LCol CE Bent, CMG, DSO, VD

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

Lieut Col Charles E Bent was a Captain in the 93rd Cumberland Regiment at the outbreak of the War. He immediately volunteered for active service and as Adjutant of the 17th Battalion accompanied the First Division to England. On the breaking up of that Unit he took a draft over to the 13th Battalion arriving in France April 1915.

He reported for duty with the 15th Battalion and was given command of a Platoon. He became a Company Commander immediately after the fighting of Festubert 1915; Second in Command December 31 1915; and Officer Commanding the 15th Battalion in May 1916.

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.

In civilian life he was a farmer and customs collector.

He passed away 27 Oct 1955 (aged 75) and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia.

NOK: Daisy Leda Bent Pugwash, NS

Awards
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
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

Gallery

Subscribe
Notify me of
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Guest
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)

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/

Holiday closure

We will be closed on June 3, 2025 and will reopen on June 5, 2025.

We look forward to seeing you then.

We are still open for virtual tours and we will try to respond to your email messages as soon as possible.