Name
Cyril Jack Denniss
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25418
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
118th Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, 4 Coy' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials Memorial, Hitchin, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
His father was Charles Squires Denniss and his mother Elizabeth 144, Bearton Road, Hitchin. Cyril was born around 1895 in Hitchin.
Before the war he was in the employ of Mr A.E.H. Theobald's house decoration business in Hitchin. He resided in Hitchin and enlisted in Hertford.
In 1901 the family were living at 27 Radcliffe Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Charles (47) and Elizabeth (44), with Charles working as a carpenter. Their children were: Percy (19), Archie (Archibald, 17), Hilda (14), Frank (12), Charles (9) and Cyril Jack (6).
By 1911 the family were living at 15 Radcliffe Rd, Hitchin. Present were both parents, Charles still working as a carpenter. The census recorded they had been married for 34 years with 9 children of whom 1 had died. All the children listed above were present except Hilda. Cyril was 16 and working as a house painter. A new sibling was Harrold (8). Also present were Millard Ada Denniss (32) and Alice (27) – both daughters not listed above, and granddaughter Doris Denniss and grandson Percy Denniss (2).
He was a member of the St Saviour's Football Club, and played for them on several occasions. Before he enlisted he worked for A E H Theobalds, house decorator, Bancroft, Hitchin.
Officially Cyril was recorded as living in Hitchin when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
In September 1914 he joined No. 4 Company of the Hertfordshire Regiment and had the Regimental Number 3263. Sometime later he was posted to the 118th Company of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) with the Number 25418, but attached to the Hertfordshires.
He entered France on 18 April 1915.
He was wounded within six weeks of going to the front and sent to hospital in Newcastle. He was later killed in action during the attack made by the Hertfordshires at St. Julien near Ypres in Belgium.
On the day of his death the Hertfordshires were cut to pieces at St. Julien in the Ypres Salient. They had marched from Vlamertinge to their assembly position arriving at midnight on the 30th/31st July 1917. A general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July and the Herts left their assembly position at 5.00am and captured St. Julien during the morning. Unfortunately, the promised supporting artillery barrage did not materialise as the guns could not be brought up due to the all-prevailing mud. By noon the Herts had crossed the Steenbeck stream and had come across unbroken wire which prevented any further advance. The German artillery and machineguns decimated them and by the end of the day the Battalion had virtually ceased to exist.
Lieut. A H Hall wrote to his family: "It is with deepest regret that I have to notify you of the death of you son, Private C Dennis. He was a brave and loyal soldier, and one of the best men of my section. He was greatly liked by both officers and men, and his loss is much felt in his company. He died a noble death, doing his duty."
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 56 of the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
His brother wrote home that he had not seen Cyril since they both went "over the top".
After his death £11 2s 0d was authorised to go to his father, on 20 November 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £13 10s was authorised to be paid to him on 25 November 1919.
His various pension cards record Charles Squires Denniss his father as his claimant and his next of kin as his mother Elizabeth. Originally, living at 144 Bearton Road Hitchin, but then amended to 51 Old Park Road, Hitchin. The pension awarded a pension of 5s a week from 19 February 1918.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
