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LCol CE Bent, CMG, DSO, VD
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See list of Commanding Officers

Colonel Charles Edward BENT, CMG, DSO*, VD (MID*****)

LCol Bent transferred from the 17th Bn (Nova Scotia) in 1915 and became Commanding Officer of the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders) in May 1916 following the death of LCol W. R. Marshall, DSO. He served as CO through the battles of The Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Passchendaele and Amiens, where he was wounded severely. He returned as CO in 1918 to the end of the war and brought the 48th Highlanders home to Toronto in 1919. He served also in WWII from 1940 – 1943 as CO of the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, and 3rd (Reserve) Bn., Canadian Engineers.

NOK: Daisy Leda Bent Pugwash, NS

Awards
Medals info
Date
Award
Citation
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

First DSO

Gazetted 1-Jan-17
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Bar to Distinguished Service Order:
For gallantry and skill in directing his battalion in an attack. He, under difficulties of mist, led his battalion in close reserve to the three attacking battalions of this brigade … consequently, under the conditions of the day he was engaged in personal leadership and fighting helping to clear up the places where the enemy were still holding out. Next day during another attack, he was severely wounded.

13-Jun-16
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

His Majesty the King has graciously been pleased to award Mention in Dispatches for Gallant and Distinguished Services in the Field to Lt Col CE Bent

LCol Bent was Mentioned in Despatches 6 times between 13-Jun-1916 and 31 Dec-1918.

  • 13-6-16 – LG 19623
  • 2-1-17 – LG 29890
  • 1-6-17 – LG 30107 (Vimy Ridge)
  • 28-12-17 LG 30448
  • 28-5-18 LG 30706
  • 31-12-18 LG 31089
Awards - other
VD
Unit(s)
15th Bn (WW 1)
Previous unit
17th Bn
Date of attestation
28-Sep-1914
Date Taken on Strength
27-May-1915
Fate
Released
Linked artifact(s)

Gallery

Major Bent in trenches 1915

LCol Bent, wife Lida, and son Edgar at DSO cerimony London 1917

LCol Bent (seated right) with 15th Battalion Officers 1916

LCol Bent (centre) and 15th Battalion Officers Toronto 1919

Commanding Officers 3rd Brigade 1918

Colonel CE Bent Commanding Officer 3rd Pioneer Battalion and 3rd (Res) Battalion RCE 1940 – 1943

Col Bent NS 1920’s Scarlets

Maj Bent 1916

Col Bent on Fritz the Horse. Also shown is Bruno the dog. (In the 1920s.

Bent family grave plot and headstone of Col. CE Bent in Fairview Cemetery, Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia

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Hunter Marasco
16 May 2024 4:48 pm

colonel c.e bent is my great great grampa
from my moms side of the family
(i got my last name from my dad)

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Editor
HCol (retd) George William Beal, CD
17 May 2024 3:22 pm
Reply to  Hunter Marasco

Delighted you found his page, Hunter. Have you accessed and read our history “48th Highlanders of Canada, 1891-1928”? You can access it here: https://48thhighlanders.ca/history-books/

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