1. A Railway Family – the Bentleys
This PowerPoint accompanies the ‘Railway Families – the Bentley Family case study’.
The intention is to complement those notes, the presentation can be used as is or adapted to suit. The images have been compressed for use with a data projector.
Slides 1-5 provide background about working for the NER in the early 20th century.
Slides case study the Bentley Family.

2. This case study uses original, primary sources to build up a story of the Bentley Family at the time of World War 1
It is based on primary sources from the early 20th Century, in their original format. Some of these are handwritten and may be difficult to read and interpret. The printed sources, in particular the North Eastern Railway staff magazine are written in language used at the time and some words have meanings specific to the Railways, for example a Fireman looks after the fire on a steam locomotive.
All railway sources are from the Ken Hoole Study Centre at the Head of Steam. The 1901 and 1911 census details and Gateshead map are available online from a number of sources.

3. “worked for them Man and Boy”
During the first part of the 20th Century it was common for whole families' to work for the same employer.
It was usual for Fathers to get their sons a job with the company they worked for .
In 1920, J Bennett, senior asked for his son, Jon, to be reinstated with the NER because of his War Service. Before the War Jon had been sacked for fighting.
The letter is in the archive,
Jon Thomas Bennett’s employment record is the staff employment books (possibly 1 or B1, but Roy can’t find it again!). He worked as a Fireman before the War and appears to have argued with, and possibly struck a Foreman. He was dismissed.
Text of letter;
Dear Sir,
My Son J.T. Bennett Fireman who left the company’s service in 1915 and joined the army was demobilised a few months ago after being in France since June is there any chance for him to be reinstated as he is willing to accept any job in general.
Young and foolish at the time he had words with the Foreman for which he has apologised, he offered his services at the nation strike without effect.
Seeing the war has wrought many changes to them that roughed it in France, might atone for the past
I approached Mr Baister some time ago who declined to reinstate him.
If it be true we are beginning a new World those who took part in the fight might be considered
Yours obediently
J Bennett Driver
Edinburgh

4. “like father, like son…”
There is a record of Mr A WILSON, who was the Permanent Way Inspector at Ripon
All 4 of his sons worked for the NER
The permanent way is the actual rails, sleepers, points and such like.
3 generations of the Thompson Family worked for the NER
A Wilson – from NERM 1915 page 83
S Thompson – from NERM 1918

5. “living close to the job”
Most people lived near to their workplace and walked to work, there was little public transport . Only cities like Newcastle and large towns like Gateshead had trams.
Motor cars were beyond the means of everyone except the very rich.
Companies would build houses close to their factories and then rent them to the workers.
Top left is the NER Locomotive works at Gateshead. Bottom left is Cumberland Street where the Bentley family lived. The 1911 census shows that the terraces between were filled with railway workers.

6. The Bentley Family
An Article from the North Eastern Railway staff magazine of April 1917 page 92, begins the story.
We can see that a Mr J W Bentley, who works at the Gateshead Locomotive Works has 5 sons.
What is his job?
How many sons have worked at the Loco Works?
2 sons have already been Killed in Action.
ROBERT, who worked at the Loco Works as a ‘Hammer Lad’
EDWARD, who must have worked elsewhere.
What do the other sons do?
JW Bentley, father is a fireman, someone who looks after the fire in a steam engine
4 sons, Robert, Henry, James and Joseph all work at the loco works.
A ‘lad’ would be the assistant (and probably ‘go-fer’) for a skilled worker and would help with the job. Many apprentices would start as a ‘lad’.
A ‘Hammer Lad’ would help run a steam hammer, a ‘Machine Lad’ would assist a Machinist

7. Where next?
J W Bentley is not listed in the Engine and Firemen Registers , but he is listed in the
“North Eastern Railway Servants Pension Society” List As
Bentley, James William
Date of Birth - 23/03/1858
Date of Death – 04/02/1938
Date entered service – 26/10/1875
Grade – Fireman
Station – Gateshead
Year – 1907
We now have names and a date of birth for Mr JW Bentley.
The Pension Society was set up to provide pensions for workers. It was voluntary, a worker could apply to join, not all would be accepted. The money was invested so that when a worker retired they would receive a pension.

8. 1901 and 1911 census details
We have enough information to search the census data from 1901 and 1911
We can find James William Bentley in Gateshead, aged 53, with 5 sons with the right names. His wife is Martha Bentley and they have been married 26 years in 1911.
JOSEPH is a Machinist in the Loco Works
JAMES William is a Boilersmith
ROBERT is a Forgeman/Hammer Driver
EDWARD is a Coal Miner (driver)
HENRY is still in school
J W Bentley (father) is listed as a ‘stationary engine fireman’. Fixed Steam engines provided all the power for the works using drive shafts and belts. The Engine Drivers books only list Fireman and Drivers for ‘Motive Power’ – locomotives.
A Hammer Driver operates the valve and leavers to make a steam hammer work.
A Driver in a coal mine leads the ponies that haul the coal to the surface.
The Family have moved from Warwick Street in 1901 to Cumberland Street in 1911

9. The Great War
For the original article we know that by 1917 both Edward and Robert have been killed in action
By searching the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website we can find memorials for the both
Taken from the Commonwealth War Grave Commission
The listing gives name, regiment, rank, serial number, date of death and where the memorial is.

10. What happened next?
A further search of the staff magazine gives us more information on Henry.
We have a picture and the news that he is back at the Front after recovering from being wounded.
From NERM April 1917, page 83
Text reads:
We reproduce a photograph of Private Henry Bentley, Northumberland Fusiliers', who prior to enlisting was employed at Gateshead Locomotive Works as machine lad. Private Bentley was wounded in the face during the heavy fighting of July , but is again at the front. Three of Private Bentley’s brother joined the colours and of them two have been killed. Reference to them is made in the ‘General News’ columns.

11. Sad News
We next have a report of Henry in the May issue of the NER magazine.
He was killed in action on Easter Monday 1917.
From NERM May 1917, page 125

12. Henry’s Memorial
Henry is buried in Duisans British Cemetery in Etrun

13. James and Joseph
Research so far has failed to find any definite references to Joseph and James during the War.
Joseph probably remained at the Loco Works, skilled workers would not be called ‘to the colours’ and there at records of the Gateshead works producing gun carriages and other special orders for the War.
We know James joined the Royal Engineers from the staff magazine. Many of the paper records of soldiers from the First World War have not survived.
There is a record of a J Bentley serving with the RE and gaining the DCM, but it is difficult to be certain if this is James

14. ? ? ? ? You??? Great Grandfather After the war
Grandfather or Grandmother
Father or
Mother
You???
James ?
There is a suggestion that James survived the war and married in 1922.
If that is true then his Great Grandchildren could be in secondary school now!
We have his pension record and in 1933 he moved to Darlington as a Welder.
He retired in 1953. ? ? ?