, Leicestershire and his wife Harriet Benford (nee Standley, married on the 13th September 1892 in Narborough parish church), born 10th February 1868 in Narborough. Alec Edward Standley was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Narborough and was baptised on the 2nd July 1893 in Narborough parish church, his siblings were Margaret Elizabeth, born 1897 and baptised on the 7th March 1897 in Narborough parish church and George Henry, born 1901 and baptised on the 4th August 1901 in Narborough parish church, both siblings were born in Narborough, in March 1901 the family home was at Meeting Lane, Narborough. In April 1911 Alec was employed as a concrete labourer with the Empire Stone Company and was residing in the family home at School Lane, Narborough, together with his father, a concrete labourer with the Empire Stone Company, his mother and sister Margaret, a nurse maid. In 1939, Alec’s father was employed as a granite quarry worker, and together with his mother were both residing in the family home at 12, School Lane, Narborough.
Alec attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) & in the Reserve on the 8th September 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Narborough, Leicestershire, his age as 21 years and 260 days, his trade or calling as concrete -?- and he confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Edward Benford, his mother Harriett Benford and his sister, Margaret Benford, all of School Lane, Narborough as his next of kin. His medical examination took place on the 8th September 1914 in Leicester, it recorded his place of birth as Narborough, Leicestershire, his declared age as 21 years and 260 days and that he was 5 foot 10 inches in height, weighed 128 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches. His physical development was described as good. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 14479 on the 8/9/14. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 25/9/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Admitted to 48th Field Ambulance, in the field suffering from an infection of the larynx on the 29/2/16. Transferred to the 19th Casualty Clearing Station, in the field on the 6/3/16. Admitted to the 2nd General Hospital, Havre on the 12/3/16. Discharged from hospital to the 37th Infantry Brigade Depot in Etaples on the 22/3/16. Posted to the 5th Entrenching Battalion on the 7/4/16. Joined the 5th Entrenching Battalion, in the field on the 8/4/16. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 25/5/16. Joined the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 26/5/16. Wounded in action, in the field on the 14/7/16. Admitted to the 65th Field Ambulance, in the field suffering from a gunshot wound to the finger on the 15/7/16. Transferred to the 18th General Hospital, Camiers on the 16/7/16. Transferred from hospital to the 6th Convalescent Depot, Camiers on the 17/7/16. Transferred to Details Camp, Etaples on the 19/7/16. Transferred to the 12th Infantry Brigade Depot, in the field on the 20/7/16. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 2/8/16. Joined the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 2/8/16. Posted to 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 6/9/16. Joined the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 6/9/16. Reported missing in action, in the field on the 25/9/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 8/9/14 – 28/7/15, 324 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 25/9/16, 1 year 59 days. Total service, 2 years 18 days. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Alec’s mother Harriett Benford on the 9th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?-, Clerk in Holy Orders, Narborough, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Edward Benford of School Lane, Narborough. Mother of soldier, Harriett Eliza Benford of School Lane, Narborough. Full blood brothers of soldier, none. Full blood sisters of soldier, Margaret Elizabeth Benford, age 22 of School Lane, Narborough. Alec’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 25 Sep-16 - The morning was spent in making final preparations for attack. Enemy shelling not heavy and a few casualties were sustained. At 12.35pm waves were formed up in front of trenches. At 12.37pm the advance commenced, “C” and “D” Companies in extended order, “A” and “B” Companies in artillery formation, enemy immediately commenced an extremely intense and deep barrage. At 12.45pm the first two platoons of “D” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but sustained heavy casualties. All the Company officers becoming casualties, 2nd Lieutenant A. E. PETER, 2nd Lieutenant W. S. GILBERT, Company Sergeant Major POTTERTON were all killed, 2nd Lieutenant CLARK was wounded. The remnants of the first 2 waves of “C” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but owing to machine gun fire from the right, and the Brigade on the right, having failed to take GIRD TRENCH, the party were all killed or wounded. 2nd Lieutenant RENNIE was killed in GIRD TRENCH, Lieutenant HENWOOD was wounded. Captain WEBB wheeled the 3rd and 4th waves of “C” Company and formed a defensive flank down SUNKEN ROAD facing right. At 1.00pm Captain WEBB was wounded and Company Sergeant Major RHODES was killed. “C” Company suffered extremely heavy casualties from machine gun fire. “A” and “B” Companies advanced and established themselves in NEW TRENCH, BULL TRENCH and PATROL TRENCH and shell holes in the rear. Battalion Headquarters advanced from LEWIS TRENCH to PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Captain ALLBERRY led “A” Company forward but was immediately killed by machine gun fire from the right flank. Lieutenant HARDY, 2nd Lieutenant LEWIS, Company Sergeant Major RICE and many of Company becoming casualties through the same cause. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG was wounded in the arm in PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Battalion Headquarters advanced to BULL TRENCH. At 2.00pm the remainder of Battalion Headquarters viz: Lieutenant Colonel HAIG, Captain POPHAM (8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT), Lieutenant TOOTH and 3 orderlies advanced to NEW TRENCH. Captain POPHAM and the 3 orderlies were wounded. At 2.35pm the advance hung up on account of machine gun fire and rifle fire. Enemy still occupying GIRD TRENCH on right of SUNKEN ROAD. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG and Lieutenant TOOTH advanced to NEW TRENCH and finding it empty, crossed over to GOAT TRENCH. Only dead and wounded men were found in GOAT TRENCH, accordingly Lieutenant Colonel HAIG and Lieutenant TOOTH in anticipation that the front two Companies had reached GIRD TRENCH, again advanced to PILGRIMS WAY where 40 other ranks of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were found without any officer. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG decided to remain and hold on with the 40 other ranks until reinforcements arrived to clear GIRD TRENCH on right. At 3.00pm connection with 55th Division in GIRD TRENCH on the left of PILGRIMS WAY was established. A bombing group of 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT was organised and bombed down GIRD TRENCH on the right of PILGRIMS WAY for 50 or 60 yards. Many of the enemy were killed and 12 were taken prisoner. Owing to the lack of bombs, a block was established, and a Lewis gun posted near the block. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG sent numerous reports on the situation to Brigade Headquarters, only two of which reached Brigade, the orderlies being either killed or wounded. Heavy shelling all the time. At 8.00pm connection with Brigade was established through 2nd Lieutenant KELLY. During the night the ROYAL ENGINEERS constructed a strong point at N.32.a.1.9. The night was spent digging in and consolidating position. The enemy seemed to be working round behind PILGRIMS WAY, but did not attack. From zero (12.35pm) to 5.30pm, the enemy kept up a heavy and very deep barrage becoming intense at times.