Two WW2 names are on the chapel's roll of honour, but neither name comes up in the CWGC database as being associated with Colne. I think J.H. Rushton is likely to be the man below, as Bethel Chapel is most famously associated with Wallace Hartley, the S.S. Titanic's bandmaster. Is that correct, and who was H. Bentley? RUSHTON, JOHN HARTLEY Rank: Third Radio Officer Date of Death: 06/11/1942 Age: 21 Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy, S.S. Empire Sky (Sunderland) Panel Reference: Panel 45. Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of George Herman and Annie Rushton. Casualty Details
* John Hartley Rushton is likely the correct person; see place of birth in the attached link: John Hartley Rushton (British) - Crew lists of Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net Another link here: http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?31314
* There is this casualty from Padiham, which is not far from Colne: BENTLEY, Harold Rank: Engine Room Mechanic 4th Class Service No: C/MX 506392 Date of Death: 19/06/1945 Regiment/Service: Royal Navy, H.M.S. Pembroke Grave Reference: Row 6. Div. 7. Grave 16. Cemetery: PADIHAM (ST. LEONARD) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION Additional Information: Husband of H. Bentley, of Padiham. He's also mentioned here: Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, June 1945 - which has him DOWS, or rather Died Of Wounds. Needs further investigation...
Thank you very much. I've checked the names on the Colne town memorial, and John Hartley Rushton is there, but not Harry Bentley. He isn't on Padiham's memorial either.
Harold Bentley in the UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 Name: Harold Bentley Event: Death Birth Date: 28 Mar 1920 Birth Place: Colne, Lancs. Death Date: 19 Jun 1945 Death Age: 25 Shows cause of death Harold Bentley in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Harold Bentley Birth Date: abt 1920 Date of Registration: Jun 1945 Age at Death: 25 Registration district: Chatham Inferred County: Kent Volume: 2a Page: 1233 TD
Harold Bentley in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2005 Name: Harold Bentley Mother's Maiden Surname: Bell Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1920 Registration district: Burnley Inferred County: Lancashire Volume Number: 8e Page Number: 491 TD