WILLIAM BENT, Pte S/3884 8th Bn The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), is named on the FERNIEGAIR War Memorial

WILLIAM JOSEPH BENT was born at Dunbar, East Lothian, on 19 April, 1890.

His parents were Thomas Bent, a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery, and Jane Gardiner who were married at Leith, Edinburgh, on 25 April, 1887.
His paternal grandparents were Thomas Bent, also a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery, and Alice Vaughn.
His maternal grandparents were William Gardiner, a House Painter (Journeyman) and Margaret Buchanan.

The 1891 DUNBAR Census was taken on 5 April 1901.
The family are listed at Castle Street, Dunbar, as follows:
Thomas A. Bent, age 31, Head, Sgt in Royal Artillery, b England
Jane G. Bent, age 25, Wife, b Hamilton
Charles E. Bent, age 3, Son, b Dunbar
WILLIAM J. BENT, age 11 months, Son, b Dunbar.

The 1901 LARKHALL Census was taken on 31 March 1901.
The family are listed at Walker's Buildings, Larkhall, as follows:
Thomas Bent, age 41, Head, Army Pensioner, b England
Jane Bent, age 33, Wife, b Hamilton
Charlie Bent, age 13, Son, Scholar, b Dunbar
WILLIAM J. BENT, age 11, Son, Scholar, b Dunbar.
Thomas Bent, age 2, Son, b Allanton Rows, Ferniegair

On 12 May, 1904, his mother Jane Gardiner or Bent, age 39, died at 36 Allanton Rows, Ferniegair. Her cause of death was a heart attack.

At St Mary's Episcopal Church, Hamilton, on 27 August, 1906, Thomas Bent, age 47, a widower, married Jane O'Hara or White, age 32, a widow.

At 50 Wellington Street, Glasgow, on 10 April, 1909, Charles E. Bent, age 21, a Coal Miner, of 4 Ferniegair Rows, Ferniegair, married Isabella S. Russell, age 20, of 3 Wylie Street, Hamilton.

The 1911 LARKHALL Census was taken on 2 April 1911.
The family are listed at 64 London Street, Larkhall, as follows:
Thomas Bent, age 51, Head, Coal Miner, b England
Jane Bent, age 38, Wife, b Ireland
Thomas Richard Bent, age 12, Son, Scholar, b Allanton Rows, Ferniegair
Alice S. V. Bent, age 8, Daughter, Scholar, b Allanton Rows, Ferniegair
James Bent, age 1, Son, b Allanton Rows, Ferniegair
William Knox White, age 9, Step-Son, Scholar, b Ireland
Maryann White, age 7, Step-Daughter, Scholar, b Ireland.

In the 1911 Census WILLIAM BENT, age 20, a Colliery Pony Driver, was living with his aunt and uncle and family at 5 Ross Street, Hamilton.

WILLIAM BENT joined the 8th Bn The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) as Pte S/3884, and went to France on 10th May, 1915.

WILLIAM BENT was Killed-In-Action on 9th April, 1917, age 26 (10 days before his 27th birthday).

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for WILLIAM BENT shows that he is buried at HIGHLAND CEMETERY, ROCLINCOURT, Pas de Calais, France.
"Son of Thomas A. Bent and Jane Gardiner Bent, of Hamilton, Lanarkshire".
There are 278 casualties buried there.
His father requested that his son's headstone be inscribed:
"LO I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS
EVEN UNTO THE END".
(see attached gravestone).

The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) at Edinburgh Castle shows that WILLIAM BENT is commemorated there.

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that WILLIAM BENT enlisted in Aldershot, Hampshire.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for WILLIAM BENT shows that he was awarded the 1914-15 Star Medal, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his father Thomas received his Outstanding Pay of £7/13/9, and a War Gratuity of £12/-/-.

Walter Smith sent me 2 clippings taken from The Hamilton Advertiser.
The 1st is dated 28th April, 1917.
It reads:
"BENT - Killed in action, on the 9th inst., Private William J. Bent, Black Watch, aged 28 years, second son of Thomas and Mrs Bent, 64 London Street, Larkhall.

The 2nd is dated 5th May, 1917.
It reads:
"LARKHALL and the WAR - Mr and Mrs Bent, 64 London Street, have been officially notified that their son, Private William J. Bent, Black Watch, was killed in action in France on the 9th April. He enlisted on 14th September, 1914, and went to France on 10th May, 1915. Private Bent was 28 years of age, and previous to enlisting was employed in Ross Colliery, by Hamilton.
<snip>".

Lest We Forget!