Philip Bent
{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Distinguish|Phillip Bent}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = Lieutenant Colonel
| name = Philip Bent
| native_name =
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| image = Philip Bent.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Philip Bent during WWI.
| birth_date = {{birth date|1891|01|03|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1917|10|01|1891|01|03|df=y}}
| birth_place = Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| death_place = near Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium
| placeofburial =
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| nickname =
| birth_name = Philip Eric Bent
| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom|23px}}
| branch = 24px British Merchant Navy
{{army|United Kingdom|22px}}
| serviceyears = 1907-1914 (British Merchant Navy)
1914–1917 (British Army)
| rank = 20px Lieutenant Colonel
| servicenumber =
| unit = Leicestershire Regiment
| commands =
| battles = World War I
| battles_label =
| awards = 30px Victoria Cross
30px Distinguished Service Order
| spouse =
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}}
Lieutenant Colonel Philip Eric Bent {{post-nominals|sep=,|VC|DSO}} (3 January 1891 – 1 October 1917) was a Canadian British Army officer recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Biography
Bent was born on 3 January 1891 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh and Ashby Grammar School, Ashby de la Zouch. He joined the training ship {{HMS|Conway|school ship|6}} in 1907. He served two years as a Cadet and then went to sea. He was taking his Merchant Navy officer's ticket when the war broke out in 1914.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thevictoriacross.net/recipients/philip_eric_bent.html |title=Victoria Cross.net |access-date=10 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724104916/http://www.thevictoriacross.net/recipients/philip_eric_bent.html |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}
He and a friend joined a Scottish regiment "for a bit of fun" as the war was anticipated to be over by Christmas. He was commissioned in the Leicestershire Regiment, British Army, in November 1914.{{London Gazette |issue=28992|date=1 December 1914 |pages=10196 }}
Bent was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the 1917 Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette |issue=30111|date=1 June 1917 |page=5468 |supp=y }}
He was 26 years old, and Temporary Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 9th (Service) Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, during the First World War when he performed the deed for which he was awarded the VC on 1 October 1917 east of Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium. He was killed whilst leading a charge. His citation reads:
{{Quote|For most conspicuous bravery, when during a heavy hostile attack, the right of his own command and the battalion on his right were forced back. The situation was critical owing to the confusion caused by the attack and the intense artillery fire. Lt. Col. Bent personally collected a platoon that was in reserve, and together with men from other companies and various regimental details, he organised and led them forward to the counter-attack, after issuing orders to other officers as to the further defence of the line. The counter-attack was successful and the enemy were checked.
The coolness and magnificent example shown to all ranks by Lt.-Col. Bent resulted in the securing of a portion of the line which was of essential importance for subsequent operations.
This very gallant officer was killed whilst leading a charge which he inspired with the call of "Come on the Tigers."|The London Gazette, No. 30471, 11 January 1918{{London Gazette |issue=30471|date=8 January 1918 |pages=722–723|supp=y }}}}
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the memorial wall at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium.[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/844778 Bent, Philip Eric], Commonwealth War Graves Commission
In 2015 a new road in Ashby de la Zouch was named "Philip Bent Road"; this is located approximately 0.6 miles west of the town centre off Moira Road (B5006).
Bent's sword is displayed in All Saints Cathedral in his hometown of Halifax.Paul Berman, "'Come on the Tigers!': New book hails Halifax-born war hero," CBC News 11 November 2017; HMHPS Historical Paper No 2: "Philip Bent - Halifax's VC", Halifax Military Heritage Preservation Society, (John Boileau, Chair) 2016; Boileau, J. (2005). Valiant Hearts. Halifax. Nimbus Publishing. p. 103
The medal
His Victoria Cross is held by his old school Ashby School but loaned to the Royal Leicestershire Regimental Museum (now part of Newarke Houses Museum). It is understood that the medal has been held in a Safe Deposit Box at a Leicester Bank where it has been kept for many years following the demise of the Museum.The contents of the Museum were transferred to Newarke Houses Museum, Leicester |url=https://www.memorialstovalour.co.uk/vc887.html|, The school proposed to auction his medals to raise funds for a sports pavilion, a decision which received widespread criticism. In May 2016 the school was unable to prove ownership.{{cite news|last1=Mack|first1=Tom|title=No movement in Ashby School's bid to sell war hero's medals|url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/movement-ashby-school-s-bid-sell-war-hero-s/story-29194126-detail/story.html|accessdate=24 April 2017|issue=Leicester Mercury|date=1 May 2016}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2018, a pavilion is set to be built following a funding bid to the Healthy Schools initiative.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|last=Snelling|first=Stephen|title=Passchendaele 1917|series=VCs of the First World War|year=2012|orig-date=1998|publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-0752476667}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071128131314/http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections%2Fvirtualmem%2FDetail&casualty=7600003 Service details, citation, burial information - from Veteran Affairs Canada]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060222112126/http://www.legionmagazine.com/features/victoriacross/05-05.asp Legion Magazine Article on Philip Bent]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bent, Philip Eric}}
Category:Royal Leicestershire Regiment officers
Category:British Army personnel of World War I
Category:Canadian people of British descent
Category:Canadian World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Category:People from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Category:People educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh
Category:British military personnel killed in World War I