Reginald Jack Bentham – known as Jack – was born in Melton on 29^th July 1905 and was the son of Richard, the village Schoolmaster, and Hannah. In 1939, Jack was a ratings officer working for Deben Rural District Council. He was also a Special Constable.

Jack enlisted as a signaller in the Royal Corps of Signals and was assigned to the 11^th Armoured Division, known as the Black Bulls due to their insignia. They were involved in the Battle of Normandy in June 1944. By the time of Jack’s death, on 2^nd May 1945, the Division had captured areas of Northern Germany up to the Danish Border and were at the liberation of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp.

Jack was killed as a result of an air raid on the headquarters of 11th Armoured Division. He is buried in Hamburg Cemetery and is also commemorated on the family gravestone at Melton Old Church.