Name
Frederick Bentley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/09/1915
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3399
Hertfordshire Regiment
No. 4 Company, 1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY
I. D. 90.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Stevenage Old Town Memorial, St Nicholas' Church Memorial, Stevenage Old Town, Holy Trinity Church Memorial Roll of Honour, Stevenage Old Town, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Fred was the second son of local Bricklayer James Bentley and his wife, Ann (spelling changes) (née Bray). He was born circa 1892. His parents had married in Stevenage on 7 November 1891.
In 1901 the family were living in Letchmore Green Road. Present were parents James (50) and Annie (47), James was a bricklayer, The children were James (18) and Lizzie (6). Fred (Fredie) was not with them but was found at another address in Letchmore Green Road with his grandmother, Caroline Bray (77) and her nephew John W Bray (27), Fredie Bentley was 8.
By 1911 the family was living at 35 Alleyns Road, Stevenage. Listed were parents James and Annie, Fred and Lizzie. They were recorded as married for 21 years with 3 children, 1 of whom had died
After leaving school he followed in his father’s footsteps and took up the trade of bricklaying.
He was living in Stevenage when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment on the 15th October 1914 his service number was 3399 and, following his initial training, arrived in France on the 23rd January 1915.
By the 8th February Frederick found himself in trouble and received four days field punishment for gross negligence when cleaning his rifle. Later, on the 25th May, he was deducted four days’ pay for not complying with an order. Two weeks later, on the 6th June 1915, he was wounded in the abdomen, probably as a result of shellfire.
The 1st Battalion Hertfordshires were in the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Division at the time of his death. They were preparing for the Battle of Loos on the left of the British attack in the region of the La Bassee Canal. No massive attack was in progress although they were in the front line near the village of Cambrin being shelled on the 5th September, four days before his death.
Official records show that he died at No.1 Casualty Clearing Station at Chocques on the 9th September 1915 and was buried the same day by the Reverend H.D. Allen. Frederick is buried in the Chocques Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
www.stevenageatwar.com
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Paul Johnson, Jonty Wild
