Bede John Francis Bentley
Bede John Francis Bentley (1878-1939) of J. F. Bentley who later had exploits in motorcars and claimed to have invented the tank.
1878 Born in Wandsworth the son of John Francis Bentley (1839-1902), Architect of Westminster Cathedral, and his wife Margaret A. Fleuss
1901-02. A Queen's South Africa Medal, with three clasps CAPE COLONY, SOUTH AFRICA 1901 and SOUTH AFRICA 1902, awarded to 38153 SERJT. B. J. F. BENTLEY. BRABANT'S HORSE.[1]
1907-08 Messrs. Bede J. F. Bentley and his mechanic Reginald G. Wells drove a Wolseley car to the Emperor of Ethiopia
1911 Resident at the Connaught Club, 75-79 Seymour Street, Paddington: Bede J. F. Bentley (age 32 born Towcester), Selling Cars.[2]
1914-22 Captain in the Royal Army Service Corps
1917 Married in London to Marguerite E. Ribbentrop
1917 Bankruptcy. '...In the High Court of Justice.— In Bankruptcy. No. 1126 of 1911. Be BEDE J. F. BENTLEY, 6, Throgmorton avenue, in the city of London, and Connaught Club, Seymour-place, in the county of London....'[3]
1920 Made a claim for £300,000 from the government for inventing the tank. Evidence on his behalf by Winston Churchill. Case lost.
1926 Bankruptcy Act Receiving Order. Bede John Francis Bentley, "New Barn House," Longfield, Kent.[4]
1934 Patent. Sifter cap for powder containers.[5]
1939 May 6th. Died. Of New Barn House, Longfield, Kent. Administration to his widow Marguerite Edith Bentley.