Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Robert Bentham a Coal Porter, born 1851 in Oakham, Rutland and his wife Sarah A., born 1854 in Oakham, Rutland. John William was born in 1879 in Oakham, Rutland, his siblings were Ada, born 1875 and Elizabeth A., born 1878, both siblings were born in Oakham, Rutland, in April 1881 the family home was at John Street, Oakham, Rutland. In April 1891 John was a Schoolboy and was residing at Deans Lane, Oakham, Rutland, the family home of his paternal grandparents, William Bentham a Chimney Sweep, born 1825 in Oakham, Rutland and his wife Elizabeth, born 1825 in Stamford, Lincolnshire. In March 1901 John was employed as a Shoe Finisher and was residing at Deans Street, Oakham, Rutland, the family home of his father in law, Henry G. Walker, a General Labourer, born 1844 in Duddington, Hants., and his wife Elizabeth, born 1847 in Oakham, Rutalnd, John was married to Mary Jane Bentham (nee Walker), born 1882 in Oakham Rutland. In April 1911 John was employed as a Shoe Finisher and was residing in the family home at Northgate Street, Oakham, Rutland with his wife of 11 years, Mary and their children, Grace Hilda, born 1903, Mary Elizabeth, born 1905, John Henry, born 1907 and William Robert, born 1910, all the children were born in Oakham, Rutland. He enlisted in the 3rd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment and was subsequently transferred to the Hampshire Regiment. He was killed during operations in Palestine under General Allenby’s command.