MILITARY MEDAL (GVR) & SECOND AWARD BAR
1914 Star (Aug-Nov clasp)
War Medal,
Victory Medal,
Defence Medal (GVIR)
To: RFRA - 9739 DVR F.C. BENTLEY. R.F.A. ( Victory medal spelt 'BENTLY' ) All service numbers identical. & "C"Bty / 291 Bde, 58th (LONDON DIVISION) ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY
. 
[LONDON GAZETTE]
MILITARY MEDAL: 24th JANUARY, 1919. (*For The Battle of Amiens, 8th August - 3rd September 1918 )
SECOND AWARD BAR: 17th JUNE, 1919. (* Almost certainly for bravery in action at Ronssoy, where at least two of his immediate 'C' Bty officers both earned the Military Cross for taking guns over the River Selle at Pont Cailloux Bridge which had been destroyed by enemy shelling. )
WE THINK THIS IS THE ACTUAL BRIDGE WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY REPAIRED BY THE NEW ZEALANDERS.
The bridge as it is today
[NOTES]
*As a pre-war regular soldier, Frederick Charles Bentley originally served as a territorial reservist with 1/22nd Bn (County of London) RFA (The Queen's) and is seen signing up in London on 16th February 1909. The unit was based at 2 Jamaica Road, Bermondsey which was just a short distance from his mother's home in Farncombe Street. He was 18 at the time of enlistment and had previously worked as a general labourer. He took part in annual RFA training camps in 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1913. Mobilised for war on 5th August 1914 he entered France with 35 Bde 31st Bty ith 35 Bde 31st (Howitzer) Bty (7th Div) on 8th September 1914 at the rank of Driver with the British Expeditionary Force.
He is seen serving with this unit on 25th February 1917 until posted as a Lance Bombardier to C Battery 291 Brigade R.F.A. shortly after it's arrival on the Western Front, from 25th April 1917.
Bentley was, like many members of the original and by then highly experienced 'Old Contemptibles' of the 1914 B.E.F. grafted into one of the newly arriving RFA units. The 291st was equipped with 18 Pounder guns and 4.5-inch howitzers and was permanently in support of the 58th (London) Division.
Fred Bentley was clearly a brave, ultra resilient (and certainly very lucky) soldier who served and survived continually from the very early days of the war right through until 1919. He was twice decorated for bravery and in addition to his participation in all the early actions of the war he also fought in the brutal fighting on the Somme from July to November 1916. Later, with C/291 Brigade, he also took part in the Battle of Arras (April 1917), Battle of Bullencourt (May 1917), Battle of Ypres from 31 Jul 17 to 10 Nov 17), Battle of Amiens (Aug 18) and the final advance. He was also with the 291st at Villers-Bretenneux where the unit experienced a severe gas attack in late 1918.
Fred was married at age 31 on 2nd June 1917 to Jane Elizabeth Hines ( a printer ) and gave his mothers address of 30 Farncombe Street, Bermondsey. ( The address still exists ) . Fred Bentley also served in 'Dad's Army' (The Home Guard) during World War Two.
[HISTORY of THE 2/2 LONDON BRIGADE R.F.A.] The division remained in East Anglia, digging trenches, manning coastal defences. and training, until July 1916, when it moved to Salisbury Plain forfinal training. By then the artillery had received their 18-pounders and 4.5-inch howitzers. As with the other TF artillery, the brigade was assigned a number and 2/II London became CCXCI Brigade (291 Brigade). The batteries were redesignated A–C, a howitzer battery was added and became D Battery, and the brigade ammunition columns were abolished. The division began embarking for France on 20 January 1917 and by early February it was on the Western Front, where it remained for the rest of the war.
The Unit was Disembodied on 8th May 1919. 291 (CCXCI) Bde supported 58th (London) Division in the following actions:
1917 German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, 17–28 March Battle of Arras, April Battle of Bullecourt, 4–17 May Actions on the Hindenburg Line, 20 May–16 June Third Battle of Ypres Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, 20–25 September Battle of Polygon Wood, 26–27 September Second Battle of Passchendaele, 26 October–10 November
1918 First Battles of the Somme Battle of St Quentin, 21 March–3 April Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, 24–25 April Battle of Amiens 8–11 August Second Battle of the Somme Battle of Albert, 22–23 August Second Battle of Bapaume, 31 August–1 September Battles of the Hindenburg Line Battle of Épehy, 18 September Final Advance in Artois and Flanders, 2 October–11 November.
After the Armistice came into force, skilled men began to return home. Full demobilisation got under way in March 1919 and the artillery left for England on 4 April.
--------------------- BENTLEY's immediate battery Commanding Officer was: Captain Harvard Wells Cave. M.C. Captain Cave commanded C battery 291 RFA from late 1915 until he was severely wounded by a machine gun bullet which entered his back and chest during the action at Le Catelet on 29th September 1918.
----------------------------------------- THE C.O. OF 'C' BTY 291st Bde RFA Capt. Havard Wells Cave Born in 1892, the fourth son of William John Cave, JP Educated at Tonbridge School from 1906 to 1909 (School Praetor, 1910; Football XV, 1908-09) and at Caius College, Cambridge (3rd Class Lat Trip. Part 1, 1912, Part II, 1913), BA and LLB, 1913 Tea Planter in Ceylon form 1913 to 1915 Pte, Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps from 10 Aug 14 to 23 Mar 15 2nd Lt, 2/2 London Bde RFA, 23 Apr 15 Temp. Lt, 1 Jun 16 Served with C Bty, 291st Bde, RFA until 30 Jan 16 Served in France from 31 Jan 16 to 20 Feb 16 with C Bty, 123rd Bde, RFA Home Service with C Bty, 291st Bde, RFA from 21 Feb 16 to 30 Jan 17 Served in France with C Bty, 291st Bde, RFA from 31 Jan 17 to 29 Sep 18 Acting Capt and second-in-command of battery from 30 Sep 17 to 19 Oct 17 Acting Major and OC of Battery from 19-26 Oct 17 and 16 Jun 18 to 14 Jul 18 Military Cross, 3 Jun 18 reverted to Acting Capt and second-in-command on 14 Jul 18 Took part in the Battle of Arras (April 1917), Battle of Bullencourt (May 1917), Battle of Ypres from 31 Jul 17 to 10 Nov 17), Battle of Amiens (Aug 18) and the final advance Severely wounded by machine gun bullet to the back and chest at Le Catelet on 29 Sep 18 Hospitalized until 6 Nov 18 Served in France and Germany with C/291 from 18 Nov 18 to 8 May 19 Disembodied on 8 May 19 Relinquished his commission and granted the rank of Captain on 30 Sep 1921 Employed as a silk-mercier in London In 1945 he lived at Oak Cottage, Shipbourne, near Tonbridge, Kent.
" A really excellent 'Old Contemptibles' 1914 Star & Bar, Double Gallantry group to a pre-war regular soldier who survived the entire Great War in active service. Comes with full copy service papers, which include a copy of his marriage lines and his MIC. Also copies of the returned receipts for the issue of his medals and two London Gazette page copies.
A VERY RARE & COMPLETE WAR SITUATION .........
£2550
(PART EXCHANGES WELCOME) On 01342-870926 or by e-mail.
To: RFRA - 9739 DVR F.C. BENTLEY. R.F.A. ( Victory medal spelt 'BENTLY' ) All service numbers identical. & "C"Bty / 291 Bde, 58th (LONDON DIVISION) ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY
. 
[LONDON GAZETTE]MILITARY MEDAL: 24th JANUARY, 1919. (*For The Battle of Amiens, 8th August - 3rd September 1918 )
SECOND AWARD BAR: 17th JUNE, 1919. (* Almost certainly for bravery in action at Ronssoy, where at least two of his immediate 'C' Bty officers both earned the Military Cross for taking guns over the River Selle at Pont Cailloux Bridge which had been destroyed by enemy shelling. )
WE THINK THIS IS THE ACTUAL BRIDGE WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY REPAIRED BY THE NEW ZEALANDERS.
The bridge as it is today
[NOTES]
*As a pre-war regular soldier, Frederick Charles Bentley originally served as a territorial reservist with 1/22nd Bn (County of London) RFA (The Queen's) and is seen signing up in London on 16th February 1909. The unit was based at 2 Jamaica Road, Bermondsey which was just a short distance from his mother's home in Farncombe Street. He was 18 at the time of enlistment and had previously worked as a general labourer. He took part in annual RFA training camps in 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1913. Mobilised for war on 5th August 1914 he entered France with 35 Bde 31st Bty ith 35 Bde 31st (Howitzer) Bty (7th Div) on 8th September 1914 at the rank of Driver with the British Expeditionary Force.
He is seen serving with this unit on 25th February 1917 until posted as a Lance Bombardier to C Battery 291 Brigade R.F.A. shortly after it's arrival on the Western Front, from 25th April 1917.
Bentley was, like many members of the original and by then highly experienced 'Old Contemptibles' of the 1914 B.E.F. grafted into one of the newly arriving RFA units. The 291st was equipped with 18 Pounder guns and 4.5-inch howitzers and was permanently in support of the 58th (London) Division.
Fred Bentley was clearly a brave, ultra resilient (and certainly very lucky) soldier who served and survived continually from the very early days of the war right through until 1919. He was twice decorated for bravery and in addition to his participation in all the early actions of the war he also fought in the brutal fighting on the Somme from July to November 1916. Later, with C/291 Brigade, he also took part in the Battle of Arras (April 1917), Battle of Bullencourt (May 1917), Battle of Ypres from 31 Jul 17 to 10 Nov 17), Battle of Amiens (Aug 18) and the final advance. He was also with the 291st at Villers-Bretenneux where the unit experienced a severe gas attack in late 1918.
Fred was married at age 31 on 2nd June 1917 to Jane Elizabeth Hines ( a printer ) and gave his mothers address of 30 Farncombe Street, Bermondsey. ( The address still exists ) . Fred Bentley also served in 'Dad's Army' (The Home Guard) during World War Two.
[HISTORY of THE 2/2 LONDON BRIGADE R.F.A.] The division remained in East Anglia, digging trenches, manning coastal defences. and training, until July 1916, when it moved to Salisbury Plain forfinal training. By then the artillery had received their 18-pounders and 4.5-inch howitzers. As with the other TF artillery, the brigade was assigned a number and 2/II London became CCXCI Brigade (291 Brigade). The batteries were redesignated A–C, a howitzer battery was added and became D Battery, and the brigade ammunition columns were abolished. The division began embarking for France on 20 January 1917 and by early February it was on the Western Front, where it remained for the rest of the war.
The Unit was Disembodied on 8th May 1919. 291 (CCXCI) Bde supported 58th (London) Division in the following actions:
1917 German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, 17–28 March Battle of Arras, April Battle of Bullecourt, 4–17 May Actions on the Hindenburg Line, 20 May–16 June Third Battle of Ypres Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, 20–25 September Battle of Polygon Wood, 26–27 September Second Battle of Passchendaele, 26 October–10 November
1918 First Battles of the Somme Battle of St Quentin, 21 March–3 April Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, 24–25 April Battle of Amiens 8–11 August Second Battle of the Somme Battle of Albert, 22–23 August Second Battle of Bapaume, 31 August–1 September Battles of the Hindenburg Line Battle of Épehy, 18 September Final Advance in Artois and Flanders, 2 October–11 November.
After the Armistice came into force, skilled men began to return home. Full demobilisation got under way in March 1919 and the artillery left for England on 4 April.
--------------------- BENTLEY's immediate battery Commanding Officer was: Captain Harvard Wells Cave. M.C. Captain Cave commanded C battery 291 RFA from late 1915 until he was severely wounded by a machine gun bullet which entered his back and chest during the action at Le Catelet on 29th September 1918.
----------------------------------------- THE C.O. OF 'C' BTY 291st Bde RFA Capt. Havard Wells Cave Born in 1892, the fourth son of William John Cave, JP Educated at Tonbridge School from 1906 to 1909 (School Praetor, 1910; Football XV, 1908-09) and at Caius College, Cambridge (3rd Class Lat Trip. Part 1, 1912, Part II, 1913), BA and LLB, 1913 Tea Planter in Ceylon form 1913 to 1915 Pte, Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps from 10 Aug 14 to 23 Mar 15 2nd Lt, 2/2 London Bde RFA, 23 Apr 15 Temp. Lt, 1 Jun 16 Served with C Bty, 291st Bde, RFA until 30 Jan 16 Served in France from 31 Jan 16 to 20 Feb 16 with C Bty, 123rd Bde, RFA Home Service with C Bty, 291st Bde, RFA from 21 Feb 16 to 30 Jan 17 Served in France with C Bty, 291st Bde, RFA from 31 Jan 17 to 29 Sep 18 Acting Capt and second-in-command of battery from 30 Sep 17 to 19 Oct 17 Acting Major and OC of Battery from 19-26 Oct 17 and 16 Jun 18 to 14 Jul 18 Military Cross, 3 Jun 18 reverted to Acting Capt and second-in-command on 14 Jul 18 Took part in the Battle of Arras (April 1917), Battle of Bullencourt (May 1917), Battle of Ypres from 31 Jul 17 to 10 Nov 17), Battle of Amiens (Aug 18) and the final advance Severely wounded by machine gun bullet to the back and chest at Le Catelet on 29 Sep 18 Hospitalized until 6 Nov 18 Served in France and Germany with C/291 from 18 Nov 18 to 8 May 19 Disembodied on 8 May 19 Relinquished his commission and granted the rank of Captain on 30 Sep 1921 Employed as a silk-mercier in London In 1945 he lived at Oak Cottage, Shipbourne, near Tonbridge, Kent.
" A really excellent 'Old Contemptibles' 1914 Star & Bar, Double Gallantry group to a pre-war regular soldier who survived the entire Great War in active service. Comes with full copy service papers, which include a copy of his marriage lines and his MIC. Also copies of the returned receipts for the issue of his medals and two London Gazette page copies.
A VERY RARE & COMPLETE WAR SITUATION .........
£2550
(PART EXCHANGES WELCOME) On 01342-870926 or by e-mail.