Spencer Bent Explained

Spencer John Bent
Birth Date:18 March 1891
Birth Place:Stowmarket, Suffolk, England
Death Place:Hackney, London, England
Placeofburial:West Norwood Crematorium
Serviceyears:1905 – 1925
Rank:Regimental Sergeant-Major
Branch: British Army
Unit:The East Lancashire Regiment
Battles:World War I
Awards:Victoria Cross
Military Medal
Laterwork: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 drummer in the 1st Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

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.

Bent was a Freemason and was initiated into Aldershot Camp Lodge No. 1331 on 8 December 1920.[1]

He later achieved the rank of Company Sergeant-Major.[2] He survived the war and died on 3 May 1977. Bent was cremated at West Norwood Cemetery, London.[3]

Bent's VC, along with his Military Medal and Russian Cross of St. George was sold at auction in June 2000 for £80,000.[4] His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Five freemasons from the province who won VCs.. Insight (The Journal of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Freemasonry). November 2017. 14. 18–19.
  2. News: VC Vaults: The Suffolk lad who came out fighting . https://web.archive.org/web/20131109053413/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/inside-first-world-war/part-one/10273717/victoria-cross-spencer-john-bent.html . dead . November 9, 2013 . Daily Telegraph . January 6, 2014 . Ashcroft, Michael.
  3. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=BENT&GSfn=SPENCER&GSmn=JOHN&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=10177878&df=all&
  4. http://www.dnw.co.uk/medals/auctionarchive/victoriacrosses/itemdetail.lasso?id=21292 BENT, Drummer S. J. (East Lancashire Regiment)