Bentley was a son of John Bentley of Yorkshire. He fought during the early stages of the Second War of Scottish Independence. Walter served as King Edward III of England's sergeant in France during 1339. As part of William de Bohun, Earl of Northampton's retinue, Walter served in Brittany in 1342. Forming his own mercenary band, he had control of Tristan and a number of castles in western Brittany. Bentley was involved in a feud with Raoul de Caours, the English lieutenant of Bas-Poitou, over the possession of his wife's castles that Caours had seized from the French. In October 1349, Edward III returned these castles to Bentley. Appointed as the King's Lieutenant in Brittany on 8 September 1350, the successor of Thomas Dagworth. During June 1351, a French army laid siege to the town of Ploërmel, Bentley was able to relieve the town, raiding into Maine and along the Loire Valley. While Bentley was in England, a French army under Guy II de Nesle, raided into Brittany. Returning to Brittany, Walter raised an English-Breton army and defeated Guy II during the battle of Mauron. Many French nobles were captured. Bentley was also severely injured during the battle. He was dismissed as the King's Lieutenant in early 1353. Later hat same year, Edward III ordered Bentley to surrender his wife's castles, part of a treaty with Charles, Duke of Brittany. Bentley refused to hand overthe castle and travelled to England to plead his case, before Edward III. Walter was imprisoned in the Tower of London, while his case was heard. Eventually he was released and allowed to return after a period of having to stay in England. In January 1357, he and his wife were granted the barony of La Roche-Moisan. Walter died in December 1359. Bentley held many lands in England, as well as Beauvoir-sur-Mer, Ampant, Barre, Blaye, Chateauneuf, Villemaine, the Île-Chauvet and islands of Noirmoutier and Bouin.
Marriage
Bentley married Jeanne, the widow of Geoffrey de Châteaubriant VIII, Guy of Penthièvre, Olivier de Clisson, the daughter of Maurice IV Montaigu of Belleville and Palluau and Létice de Parthenay, they had no issue.
