Sergeant Gordon Joseph Bentley
Wireless Operator
* 3 June 1921 Chorlton(Manchester)
† 21 December 1942 Elst UT
Son of Thomas and Norah Gladys Bentley of Chorlton, Lancashire
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service nr. 1020750
A lot of searching on the internet could not bring loose ends together. On the website "Findagrave" I found the grave of Thomas and Norah Gladys Bentley at the Southern Cemetery in Chorlton. I also made some posts on Facebook which drew the attention of BBC NorthWest. In 2016 we made a trip to the UK and we decided to go to the Southern Cemetery, maybe there was more information to be found on the headstone. BBC NorthWest Tonight made a video of our visit to the cemetery with a call for help which was broadcast that evening. One reaction came . No direct results but it brought me in contact with Di Ablewhite, researcher and volunteer to the International Bomber Command Centre. She is very helpful with other difficult searches!
The headstone at the Southern Cemetery. Later it turned out to be his parents grave indeed.
In the "1939 Register" we found this. But something is wrong. Born in 1931 and at the age of 8 a "Hotel Waiter"?
Or a Wireless Operator at the age of 11?
The adress is 9, Victoria Road!
Look at the original of the "1939 Register": it should be 1921!
Apparently he was an only child.
Found in the archives of the Manchester Evening News.
This confirms: 9, Victoria Road.
This "In Memoriam"confirms he was an only child.
But there are relatives: in Thornton, Blackpool Auntie Louise, Uncle Norman and Kathleen.
And in Glasgow Leslie and Betty.
In 1944 Auntie Louise and Uncle Norman and Kathleen are living in the Bay Horse Hotel, Thornton, Blackpool.
In 1945 they are living 7 Egerton Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy.
In Glasgow we find Leslie, Betty and Linda in 1945.
Are there any living descendants??
Also found in the archives of the Manchester Evening News:
a small photo of Gordon Joseph Bentley.
Who can help us finding relatives ??
Below are extracts from the Operations Record Books with the operational flights of Gordon Joseph Bentley
Gordon Joseph is buried at the Rusthof Cemetery, Leusden, and is commemorated at the memorial in Elst UT.
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