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Auction: 7022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 1254

The Important Falklands War ´Goose Green´ M.M. Group of Four to Lance-Corporal M.W.L. ´Bill´ Bentley, 2nd Parachute Regiment, For Conspicuous Gallantry on a Number of Occasions During the Operations, Notably for Making his Way to a Forward Slope to Assist a Severely Wounded Comrade; He Amputated an Almost Severed Leg with a ´Swiss Army Knife´ under Heavy Bombardment and Sniper Fire a) Military Medal, E.II.R. (24174900 Lcpl M W L Bentley Para) b) United Nations Medal for Cyprus c) General Service 1962-, one clasp, Northern Ireland (24174900 L/Cpl. M.W.L. Bentley 14/20H) d) South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24174900 Lcpl M W L Bentley Para), generally good very fine, mounted as originally worn, lacking retaining pin (4) Estimate £ 25,000-30,000 M.M. London Gazette 8.10.1982 24174900 Lance Corporal Martin William Lester Bentley The Parachute Regiment, ´Lance Corporal Bentley was a member of the Regimental Aid Post of the Second Battalion The Parachute Regiment throughout the Falkland Islands campaign. During the battle for Port Darwin and Goose Green on 28th/29th May it was of tremendous credit to the Regimental Aid Post that none of the Battalion´s thirty four wounded died. This credit belongs to none more than Lance Corporal Bentley. From the first moment that the Regimental Aid Post came under mortar and artillery fire Lance Corporal Bentley´s qualities manifested themselves. His courage and presence of mind in carrying out his job acted as an inspiration, not only to the other medical orderlies, but to all those who came in contact with him. With an immense pack of medical kit on his back Lance Corporal Bentley was to be found wherever the casualties were thickest. Regardless of enemy shell and mortar fire he not only dealt with his casualties in a calm reassuring manner, but boosted their morale with a continuous lighthearted banter. Typical of his sustained performance during the course of the battle was when a soldier had his lower leg blown off by a mortar bomb. Lance Corporal Bentley, still with heavy pack, ran forward onto a forward slope position and, although under persistent enemy fire, calmly and efficiently carried out the emergency medical treatment that undoubtedly saved the soldiers life. This incident is just one of many that epitomises the qualities of this brave, resourceful and exceptional man. He acted in, and beyond, the finest traditions of The Parachute Regiment.´ 24174900 Lance-Corporal Martin William Lester Bentley, M.M., born Manchester, Lancashire, 1955; joined the Junior Leaders Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps, April 1970; awarded Regimental Colours for Cross Country Skiing and represented the regiment at the National Judo Championships passed out as Junior Warrant Officer 2nd Class and as´ Best Soldier passing out to a Cavalry Regiment´, August 1972; joined the 14th/20th King´s Hussars later the same year, and once again received Regimental Colours for Cross Country Skiing; attached to The Parachute Squadron Royal Armoured Corps, 1973-76, postings including Malaya, Sharjah and in 1974 served throughout the Cyprus conflict, ´Under the command of (then) Lt. Rod Hine, involved in the evacuation of Archbishop Makarius from Paphos. Later we were cut off behind the Turkish lines, in Kyrenia for ca. one month, we were the last group to be brought out! Later still I was the driver of one of two armoured escort vehicles which brought Rauf Denktasch into the Ledra Palace Hotel, Nicosia to sign the ´cessations of hostilities´ agreement´ (typed manuscript included with the lot refers); served in Northern Ireland, 1975; attached 22 SAS, ´although I completed the entire selection course (Summer 1976), worked with the CRW team and later completed Jungle training, I did not like the attitude of the training staff and so I opted to return to the 14/20H before being ´Badged´!´ (typed manuscript included with the lot refers); completed the SASC Sharpshooter course the following year and was Divisional White Water Canoeing champion; completed another tour of Northern Ireland before leaving the army early in 1979, only to re-enlist later the same year with 2 Para; did a further tour of Northern Ireland and became Regimental Medical Assistant; represented his new regiment in the National Judo Championships and came 8th in the International Mourne Mountains Marathon; present throughout the Falklands War where he served as a combat medic, a vital link between the front line and company medic, performing much of his work in and around the battlefield; his commanding officer Captain S. Hughes (Medical Officer The Parachute Regiment) kept a diary throughout the conflict, extracts of which in particular covering Goose Green were later published in Above All, Courage, Max Arthur, offer us further insight into Bentley´s part in the battle: ´The CO outlined a six phase battalion plan to take the Goose Green/Darwin isthmus, with the initial fire support of H.M.S. Arrow... The medical plan I formulated was for two medical sections forward each with a Medical Officer: Rory Wagon and myself. I would leave Sergeant Bradshaw, Private Buchanan and two PCT guys at Camilla Creek to deal with any casualties we managed to evacuate by the captured Land Rover. Friday 28th May I got the lads at 01:20 after spending a freezing night in the cud. We brewed up, packed up and moved close into Camilla House, moving off behind Battalion Main Headquarters just after 02:00. Moving with the medical kit divided amongst us, in our bergens, the order of march was myself, Hall, Clegg, Polky, Gibson, Bentley, Rory Wagon, Taff Jones, Hamer, Davis, Hood, Cpl Thornborough and the Padre...... Around the area of Burntside House we came under mortar and artillery fire, quite close for about 90 minutes.... We were also under fire from a sniper/snipers on the right of the track and at one stage a round whistled inches above my head. It was at this stage that D Company took casualties and we were asked to move forward. About 11am Soon after, we came under heavy bombardment in the gully, with shells whistling not 20 feet overhead. The rear slope position saved our bacon..... Shrapnel casualties drifted in, the smoke and cordite streamed through our position doing its damnest to fog us out at times.... One lad came in almost in tears. He was okay but his mucker, Private ´Chopsey´ Gray was pinned down dying on the forward slope with his leg blown half off. I knew I had to send a medic forward. It was difficult to ask, I felt almost as if I ought to do it myself, but knew that was out of the question. Bill (Lance-Corporal Bentley) accepted the task without qualm. Together with a stretcher party he precariously made his way into the forward slope to Gray. He completed the partial amputation with his clasp knife and was able to stem the blood loss with a tourniquet. They were then able to bring him into the RAP. Gray was the colour of his surname. He had no veins visible anywhere, he had lost so much blood.´ Bentley was in action again with Captain John Greenhaugh, ´at dusk, he (Greenhaugh) had, remarkably, taken his Scout onto the forward slope to drop off Lance-Corporal Bentley and to pick up casualties. He had flown, guided by the lads on the ground, by radio version of the ´Golden Shot´ - ´left a bit, right a bit´ and ´here´.´ Bentley filled the helicopter, inlcuding his place, with casualties, having to make his way back from the battlefield on foot. He later reported Greenhuagh´s bravery and flying skills, for which the pilot was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On the 29th the Argentine force surrendered the position, ´A television news crew choppered in and tried to film the tragic spectacle of our dead. I sent Bill to see them off.´ 1st June I travelled into Darwin to visit A Company and Lance-Corporal Bentley. He is having second thoughts about leaving the Army. It would seem a shame now to lose all the ground we´ve made in terms of experience - we must consolidate. I must try and keep him. Bill´s performance has been nothing short of outstanding . He is both a soldier and a very brave man. From the first time we came under fire he stayed cool and set an example to those around him, including me. He has a calming influence, projected not least by his immense practical sense. If there was nothing else to do whilst we were under shell fire in the gully, Bill was brewing up! Understandably, just his presence instils confidence in all those around him and the others have come on immeasurably.´ Bentley left the Army in 1983, and for the next year worked mostly in America for the Saudi Ambassador to America, Prince Bandar bin Sultan. He returned to the UK in 1985, and served for five years in the Duke of Lancaster´s Own Yeomanry before finally ending his military service 1990 after an accumulated period of 17 years.

Sold for
£34,000