BENTLEY, Lewis Stanley

Lewis was a son of William and Catherine Bentley of Glen Alpine, Ashford NSW. He was an Auctioneer when, at the age of twenty four, he enlisted at Inverell in October 1915.

He became a member of the 33rd Battalion, C Company and sailed from Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon in May 1916. After arriving in England in July his Battalion undertook further training before being sent to France in November. Three months later he was invalided back to England for treatment at 1st Southern General Hospital. After six months he returned to France, contracted Trench Fever and was hospitalised again. In May 1919 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

Lewis returned to Australia with his English wife whom he had married in 1918. After his discharge from the Army they lived in the Ashford district until about 1922 when Lewis obtained a Soldier Settler’s block near Talimba NSW. Here he became a foundation member of the local Ex-services League. Lewis served again during World War 11. He died in Sydney in 1952 and was buried at West Wyalong.

Lewis has his name recorded on the Bonshaw and Inverell Honor Rolls.