Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
Peter Bentley was born in Bishopswood in 1895. He was the late son of George Bentley, a road repairer, and his wife Jane. In 1901 the family lived at Kiddemore Green but by 1911 Jane, now widowed, was living with her family at The Pavement, Brewood and Peter (aged 15) was working as a page boy.
Peter appears to have served first with the 13th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, enlisting at the start of 1917. At the end of the war he was transferred to the 11th Royal Sussex and in September 1918 he sailed from Scotland to fight the Bolsheviks in Russia. He died on the 21st October when the Bolsheviks derailed the train in which he was travelling.
In the Murman region some trouble is being given by Bolshevik bands, who are committing acts of sabotage on the railway, and recently derailed a trainload of Allied troops near Kandalaksha. No regular forces of Germans now oppose us on this front or in Finland. [Sheffield Evening Telegraph 24 October 1918]
Private Peter Bentley 37011 is buried at Kandalaksha and commemorated in Murmansk New British Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.