No. 34653, Private, Walter DENNIS
Aged 25
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Walter DENNIS was born in Dullingham in 1892, the son of Frederick and Mary DENNIS (née RUMBELOW). There are 3 possible birth registrations in Newmarket
which might be him, but the most likely is as here (Newmarket 2nd qtr 1892 3b:526)
1901 census... Aged 8, he was living at Rose Cottage, Freckenham with his father Frederick DENNIS [37], a road surveyor for the council, born in Clare; his mother Mary [35] born Freckenham; sister Elsie M [7] born Dullingham and brother Charles F. [6] born Dullingham. 1911 census... Aged 18, an apprentice Ironmonger, he was living in a 10 room house in Freckenham with his parents, brother Charles who was a farm pupil and sister Elsie Mary. This advert in Cage Birds and Birds World, July 1910 places a Walter Dennis in Freckeham "ONE pair young Sparrow Hawks, feed from hand, 6/-; deposit system: Walter Dennis, Freckenham, Soham, Cambs". The above civilian history is put in doubt by this soldier's pension card (below) which seems to be at variance with CWGC. Frederic DENNIS married Mary RUMBELOW in the 2nd qtr 1891. |
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He enlisted in Felixstowe (his residence was Walton in "Soldiers Died"). Unusually, his medal index card does not mention his previous service in the Suffolk Regiment. In June 1917 the 11th Essex were in the Lens coal-mining area in France, in trenches to the east of Loos. They left Le Brebis on the 20th June 1917 where they had been resting and returned to the firing line. They were at about half strength, consisting of 19 officers and only 514 other ranks. There was a raid and trench mortar barrage on the "C" Company position but it was fought off successfully with 12 wounded and one missing, but no major attacks. Walter was with "A" company and they lost Walter and one other man, both buried in Philosophe Cemetery,Mazingarbe, NW of Loos. |
photo: Rodney Gibson photo:Rodney Gibson
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details