Born at Kilnwick-on-the-Wold, Yorkshire (according to his obituary notice) on the 25th of October 1816.
The parish records of Kilnwick-justa-Witton show a William Bentley, the son of John and Mary Bentley, was baptised there on the 25th of October 1817 by the Revd. William Lugard, Curate. His father's occupation was shown as that of a Labourer.
Enlisted at Beverley on the 7th of July 1835.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Farmer.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Lt. brown hair.
1851 Census
The Cavalry Barracks, Pockthorpe, Norwich
William Bentley, Soldier, 34, born Kilnwick, Yorkshire.
Mary Bentley, Soldier's Wife, 32, 1819, Canterbury, Kent.
George Bentley, Soldier's Child, 11, 1840, Canterbury, Kent.
William Bentley, Soldier's Child, 4, 1847, Dublin, Ireland
Thomas Bentley, Soldier's Child, 1, 1850, Norwich, Norfolk.
Emma Bentley, Soldier's Child, 7, 1844, Dublin, Ireland
Mary Ann Bentley, Soldier's Child, 3, 1848, Manchester, Lancashire. [PB]
From Private to Corporal: 20th of June 1851.
Corporal to Sergeant: 13th of November 1853.
At Scutari from the 22nd of September 1854 and sent to rejoin the regiment on the 11th of October.
He sent money from the Crimea to his wife, Mary Bentley (see below).
At Balaclava, Bentley was incapacitated when he was wounded in the knee and in the back of the neck. Three Russians attacked him from the rear, but his life was saved by Lieutenant Alexander Dunn, 11th Hussars. For his actions, Dunn was awarded the Victoria Cross.
The citation in the London Gazette, February 27th 1857, reads:
"For having in the Light Cavalry Charge on October 25th, 1854, saved the life of Sergeant Bentley, 11th Hussars, by cutting down two or three Russian Lancers who were attacking him from the rear, and afterwards cutting down a Russian Hussar who was attacking Private Levett, 11th Hussars."
Some years ago [1980s, or perhaps earlier?] Bentley's great-great-grand-daughter, a Mrs Webb of Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, asked a national newspaper for information about the officer who had saved Bentley's life.
(There is a copy of the article in the 11th Hussar file and also the cigarette card, as mentioned by her, in the 11th Hussar "Scrapbook". )
[PB, Jan 2014: There are two cigarette cards depicting William Bentley and Alexander Dunn (and perhaps others). The best known is the Player's Cigarettes image (above), published 1914?. Another is the Taddy & Co card (published 1901-1904) discussed in e.g. "VC hero cards are a collector's dream", Scunthorpe Telegraph, 6th of September 2012 (http://chargeofthelightbrigade.com/allmen/allmenD/allmenD_11H/dunn_a_11H/dunn_a_11H_vc_cigcard.html (accessed 17.1.2014)).]
At the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, from the 3rd of April — 11th of May 1855.
Appointed to Troop-Sergeant Major on the 26th of November 1855.
Discharged from Birmingham on the 7th of July 1860, "To serve with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry". In this he was a Drill Instructor at Calne until 1872, so serving in the Army for a total of 37 years.
Service to count (Regular Army): 25 years 18 days. In Bulgaria and the Crimea: 2 years. East Indies: 1 year 6 months.
Conduct: "very good". Was in possession of three Good Conduct badges when promoted to Sergeant
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Although his group of medals is known to contain all four clasps, he is not recorded as being entitled to the Alma clasp on the Alma/Inkerman roll.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 25th of May 1857.
[PB: His medals, and those of family members, came up for auction at DNW in September 2015. I have copied the text here There are a number of images and refs. Check.]
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.
Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.
1861 Census
The Pippin, Calne, Wilts
The 1861 Census shows him as a "Chelsea Pensioner", aged 43, with his wife Mary, 42, born Canterbury, and children William, 15, born Dublin, Margaret, 14, born Manchester, Thomas 10, at Norwich, Maria, 7, born Dublin, and Arthur, 3, born Hounslow [RM].
1871 Census
The Pippin, Calne, Wilts
He was still living at The Pippin with his family in the 1871 Census [RM].
1881 Census
63 Lowther Street, St. Maurice, York
The 1881 Census shows him as a Chelsea Pensioner, aged 54, born at Kilnwick, Berkshire [sic], with his wife, Mary, 62 born at Canterbury, Kent, and one son, Alfred, a Clerk in an Ironworks, 19, born at Calne, Wiltshire [RM].
There is a photograph of him dressed in what is purported to be a Yeomanry Cavalry uniform in the 11th Hussar file.
William Bentley died at 2, St. John's Crescent, Penley's Grove Street, York, of "Disease of the prostate, Cystitis, for 6 months", aged 74 years, on the 1st of March 1891. (This would imply that he was born in 1817 and not 1816.)
His burial took place in the old part of York Cemetery, Grave space No. 5854N, on the 5th of March 1891. (See report of his death and funeral taken from the "Yorkshire Daily Chronicle" for the 2nd and 5th of March 1891 in the 11th Hussar file.) This cemetery is owned by a private company.
The grave also contains his wife, Elizabeth Bentley, who died on the 24th of June 1888 from "malignant disease of the stomach" aged 63 years. Her address at the time of death was also in St. John's Crescent. This must have been his second wife.
A tombstone was erected and besides showing the names and dates of death also bore the inscription, "One of the Six Hundred at Balaclava, 1854."
There is a photograph of his tombstone in the 11th Hussar file. The inscription on it reads:
"In loving memory of Elizabeth, the beloved wife of William Bentley, who died June 24th 1888. 'Thy will be done.'
Also of the above William Bentley, late T/Serjt. Major, 11th Hussars and One of the Six Hundred, who died March 1st 1891, aged 74."
In Loving Memory
Of
Elizabeth
The Beloved Wife
of
William Bentley
Who Died June
24th 1858
Aged 33 Years
Thy Will Be Done
Also of the above
William Bentley
Late T. Sergt Major
11th Hussars
And One Of The
Six Hundred at
Balaklava 1854
Who Died
March 1st 1891
Aged 74
In his will he left his personal estate and effects to the value of £185 to his sons, George Bentley, of 27, Orderly Street, Burton-on-Trent, a brewer, and Arthur Bentley, of 2, Clarence Place, York, a law clerk.
The Mary Bentley said to have been his first wife is also buried in York Cemetery, Section 38, Grave space, 2196. She is shown on the Cemetery records as dying of "Bronchitis apoplexy" on the 29th of January 1883 at 63, Lowther Street, York. Wife of William Bentley, pensioner, aged 63 years. (The 1851 Census returns for Pockthorpe Barracks at Norwich show her as being aged 37 years and having been born at Canterbury, Kent.)
Also in the same grave space is William Bentley, who died of "kidney disease", aged 31 years, on the 30th of October 1876, his address also being Lowther Street, and Arthur Bentley, a solicitor's clerk, who died on the 29th of April 1906, aged 48 years. His address at this time was No. 23 St. Olave's Road, Clifton, York. No stone was erected over this grave.
St. Catherine's House records show the death of a Mary Bentley aged 63 years, at York in the January-March Quarter of 1883, and an Elizabeth Bentley, 63, at York during the April-June Quarter of 1888.
Extract from the Yorkshire Chronicle, 7th of March 1891:
"Death of a Balaclava Hero at York. One of the few remaining British heroes who came back 'from the jaws of death' after the famous charge of the Light Brigade, has been summoned by the grim sentinel, Death, to the fate he averted under Lord Cardigan. Troop Serjt. Major William Bentley, late of the 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars, was born in Kilnwick-on-the-Wolds, Yorkshire, in 1816, and at the age of 19 years enlisted at Beverley, serving 25 years in the regiment. With the 11th he took an active part in the Crimean War, being engaged at the Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
In the Balaclava Charge he would most assuredly have lost his life if it had not been for the timely intervention of the brave Lieutenant Robert Dunn [sic], who cut down three Russians who were attacking the Sergeant from the rear. He did however, receive a lance prod in the neck and a bullet graze in the calf of his leg. His gallant rescuer was publicly decorated with the Victoria Cross for his bravery and subsequently became Colonel of the West Riding (Duke of Wellington's) regiment, now stationed at York.
Deceased was on escort duty when her Majesty was married to the Prince Consort. On his leaving the 11th Hussars he was appointed Drill-Instructor of the Wiltshire Yeomanry and having held that appointment for twelve years, retired into civil life, with a record of 37 years under the colours. He took up his abode at York and died after a lingering illness at his residence, No. 2 St. John's Crescent, Penley's Grove Street, in the 74th year of his age.
He leaves four sons and three daughters.
The obsequies took place on Thursday morning with every manifestation of respect, and with full military honours. The band and a full squadron of the 10th Hussars under the command of Captain B.B. Hervey, met the cortege at the deceased's residence and escorted it through the city direct to the cemetery. The coffin, of plain oak, rested on the gun-carriage drawn by powerful black steeds in funeral trappings. The Union Jack over spread the bier and a black velvet pall was laid on the colours. The band headed the funeral procession, playing Chopin's "Funeral March", after which came the coffin itself, flanked by six corporals who acted as bearers. The relatives and friends came next, followed by fourteen sergeants and sergeant-majors who composed the mourning party and wore black sashes, the firing party and a number of men from the 10th bringing up the rear.
The streets en-route to the cemetery were lined with spectators, whilst a considerable number had gathered at the graveside.
The service was conducted by the Revd. F.C. Sandford, rector of St. Maurice and the funeral arrangements conducted by Mr. D.T.L. Fletcher. Amongst those who assembled to pay a last respect to their "old-comrade-in-arms" were Mr. Duckitt, who served in the 11th Hussars, Mr. John Hogan (8th Hussars) and Mr. William Pearson, who were with the deceased in the famous charge; Inspector Duke and Sergeant Major Wintersgill, who were with the 1st Royal Dragoons in the Crimea; Mr. Smith, 5th Dragoon Guards, Sergeant Major Dalby, 16th Lancers, Sergeant Major Whittaker, 5th Lancers and Sgts. Smith, Roberts, Yeomans and Leonard, all veteran Infantry men."
The "Mr. Duckitt" mentioned could possibly [PB: is likely to] have been 1140 Joseph Duckett, 11th Hussars.
[PB: The two other Light Brigade mourners were 1006 John Hogan, 8th Hussars, and 939 William Pearson 17th Lancers, both of whom were also buried in York Cemetery.]
A number of children were born into the 11th Hussars named Bentley, but it has not been possible to establish from which particular family they came.
The Army Chaplains' Registers of Births show a George Bentley, born at Canterbury in 1839, and an Emma Bentley, born in Dublin in 1843 (this is the daughter who Mrs. Webb of Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, the lady who wrote to the newspaper said was her great-grand-mother). Also Mary Ann Bentley, born in Chorlton, Manchester, between April and June of 1848, Thomas Bentley, born in Norwich between September and December of 1850, and a William Bentley born in Dublin in 1846 who could well have been the William Bentley who died in 1876 and was buried in York Cemetery.
(All the other Bentley children said to have been born into the Regiment were born later than the date he left the Army.)
Emma Bentley is shown on her birth certificate as having been born to Private William Bentley of the 11th Hussars and his wife, Mary. She was baptised in the chapel of the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham on the 7th of August 1843 by the Revd. W. Burton. (There is a copy of the certificate in the "Certificates" file.) Mrs. Webb states that her grandmother had a sister, Maria, but knew nothing of any sons in the family.
The George Bentley awarded the naval medal had the following particulars: He was born in Canterbury on the 10th of December 1839. (This confirms the George Bentley recorded in the Army Chaplains' Registers as having been born at Canterbury.) Enlisted into the Navy on the 26th of October 1866. His height was 5' 6", dark complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair, and his trade, that of a Musician.
He served aboard the "Flora" until the 2nd of May 1869 and then in the "Rattlesnake" from the 3rd of July 1869 until the 25th of March 1874, when he was "Discharged ashore, paid off." His rank was Bandsman and his number 667343. His conduct was shown as "very good," and being in possession of one Good Conduct badge.
Thomas Bentley enlisted into the 2nd Bn. of the 3rd Foot at Reading on the 7th of February 1872, aged 23 years. (This would fit in with the Thomas Bentley born at Norwich in 1850.) Landed in India to join the 1st Bn. on the 3rd of March 1873. His Regimental number was 2099. Transferred to the 2nd Bn. of the 22nd Foot at Meerut, India, on the 30th of September 1878, Regimental No. 1831. He embarked for England on the 10th of April 1881.
It has not been possible to find any further details on Thomas Bentley or Frederick Bentley. All that can be found of the latter is that he transferred from No. 1 Coy. to No. 15 Coy. of the C. & C.T. Corps on the 1st of August 1882 and that he embarked for Egypt on the following day. His Regimental number was 180. Records for both periods are not available.
PB: In 2005 ? here was a lively interchange about WB on the Forum of genealogy.com. I have not examined this properly yet, but must do so: http://genforum.genealogy.com/crimeanwar/index.html#156.
See also:
[PB: His medals, and those of family members, came up for auction at DNW in 2015. I have copied the text here There are a number of images and refs. Check.]