Four Times Military Cross Winner Percy Bentley
Among the medal collection of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) is the medal set of Captain Percy Bentley. Percy’s Military Cross is an unusual one, as it has three bars across its ribbon. This signifies that Percy was awarded the Military Cross four times, a feat only achieved four times.
Percy Bentley was born in Knottingley in January 1891. He grew up at Bridge House in Knottingley living with his father, James William Bentley, who was an Auctioneer, Valuer and Land Agent, his mother Helena and his siblings.
While at school, Percy joined the Officer Training Corps, starting a long and decorated military career. He was commissioned into the Territorial Army in 1910 and posted to the 5th Battalion KOYLI.
Percy reached France in April 1915. His first Military Cross was awarded in January 1917, and the following 3 from September 1918 to January 1919.
The citation for his second Military Cross described how Percy had shown ‘great tact’ in moving the battalion to a better position, launching a counterattack. He was described as showing ‘fine courage and powers of leadership’.
His third award was in recognition of him going forward under heavy fire, organising defence, and bringing back important information. The citation describes his ‘untiring energy’ and ‘disregard for his own safety’.
His final award, although gazetted in January 1919, was in recognition of Percy’s actions at the Battle of Havrincourt in September 1918. Again, Percy put himself in grave danger to go move under enemy shellfire to gather information, followed by ‘another reconnaissance of great value’. The citation for his third bar describes how throughout the dangerous operations he was ‘indefatigable and showed great courage.’
Percy remained with the army after the end of the war. He left in the early 1920s and joined his family’s auction and valuation business.
In the 1930s, he served as the Mayor of Pontefract and was heavily involved in local politics.
Percy died in Pontefract in 1956. Percy’s obituary in the regimental journal The Bugle describes how he took a ‘keen interest in ex-servicemen’ and was an active member of the 5th Battalion’s Ex-Officers’ Club, and the Royal British Legion. When the British Legion Conference was held in Scarborough in 1928, he was selected to command the legion Guard of Honour for the Price of Wales who attended.
Percy’s medals, and many others from the regimental collection, are now on display at the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Research and Collections Centre, within City of Doncaster Archives. Join us at one of our upcoming events to find out more.
Upcoming events:
King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Research and Collection Centre Open Day
Second Wednesday of every month, 10am – 4pm
King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Medal Room Tours
Fourth Wednesday of every month, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm
(No session in December due to Christmas break)
Open Days and Medal Room tours are FREE to attend. No booking required!
All images of objects from the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Collection are shared under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), credit to Heritage Doncaster.