Ronald Bentley

Ronald was born on 23^rd March 1923, the son of Horace and Kathleen Bentley, husband of Greta Bentley, of Ossett, Yorkshire, and brother of Dorothy Sherwood. Ronald went to Horbury Council School and attended St Mary’s all his life before joining the forces – he was a Sunday School teacher and a server - and his death was remembered in the church magazine. Ronald worked at Charles Roberts (helping to make tanks), but joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at the age of 17. He joined 106 squadron, training on Stirling bombers, before becoming a Seargent Flight Engineer on Lancasters (Service number 1698420). His was one of two Lancasters shot down east of Beauvais on the night of 4^th – 5^th July 1944 (the rear gunner escaped) – he was aged 21. He is buried in grave 283 of Marissel French National Cemetery, Beauvais.