Spencer Bent
Spencer John Bent | |
---|---|
The East Lancashire Regiment | |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Awards | Victoria Cross Military Medal |
Other work | School caretaker |
Spencer John Bent, VC, MM (known as "Joe") (18 March 1891 – 3 May 1977) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Biography
He was 23 years old, and a
On the night of 1–2 November 1914, near Le Gheer, Belgium, when his officer, the platoon sergeant and a number of men had been struck down, Drummer Bent took command of the platoon and with great presence of mind and coolness succeeded in holding the position. He had previously distinguished himself on two occasions, on 22 and 24 October by bringing up ammunition under heavy shell and rifle fire. Again, on 3 November, he brought into cover some wounded men who were lying, exposed to enemy fire, in the open.[1]
Bent was a
He later achieved the rank of
Bent's VC, along with his
Sources
- ^ "No. 29001". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 December 1914. p. 10533.
- ^ "Five freemasons from the province who won VCs". Insight (The Journal of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Freemasonry) (14): 18–19. November 2017.
- ^ Ashcroft, Michael. "VC Vaults: The Suffolk lad who came out fighting". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ [1] Find A Grave - Spencer John Bent
- ^ BENT, Drummer S. J. (East Lancashire Regiment), Dix Noonan Webb, 28 June 2000, accessed 19 April 2011 Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
References
- Drummer Spencer John Bent, VC (Henry L. Kirby, R.R. Walsh, 1986)
- Monuments to Courage(David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - 1914(Gerald Gliddon, 1994)
External links
- Corporal John Bent (biography)
- Spencer John Bent (biography and action account - on the Stowmarket, Its History and Heritage site)
- Location of grave and VC medal (S.W. London)
- VC medal auction details