Wigan Album
Wigan Swimming and Water Polo
4 Comments
Photo: RON HUNT
Item #: 26084
BENTHAM, Isaac
Born: 27 October 1886, Ince, Wigan, Lancashire, England
Died: 15 May 1917, Arras, Paid-de-Calais, France
Olympics competed in: 1 (1912)
Olympic medals: 1912 - Gold (Water polo)
The son of a Wigan grocer and insurance agent, Isaac Bentham was a forward with the 1912 gold-medal winning water polo team and like his father and grandfather before him, he also became a grocer in the Wigan area.
Bentham was killed in action during the Battle of Arras in the Western European Theatre in France whilst serving with the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery in 1917. He was awarded the Victory, 1914-15 Star and British War medals.
(See http://gbolympics.co.uk/waterpolo.html )
Heartbreaking, Mick! He's on some of the other group photos I've seen, I think.
Hi , Isaac Bentham was my great -grandad,
We often understood that his swimming costume
was for public view in Wigan baths , as stated by
his daughter Florence , ( my nana ) many years
ago . Since the baths is now closed , where
would this be and would anyone have any photos ?
Regards ... Janet Mason
I too am Isaac Bentham’s great-grndaughter and currently own one of his caps for England 1912 Olympics.
I would love to see his swimming suit if this is still on show somewhere? Could you please look into this for myself and Janet ? Thanks