He was 23 years old, and a
drummer in the 1st Battalion,
The East Lancashire Regiment,
British Army during the
First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On the night of 1–2 November 1914, near Le Gheer,
Belgium, when his officer, the platoon sergeant and a number of men had been struck down, Drummer Bent took command of the platoon and with great presence of mind and coolness succeeded in holding the position. He had previously distinguished himself on two occasions, on 22 and 24 October by bringing up ammunition under heavy shell and rifle fire. Again, on 3 November, he brought into cover some wounded men who were lying, exposed to enemy fire, in the open. Bent was a
Freemason and was initiated into Aldershot Camp Lodge No. 1331 on 8 December 1920. He later achieved the rank of
Company Sergeant-Major. He survived the war and died on 3 May 1977. Bent was cremated at
West Norwood Cemetery, London. Bent's VC, along with his
Military Medal and Russian
Cross of St. George was sold at auction in June 2000 for £80,000. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the
Imperial War Museum, London. ==Sources==