Ben was born on 23 March 1913 in Leeds, Yorkshire to Polish parents Isaac, a tailor, and Mary nee Moses and he was the middle child of seven children.

After school he worked as a cabinet maker and his obituary states that he was a member of the Yorkshire Amateur football club and toured with the Leeds Maccabi football team in Palestine in 1936. He enlisted into the Pioneer Corps in 1941 and was promoted to Lance-Corporal on the 19th August, 1941 and was confirmed in the rank of Corporal on the 22nd January, 1942. After training Ben received his Commission as Lieutenant with effect from the 25th February, 1943.

The official record relating to the events of the 8th June, 1944 are contained in the recommendation for an award referring to Sergeant Arthur Stanwick (the Sergeant serving under Ben) which reads as follows:

“At about 04:30 hours on the 8th June 1944, the L.C.I. [Landing Craft, Infantry] carrying amongst others 1 Officer [Ben Crann] and 32 ORs [Other Ranks] of 164 Company Pioneer Corps… was struck by a torpedo and the officer was killed. Sergeant Stanwick immediately mustered the men on deck, called the roll and found all present. He then ascertained that the hold in which the officers were travelling had been hit and his own officer was missing. By his calm example he maintained strict order and discipline and when another landing craft came alongside, he superintended the transfer of his men and arms. On arrival at the beach, he again called the roll and checked that none were missing. He then ascertained the location of his company and re-joined it with all his men, and no loss of arms.”

Ben was originally posted as missing, presumed drowned. One of his Sergeants – believed to be Sergeant Stanwick – was later to visit Philip with some of Ben’s effects including his uniform, his Sam Browne belt and his revolver. It was on this occasion that Philip was told that there was no question of Ben having survived: the boat had received a direct hit. He was told that, at the time, Ben was playing bridge in the hold.