Little Khaki George
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Image courtesy Calderdale Museums
Who was he ?
George Bentley was born in April 1911 and was the son of Walter and Ellen Bentley of the Temperance Hotel, Wards End, Halifax. Walter Bentley was the proprietor of the hotel.
The first mention of a George Bentley collecting money for the Mayor's Fund was in the Halifax Courier of Saturday 22 August 1914. He collected £1 3s. Shortly after he was being referred to as 'Little Khaki George'.
By September 12 he and his father were being congratulated on their efforts.
Khaki George continued to collect on a regular basis and became something of a celebrity. His father took him to Thrum Hall, then the home of Halifax Rugby League Club to collect. They had crowds up to 19,000 even in those days and of course visiting fans may not have seen the likes of a small boy collecting money.
Little Khaki George at an unknown collecting spot looking a very reluctant subject.
Image George Bentley Family