Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frank Pierce Bent, born 5th May 1855 in Pugwash, Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada and his wife Sophia Bent (nee Harvey, married on the 15th December 1885 in Edinburgh, Scotland), born on the 28th October 1856 in Child Okeford, Dorset and baptised on the 28th December 1856 in St. Nicholas’s Church, Child Okeford. Philip Eric Bent was born on the 3rd January 1891 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, he had two siblings, Muriel, born on the 21st February 1888 and Lionel Lorraine, born on the 9th February 1887 both his siblings were born in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Philip was educated at Ashby de la Zouch Grammar School in Leicestershire from 1904 to 1907, where he became head boy. He then attended the Royal High School in Edinburgh, Scotland, which he left in 1909 to join The Merchant Navy training ship, HMS Conway as a cadet, to gain sea going experience and further his education. In 1910 he left to serve his apprenticeship with J. Hardie and Co of Glasgow, joining the steel four masted barque “Vimeira,” where he qualified as Second Mate in early 1914.
On the 2nd October 1914, he enlisted as a Private into “A” Company of the 15th Battalion of The Royal Scots and on the 30th November 1914 received a commission as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in The Leicestershire Regiment, his first posting being in April 1915 to “A” Company of the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot, he later went on to train with them at Perham Down on Salisbury Plain
On the 1st June 1915 he was promoted to Lieutenant and in July was transferred to the 9th Battalion who were with the 110th Brigade, in the 37th Division. On the 29th July 1915 the 9th Battalion landed in France, and on the 31st August he embarked and joined his Battalion in the field, being appointed Battalion Grenade Officer.
He was appointed Temporary Captain on the 21st April 1916 and on the 3rd May 1916 was granted a permanent regular commission in the Bedfordshire Regiment. After being mentioned in despatches, he transferred to the Leicestershire Regiment on the 5th July 1916, joining the 9th Battalion as a Temporary Major as Second in Command.
He was wounded on the 29th September 1916, but remained at duty and on the 17th October 1916 he suffered a gunshot wound to the neck and was admitted to the 7th Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, returning to duty after eight days. On the 1st February 1917 he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, and on the 4th June 1917 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the Birthday Honours List.
On the 1st October 1917 he was killed in an action that earned him a posthumous Victoria Cross.
An extract from The ‘London Gazette’ No. 30471, dated the 11th January 1918, records the following:- For most conspicuous bravery, when during a heavy hostile attack, the right of his own command and the battalion on his right were forced back. The situation was critical owing to the confusion caused by the attack and the intense artillery fire. Lt. Col. Bent personally collected a platoon that was in reserve, and together with men from other companies and various regimental details, he organised and led them forward to the counter-attack, after issuing orders to other officers as to the further defence of the line. The counter-attack was successful and the enemy were checked. The coolness and magnificent example shown to all ranks by Lieutenant Colonel Bent resulted in the securing of a portion of the line which was of essential importance for subsequent operations. This very gallant officer was killed whilst leading a charge which he inspired with the call of “come on the tigers”.
The War Diary records: 1 Oct-17 TRENCHES IN FRONT OF POLYGON WOOD, J.16.a.7.9 to J.10.c.7.6. At 4.00 am Situation reported normal by Companies. At 5.25 am enemy put down a heavy barrage on front Company and POLYGON WOOD, and at the same time put up a smoke screen all along the Battalion front. At 5.27 am the enemy attacked through the smoke screen. S.O.S. sent up. First wave of the enemy were driven off by “A” Company by Lewis Gun and rifle fire. Captain A. A. D. LEE M.C. killed. At 5.30 am the enemy second wave driven off on our front, but enemy attack on Battalion of right flank successful. Right flank of “A” Company (front line Company) threatened. At 5.40 am 2 platoons of “D” Company (who were in reserve from J.10.c.1.3 to J.10.c.1.1) under Lieutenant Colonel P. E. BENT, D.S.O. and “B” Company (who were in support from J.10.c.6.4 to J.10.c.6.0) under Lieutenant BURN immediately counter-attacked enemy. Counter-attack was entirely successful and drove enemy from our front. Lieutenant Colonel BENT killed whilst leading the charge. At 5.45 am the enemy continued to make headway on our right flank in J.16.a and launched his 3rd wave against our front. Two platoons of “C” Company sent up to counter-attack enemy on our right flank. Lieutenant BURN killed. At 6.00 am “C” Company counter-attack reported to have stopped enemy advance. 2 platoons of “C” Company sent up to reinforce and to get in touch with troops on right flank who had been driven back some distance. Enemy attacking troops driven off but owing to heavy casualties in front Company, a defensive line was organised approximately 100 yards in rear of our front line, along the Eastern edge of POLYGON WOOD. Enemy shelling in POLYGON WOOD extremely heavy, causing many casualties. 2nd Lieutenant BARRATT killed. 2nd Lieutenant’s. FAULKNER, SCOTT and HALLAM wounded. “C” Company established a defensive flank from J.10.c.6.0 in front of CAMERON HOUSE to J.16.a.2.7. Full report sent to Brigade and reinforcements asked for. Enemy repeatedly attempted to advance but was driven back by our Lewis Gun and rifle fire, and the line was held against further attack. Touch with the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT was maintained throughout on our left, but touch could not be kept with the troops on our right. At 9.30 am reinforcements from the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT commenced to arrive, 2 platoons sent up to reinforce front line and right flank. Enemy continued to shell extremely heavily, particularly the western edge of POLYGON WOOD - GLENCORSE WOOD – BLACK WATCH CORNER track. The Companies of the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT who had suffered heavy casualties in the barrage and were approximately 70 strong in all arrived as reinforcements. One Company sent to the defensive flank in J.16.a and one Company sent to form a second line in J.10.c central, 100 yards inside the Eastern edge of POLYGON WOOD. Enemy shelling extremely heavy. Enemy aeroplanes were also very aggressive. One enemy plane flying 200 feet above our trenches was shot down by Corporal OUTHWAITE and landed in “no man’s land” where it was destroyed by shell fire. At 10.50 am no further enemy attack. Shelling still heavy. Many enemy stretcher bearers seen carrying Boche wounded. Enemy casualties appear to be very heavy. At 12.00 noon Major HOWITT, Officer Commanding 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT arrived at Battalion Headquarters J.10.c.1.2 with one Company of 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT Major HOWITT took command of the sector. Enemy prisoners state that another attack will take place at dusk, all arrangements made accordingly. Consolidation and improvement of positions carried on throughout the afternoon. Movement extremely difficulty on account of snipers and Machine Gun fire. At 1.15 pm the enemy again commenced to shell heavily but did not attack. At 4.30 pm the enemy reported by front Company to be massing in CAMERON COVERT and coming over the slope J.10.b. These parties were dispersed by our fire. At 5.30 pm enemy shelling increased. At 7.00 pm S.O.S. from Brigade on our right. Our barrage came down almost at once and continued for an hour. No enemy movement seen after our barrage stopped. At 11.00 pm S.O.S. again reported on left and right. No enemy action on our front. Enemy fired thousands of Very lights during our bombardment but did not shell heavily. Night passed comparatively quietly after this.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday December 21st, 1917

ASHBY BOYS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL

SPEECH DAY

The Headmaster in his report, said there had been changes in the staff. Mr Mertens had left to join the gallant Belgian Army, and Mr Healey and Mr Bull had joined the Garrison Artillery. . . . . The Roll of Honour had increased by 50 names, a large number of them boys who had recently left the school. Two old boys of the school recently commanded battalions of the Leicestershire Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel German and Lieutenant-Colonel Bent. The former had been in command of the 2/5th Leicesters practically since its formation, and was now with it in the firing line. Lieutenant-Colonel Bent had a remarkable career, joining the Army as a private, and in little more than two years commanding a battalion at the age of 26, and had received the D.S.O. and a French decoration. He was killed at Polygon Wood in October, when his gallantry and prompt action had saved the day. He has been succeeded in his command of the battalion by Hartshorne, another old Ashbeian. In addition to those whose names are recorded last year, they mourned the loss of Lieutenant Emmerson, Lieutenant Davenport, Lieutenant Mansfield, Lieutenant Musson, who, a short time before his death, had received the Military Cross, and Alec Turner, who was lost at sea in fighting against submarines, whilst Norman Hall was a prisoner of war.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 8th, 1918

LOCAL CHIT CHAT

The King held an investiture at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, bestowing a number of Victoria Crosses on relatives of men who had won them, but had died in action. The mother of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Bent, Leicestershire Regiment, received the D.S.O. awarded to her son for leading a counter-attack with the cry, “Come on, Tigers.” Lieutenant-Colonel Bent was an ‘old boy’ of the Ashby Grammar School.

Coalville Times article - Friday January 10th, 1919

FIVE LEICESTERSHIRE SCHOOL V.C.’S

We are informed by Mr Brockington, the County Director of Education that the V.C. has been won by five soldiers who were, in their boyhood, scholars of the public elementary schools of the county, namely: Lieutenant-Colonel Bent from Ashby-de-la-Zouch; Lieutenant Boulter from Wigston; Pte Buckingham from Countesthorpe; Sergeant Leonard Insley from Albert Village.

Both Colonel Bent and Private Buckingham lost their lives in action, and in the case of the former, the award was posthumous.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby. 1/1/2018.