Rushden Research Group: Dennis Denton 1915

Information from Clive Wood, 2008

Private William Dennis Denton

2095 1st/4th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment

Son of Mr Walter and Mrs Lucy Denton

Aged 18 years

Died 18th August 1915

Commemorated on the Helles Memorial
Panel 154 & 155

Born and enlisted at Rushden. Also known as 'Jicker' Denton.

Rushden Echo, September 3 1915, transcribed by Clive Wood

Killed At Gallipoli - Rushden Territorial Shot by Sniper

Sad news was received by Mrs Denton of Grove-street, Rushden, on Wednesday morning of the death of her son, Pte Dennis Denton, of 1/4th Battalion Northants Regt. The facts were sent in a letter from Pte. F. King of the same battalion to Pte Denton's sister. Pte King wrote: "I am writing to tell you that Dennis got killed last night about seven o'clock. He was guiding the Field Ambulance to the firing line when a sniper shot him through the chest. I had not seen him since yesterday morning and I did not know till this morning that he was hit. They buried him last night (August 19)... All the company feel sorry for your great loss. Pte Denton was only 18 years old. He had been in the Territorials just over a year when war broke out, and in ordinary times worked at Messrs Wm. Green and Sons boot factory. He was a fine shot and won the first prize and a medal in the shooting competition held a year last Whitsun. Pte Denton was also entitled to hold a cup for a year but the advent of war altered his arrangement.

The 'Terriers' set sail on July 28 and Pte Denton had only been in action about a day when the sad event occurred. Mrs Denton has two other sons in training.

The Rushden Echo, 3rd September 1915, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden Soldier Killed - Pte. Denis Denton

Pte. Rightout Wounded - Unofficial Intimation

A letter has been received by Mrs. D. King, 17 Victoria-road, Rushden, from her son, Pte. Fred King, 4th Northants, who is in the Dardanelles, giving unofficial intimation of the death of Pte. Denis Denton, and the wounding of Pte. T. Rightout, both of Rushden, and both in the 4th Northants. Pte. King writes as follows:-

“Just a few lines to let you know I am still going on all right. We are having a rough going on out here as we have not had a wash or a shave since we got off the boat, and we don’t know when we are to be relieved so that we can get one. You ought to see Freddy (the writer’s pal) he does look a beauty with his beard on, and so do I. Tom Rightout (son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Rightout, Pemberton-street, Rushden) soon got wounded the first day we got here. Please excuse the writing as I am in my dug-out doing it. Denis Denton (son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Denton, Grove-street, Rushden) got killed last night.”

Mrs. Denton also received a letter from Pte. Fred King informing her of her son’s death and we regret to state that the news has greatly upset her. She fell seriously ill on the morning of Wednesday while near the Co-operative factory.

The Rushden Echo Friday 24 September 1915, transcribed by Nicky Bates

Letter from George Wigglesworth

The letter was as follows:- "Dear Parents, -Just a line to let you know that I have arrived in the firing line. I have been here three days now and am getting quite used to it. We were under shell fire for about two hours when we first landed, so we soon had out baptism of fire. The battalion has been in the trenches for about eight days but are out now. They have done some very good work, but had a decent few casualties. I am very sorry to say that my old pal 'Jicker' Denton is killed. [Pte Dennis Denton, already reported killed in the "Rushden Echo."] He was on a certain duty that needed some exposure and I believe he was 'snipered.' He wasn't in much pain, for he was shot through the chest and must have died almost at once. 'Benny' Letts (Pte B Letts, C Company, of Pemberton-street, Rushden), and 'Cooky' (Pte Cyril Cook, C Company, of Park-road, Rushden) are all right. The Herefords that were billeted at Rushden are with us, but are in the trenches at present. I have seen some of them and they all say the same - 'Wish I was back in Rushden.' I am in the pink and have not been touched. I hope you are not worrying about me. I am not worrying in the least, so I'm sure you needn't. Roll on the time the war is done. I have not heard from England yet but I suppose you have written. Lots of chaps haven't heard from home yet. We do all our own cooking but are rather short of water. George."

Extract from a longer article 8th October 1915

“I might say that I was only talking to Dennis Denton two minutes before he was killed. He was with a machine-gun when I saw him and he said “Hello, Sergeant.” I answered “Hello” and Denton, who was smoking and had his hands in his pockets, remarked that there was no need for fear, as he had seen Australians walking about with their hands in their pockets. I said to him “Never you mind about the Australians. You look after yourself,” and with that I left him. In less than two minutes someone came up to me and said “Young Denton has been killed – shot through the chest.” I shall never forget that boy. He was a bonny boy and a good soldier.

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