Private Frederick Henry Bentley
| Date of Birth | c.1894 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 23 |
| Date of Death | 2 May 1917 |
| Service Number | 9937 |
| Military Service | 109th Company, Machine Gun Corps |
| Merton Address | Dale Villa, Devonshire Road |
| Local Memorial | Mitcham War Memorial |
Additional Information
Frederick was born in 1894 to an established Mitcham family. He was baptised at St Peter & Paul Church in Mitcham while the family were living at Ivy Cottage. His mother was Fanny Rosetta, and his father was George Henry Thomas Bentley. In 1901 the family were living at 21 Chapel Road, Mitcham and George was employed as a Commercial Clerk. Frederick’s siblings were Oscar aged 7, Frank 4, Elsie 2, and Olive aged 10 months.
By 1911 the family had moved again to a five roomed house in16 Church Street, Mitcham. George now had his own business as a Greengrocer, in Church Street. Oscar was working as a Fishmonger’s Assistant, while Frank was working as an assistant to a Timber Merchant. The family had grown to include Elizabeth 9, Rose 7 and Alice aged 1. Even though the family was a large one, they also had a lodger – Harriet Hendon aged 64. Frederick was now aged 16 and was employed as a Golf Caddie.
For an unknown reason, at the outbreak of World War One, Frederick enlisted at Port Talbot with the Welsh Regiment - Service No. 30264. He then transferred to the 109th Brigade Machine Gun Corps, Infantry Branch. The 109th Brigade was raised as part of the new army known as Kitchener’s Army and assigned to the 36th (Ulster) Division. The Infantry branch was the largest and formed by the transfer of battalion machine gun sections, to the Machine Gun Companies.
Frederick’s Company would have seen action during the Battle of Albert on the Somme (1 July 1916). The 36th Division were positioned either side of the River Ancre, north of Thiepval. The 109th Infantry Brigade attacked the German trenches around 10.00 am but suffered casualties during the advance. Heavy machine gun fire forced survivors to fall back to the Schwaben Redoubt, a German strongpoint. They held this position until 22.00pm, when running out of ammunition they were forced back again. The 36th (Ulster) Division were awarded 4 Victoria Crosses for their action around Thiepval, suffering 5104 casualties.
Frederick survived this battle but was eventually killed in action on 2 May 1917. He is buried in the Pond Farm Cemetery, Belgium and his grave is marked with a Cross which says “Resting”. He is also commemorated locally on the Mitcham War Memorial.
Frederick’s family had moved to Dale Villa, Devonshire Road, Colliers Wood when they received his last pay of £4.14.9 plus £9.10 War Gratuity.