Regimental Number: 101246
Rank: Private
Branch: 66th Battalion; 49th Battalion, Alberta Regiment, Canadian Infantry
Benjamin was born to Thomas and Elizabeth Boyd on February 21, 1891 in Arundel, Quebec. Ben and his brother Joe worked for the Bell Telephone Company in 1909, constructing the main line from Winnipeg to Edmonton. They arrived in Beaverlodge in 1910 and wrote to their mother, Elizabeth Boyd Loudfoot (who had been twice widowed) to come out with her younger sons. Ben filed on SE 10-71-8-W6 on August 16, 1910. He proved up and enlisted in 1914. Ben received a shrapnel wound in his thumb on August 18, 1916 and less than two months later was killed in action at Courcelette on October 9, 1916. He is remembered at the Vimy Memorial in Pas-de-Calais, France.
Sources: Along the Wapiti p. 406; Lake Saskatoon Reflections p. 103; Pioneers of the Peace p. 89