David Besford worked for the Cooperative Wholesale Society in Newcastle, where he met his future wife Joan Matthews. He drove a fire engine during the Second World War, and later joined the Civil Service.
David Besford was injured fighting in the First World War. He and his family emigrated from the UK to Australia in 1925, where he worked as a mines inspector.
Robert was an agricultural labourer. He had three daughters with his first wife Mary. After her death, he had two sons with his second wife Ann Goodfellow.