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Private Arthur Bentley

A document including the description of a soldier on enlistment and signatures at the bottom.

Pte. Bentley’s Medical Examination

1915. LAC. “Bentley, Arthur (54362).” Accessed March 30, 2017.

CEF no. 54362

Arthur Bentley was born in Belgrave, Great Britain, on 19 August 1876. When he immigrated to London, ON, he found work as a labourer and locomotive fireman. Arthur married Emily Wakeling in 1908, and the couple moved in with her parents. He was already thirty-eight years old when he enlisted in the 33rd Canadian Infantry Battalion on 13 January 1915. Pte. Bentley was more experienced than most, having served for twelve years in the East Yorkshire Regiment (British Army) and one year in the Canadian Militia. First sent to France in December 1915, Bentley rose to the rank of Acting Sergeant before reverting to Pte. in June 1918. He was removed from action and diagnosed with syphilis, dying of the disease on 16 March 1919 in England.

He is commemorated on page 530 of the First World War Book of Remembrance (Memorial Chamber, Peace Tower, Parliament Hill).

Grave: Leicester (Welford Road) Cemetery, Great Britain.