Spencer John Bent

Spencer John Bent VC MM (18 March 1891 – 3 May 1977) was an English soldier of the East Lancashire Regiment whose courage during the opening months of the First World War earned him the Victoria Cross. He later received the Military Medal and the Russian Cross of the Order of St George, 3rd Class.

Bent was born at Stowmarket, Suffolk, on 18 March 1891. His mother died while he was young, and his father, a soldier who served during the South African War, also died during Bent's childhood. He was subsequently brought up by his uncle and aunt. In July 1905, aged 14, Bent enlisted in the East Lancashire Regiment as a drummer. He became a keen lightweight boxer and acquired the nickname "Joe", by which he was known throughout his Army career.

His First World War service number was 8581. On 22 August 1914 he sailed for France with the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. During the opening campaign he took part in the retreat from Mons, the Battle of Le Cateau, the advance to the Marne, the Battle of the Aisne and the First Battle of Ypres.

During the fighting near Le Gheer, Belgium, Bent repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire. On 22 and 24 October 1914 he carried ammunition forward under heavy shell and rifle fire. On the night of 1 to 2 November, after senior men in his position had been killed or wounded, Bent took command and helped hold the position. On 3 November he again went forward to bring wounded soldiers who were lying exposed in the open back into cover.

The Supplement to the London Gazette dated 8 December 1914 published his Victoria Cross citation:

“For conspicuous gallantry near Le Gheer, on the night of 1/2 November 1914 when after his Platoon Sergeant and Section Commander had been struck down, he took command and with great presence of mind and coolness succeeded in holding the position. Drummer Bent had previously distinguished himself on two occasions, 22 and 24 October, by bringing up ammunition under heavy shell and rifle fire and again on 3rd November when he brought into cover some wounded men who were lying exposed in the open.”

Bent had been wounded during the 1914 fighting and was evacuated to Britain for treatment. King George V presented him with the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 13 January 1915. He was promoted to corporal and then sergeant and spent part of his recovery period on recruiting and training duties.

On 25 August 1915, Bent was also officially recognised with the Russian Cross of the Order of St George, 3rd Class. His surviving decoration is numbered 16,682. This was the 3rd Class award, not the 4th Class sometimes attributed to him.

Bent returned to France in 1916, rejoining his regiment and serving during the Battle of the Somme. In November 1916 he was evacuated to Britain suffering from rheumatic fever. This return to the Western Front is an important part of his wartime chronology and means that his front-line service did not simply resume for the first time in 1917.

In January 1917 he returned to France again and served with the 7th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. He fought at Messines and during the Third Battle of Ypres and was promoted to Company Sergeant Major. When the 7th Battalion was disbanded, he later returned to the 1st Battalion and continued fighting through the campaigns of 1918.

On 29 October 1918, during fighting around Sepmeries, east of Cambrai, Company Sergeant Major Bent led two patrols sent forward to establish contact with the enemy. His conduct resulted in the award of the Military Medal, which was published in the London Gazette on 17 June 1919.

Bent remained in the Army after the war. He served in Britain and subsequently overseas in the West Indies and Malta, and under the post-war renumbering system he received the service number 3377564. His surviving Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is named to him as Warrant Officer Class II, VC, MM, East Lancashire Regiment.

The strongest specialist chronology records Bent as leaving the Army from Malta in July 1925. Some later sources instead give 1926 and describe him as having been appointed Regimental Sergeant Major. Because the surviving named medals identify him as Warrant Officer Class II and the surviving secondary records conflict over his final appointment, Company Sergeant Major/Warrant Officer Class II is the safer description unless his service record establishes a later promotion or RSM appointment.

After leaving the Army, Bent settled in London. He worked as a school caretaker and later as a commissionaire, including employment with Courage Brewery. During the Second World War he undertook home-service or civil-defence-related duties. He remained closely connected with his old regiment and with the Victoria Cross community for the rest of his life.

Bent's complete documented medal group comprised the Victoria Cross, Military Medal, 1914 Star with clasp, British War Medal 1914–1920, Victory Medal 1914–1919, Defence Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953, Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and Russian Cross of St George, 3rd Class. His surviving group was later recorded mounted together as he had worn it.

Spencer John Bent died on 3 May 1977, aged 86, and was cremated at West Norwood Crematorium in London. His decorations are associated with the Lord Ashcroft Collection at the Imperial War Museum.