C34137 Rifleman Ernest Patrick Benford was born on 14 Nov 1910, in London, England, the son of Charles Patrick Benford and Ethel May ? He had at least one brother Charles.

He was an “edgerman” in a sawmill when he enlisted on 19 May 1941 with the Canadian Forestry Corps. He travelled to Scotland on the same ship as The Queen’s Own Rifles arriving in July 1941.

His record shows various charges for refusing to work and being absent without leave for which he was fined, confined to barracks, or sent to detention. (Not everyone adapted easily to military discipline.)

In June 1943 he was transferred to an infantry reinforcement unit and on 5 August 1943 he was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles. He landed at Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944 with D Company.

Rifleman Benford was killed in action during the battle for Le Mesnil Patry on 11 June 1944, aged 34. He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference III. B. 3.