Harry Bentley
This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Gravestone photo courtesy of Thierry Briere, FindaGrave.com
Harry Bentley was born on the 25th of March 1923, the son of Harry and Margaret Bentley (née Horton), who had married in the September quarter of 1920 in the Beverley Registration District. Harry and Margaret would have six children in total: Millie, Thomas, Harry, Edith, Dorothy, Doreen and Maureen Bentley.
The 1939 National Register, taken on the 29th of September 1939, shows the family living at 2 King's Square, Beverley, Beverley M.B., Yorkshire (East Riding). Harry Bentley was 16 and was working as a Brass Factory Labourer. Sadly, I have no other information on him, neither his early or teen years, but he must have either enlisted as soon as he could or was conscripted.
Harry Bentley must have been in the same queue to enlist or was in the same building, as he was the next regimental number to William Benton, who also died on the 6th of June, and they are commemorated next to each other on the British Normandy Memorial. They both served with the 1st Battalion, South Lancasire Regiment and he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom.
The battalion landed on Sword Beach and faced severe opposition on the beach, and suffered losses as they cleared the seafront houses and the German strongpoint codenamed 'Cod'. They then advanced to Hermanville-sur-Mer where they remained for the rest of the day and consolidated the area. Harry was killed in action, probably near Hermanville, as he lies in his original place of burial in Hermanville War Cemetery.
Six years after his death, his family place an in memoriaum notice in the Beverley Guardian's Roll of Honour of the 10th of June 1950. It tells us how much Harry was loved and missed by his family.
British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information
Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Harry Bentley. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Harry, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story
FALLEN HEROES
HARRY BENTLEY
Army • LANCE CORPORAL
South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Volunteers)
1st BattalionDIED | 06 June 1944
AGE | 21
SERVICE NO. | 14202502
FALLEN HEROES
HARRY BENTLEY
Army • LANCE CORPORAL
South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Volunteers)
1st BattalionDIED | 06 June 1944
AGE | 21
SERVICE NO. | 14202502
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