Booth was married with two children. In December 1915, over a year after the outbreak of the First World War, Booth attested under the Derby Scheme. He was called into the Royal Garrison Artillery in April 1917 and after service in Britain, he was posted to France in March 1918. After the armistice, Booth returned to Britain in February 1919, but died of an inoperable heart tumour at Manchester Royal Infirmary on 22 June 1919. He was buried in a military grave in Denton Cemetery.