Bentley Motors is proud to introduce the limited, one-off Private White VC Bentayga from Mulliner. Commissioned by Bentley Manchester and Mulliner, this bespoke Bentayga is a true expression of the British heritage, handcrafted craftsmanship and luxury fashion that both Private White VC and Bentley Motors represent. This unique specification Bentayga has already secured its home having been sold to a local enthusiast. Private Jack White was born in 1896 and enlisted to support the war effort in World War I. He returned to Manchester a war hero after being awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in saving an officer, men and equipment by tying a copper telephone around himself and swimming across a river under heavy gunfire to save others rescue.
Inspired by the boldness of Private White and today’s clothing line, the specially commissioned Bentayga Azure uses numerous copper details throughout the cabin, including seat piping, embroidery and bespoke details depicting the copper telephone line. Additionally, clean, functional sewing lines on the seats and inside doors reflect the style and functionality of military-inspired clothing. Bespoke embroidery, including the Victoria Cross emblem on the headrests and “Private White VC” lettering, perfectly rounds off the cabin details. The loose cushions at the back were made from a cashmere fabric woven in Lancashire, commissioned solely to commemorate Jack White’s regimental blanket stripes.
The dashboard features anodized copper organ stops and a silhouette of “Cottenham House”, the private White VC factory built in 1853, down to the passenger dashboard. As a hidden highlight, not only are there bespoke door sills, but there is also a subtly embroidered bulldog in the door pockets, representing the company’s unofficial mascot, which can often be seen in the factory today. The exterior of the Bentayga is finished in Dark Sapphire with modern Blackline specification and rear privacy glass. Bespoke 22-inch wheels in bright, machined colors provide a dark base for bespoke Private White VC badging and subtle copper accents. The final highlight of this bespoke collaboration is that as part of this unique curation, the limited edition customer will also receive a capsule collection of bespoke clothing from Private White VC.
Jack White was born Jacob Weiss on December 23, 1896 in Leeds. At the outbreak of war he was in Sweden, but returned, was commissioned into the 6th (Service) Battalion King’s Own and served throughout the war in the Middle East – in Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia (Iraq). He was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery when Captain S. Patterson and 60 men of the battalion, including White, attempted to cross the Dialah River on the night of March 7-8, 1917.
“NO. 18105 Pte. Jack White, R. Lanc. R.
For outstanding bravery and dedication.
While attempting to cross a river, this signalman saw the two pontoons in front of him come under heavy machine gun fire, with disastrous consequences. When his own pontoon had reached the middle of the stream, and every man but himself was either dead or wounded, and finding that he could not control the pontoon, Pte. White immediately tied a telephone cable to the pontoon, jumped overboard and dragged it to shore, saving the life of one officer and bringing ashore the rifles and equipment of the other men in the boat, who were either dead or dying.
After his military service, Jack White began an apprenticeship as a pattern cutter at his local raincoat factory. He rose quickly and was appointed general manager in 1934. In 1937, after less than twenty years of service, he became the sole owner of the factory. In 1916 Private White VC supplied the Allies with cotton gabardine trench coats and in the 1940s was contracted by the Ministry of Defense to supply the RAF with waterproof parkas. Based in Manchester, Private White VC has been in business for over 100 years, providing high quality and stylish garments made from the finest materials and craftsmanship.
To help combat the global COVID-19 pandemic, Private White VC volunteered its services to the Department of Health and Human Services in 2020 and quickly became the largest manufacturer of medical-grade gowns and surgical masks in the country . The Private White VC factory on the banks of the River Irwell continues to thrive thanks to the tireless drive and unwavering determination of its remarkable workforce. The team of over 100 individuals from 13 different nationalities strives every day to produce garments of the highest quality, using only the best fabrics and materials from the region.
