Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Second Boer War D.C.M. awarded to Trooper John Bentley, Rhodesian Field Force, for gallantry in attending his wounded Captain when he, himself, was also wounded and tried to crawl on his hands and knees to Ramathlabana two miles distant to get water for Captain ‘The Boy’ MacLaren; he afterwards served with Warwick’s Scouts and 1st Imperial Light Horse, with whom he was mortally wounded at Naauwpoort Neck on 5 January 1901

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (Tpr: J. Bentley. Rhodesian F.F.) rank and name officially re-impressed, nearly extremely fine £1,000-£1,400

D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the King 3 August 1901; London Gazette 27 September 1901.

John Bentley is ‘mentioned’ by Roberts under Warwick's Scouts in the London Gazette of 16 April 1901, for unspecified actions up to 29 November 1900.
However, the recommendation for Bentley's D.C.M. can be found in Rhodesia Served the Queen, Vol II, p143-4, quoting General Orders dated 12 July [1900] by Major-General R. S. S. Baden-Powell, as follows:

‘The General Officer Commanding desires to place on record gallant conduct of Trooper J Bentley, C Squadron, Rhodesia Regiment, who in the fight at Ramathlabana on March 31st, 1900, when Captain MacLaren was badly wounded, remained with him under heavy fire - he was then wounded himself but tried to crawl on his hands and knees to Ramathlabana two miles distant to get water for Captain MacLaren.’

Hickman then adds a note: ‘It will be remembered that "The Boy" MacLaren was a close personal friend of Baden-Powell.’

Bentley was taken prisoner on the same day. After his release as PoW, he served in Warwicks' Scouts. In November 1900, he joined the 1st Imperial Light Horse, was wounded at Naauwpoort Nek, near Krugersdorp, on 5 January 1901, and died the next day.