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Name : Albert George Reginald Dennes. Son of Alfred Dennes and Emily Dennes (née Overbury), of 31, South St., Ventnor, Isle of Wight, England. Born 3 May 1893 Ventnor. |
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Census Information :
1901 : Alfred and Emily Denness, with son Albert G. aged 7, are at 33 South Street, Ventnor. Alfred Denness is a Carman for a Wine store. 1911 : Alfred and Emily Dennes, with son A.G. Reginald aged 17, are at 31 South Street, Ventnor. Alfred Dennes is a Van man for a Mineral Water Manufacturer. Reginald Dennes is a Shoemaker's apprentice. |
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Service details : Private 452560 (Albert George) Reginald Dennes, 58th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). Reginald Dennes attested for service with the Canadian forces on 15 July 1915 in Toronto, He was 5 ft 4 in tall, with a fair complexion, dark brown hair and blue eyes. He gave his trade as shoe repairer. |
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| Casualty Details :
Died : 5 May 1916, aged 23 (aged 25 according to CWGC). Commemorated at : Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. CWGC record ... Veteran Affairs Canada record ... |
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Commemorated on these Memorials :
Ventnor War Memorial Holy Trinity Church, Ventnor, War Memorial (as Reginald Dennis) County War Memorial, Carisbrooke Castle |
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Documents :
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, March 21, 1913 Page 4 OFF TO CANADA. - Several Ventnor young men left to-day by the s.s. Auscania (*) from Southampton for Canada, namely, Messrs. C. Miller, G.E. Manning, F. Axhorn, H.S. Morris, R. Denness and F.S. Civil. All are bound to Toronto, Ontario, and will carry the best wishes of a large circle of friends for their future welfare. The passage arrangements for the whole party were in the hands of the Cunard agents, Messrs. Geo. Spencer and Sons. We hear that quite a dozen more residents are making the preliminary arrangements for departure. (*) The ship was actually the s.s. Ausonia, departed Southampton March 20th 1913 for Portland, Maine. The passenger list gives the following : Morris Hilton, Porter, 19 - his name is struck through, so he may not have travelled Geo. R. Manning, Gardener, 18 Reg Denness, Boot Repairer, 19 Frank Axhorn, Stableman, 25 Fran Sivell, Porter, 17 Chas Miller, Gardener, 38
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, May 12, 1916 Page 1 Many expressions of sympathy have been extended this week to Mr. and Mrs. A. Dennis, who have received intelligence that their only son Reginald has been killed in action in Belgium. He was a well-known Ventnor lad, having formerly been employed by Mr. J. Sanders, Pier Street, and others. He emigrated to Canada some three years ago and came over with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, July 5, 1918 Page 3 Ventnor Tribunal. Mr. A.R. Dennes [sic], vanman, in the employ of Hibberd and Co., aged 47, married, grade 2, applied for exemption on his own behalf. His wife suffered from nerve trouble, which had been worse since their son was killed at Ypres. Applicant asked if the tribunal would permit him to take on a job in a munition factory. Colonel Guild: Most people want to do that. Mr. Dennes said he could start on Monday morning at Cowes. The Chairman: Would you get protection from military service? Applicant: Yes. Colonel Guild: You are not a skilled labourer. If you go to a munition works at Cowes you think you will be safe? Applicant: It is not that. Colonel Guild: Mr. Hibberd doesn't appeal for you? Applicant: No. He would go to Cowes immediately if the tribunal let him off. On the proposition of Mr. Wetherick, seconded by Mr. Burroughs, three months' exemption were granted. Colonel Guild: Is that without any condition. Mr. Wetherick said he did not see any conditions were required. Applicant was going into a munition works. The Chairman said if applicant was worth keeping at Cowes he would be given a protection certificate.
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, November 8, 1918 Page 3 Ventnor Tribunal. The only application was that of Mr. A.A.W. Dennes (grade 2), boiler attendant, formerly for many years carman in the employ of Hibberd and Co. Applicant's present employers, Messrs. E.S. Saunders, of Cowes, wrote asking the tribunal to grant special consideration to the case, as they found him a particularly useful man for the work in which he was engaged - important work under the Aircraft Board. On the proposition of Mr. Burroughs, seconded by Mr. Lake, three months' exemption were granted, applicant not being called. (not all the report has been transcribed)
THE MERCURY
Thursday, 13th December, 1990 Page 2 Reginald Dennes Re: Ventnor War Memorial There can be few, if any, who remember him as a child, but his parents continued to live, for many years,
in what had been his home, and they may well be remembered still.
Reginald was born in the mid 1890s. At about that time, Alfred, his father, was engaged as a driver by Charles Hibberd, who, from about 1870, had been producing, in a little factory on Longdown, what today would be called 'soft drinks.' The Dennes family lived in South Street at No 31, the first house beyond what is now the Fire Station and was then a Drill Hall. Little can be known about Reginald's early days, but it is likely that he attended the school which was then in Albert Street and he may have had a job or jobs after he left. Several young Ventnor men, however, developed a spirit of adventure, feeling that they could better themselves if they were prepared to work hard in one of the newer countries. In or about 1912, a small party of them, including Reginald, emigrated to Canada with every intention of settling. The impressive fact is, that, in 1914, all or most of these lads hurried back to England to fight for the old country. Before long, they were in France and it was but a little longer that Reginald was reported 'killed in action.' Truly he and his fellows deserve a memorial. Having no other children, the blow to his parents was very hard. Alfred continued to care for and to drive his horses, later graduating to a Ford delivery van. The stables stood at the rear of what is now children's playground in North Street, entrance being by way of the West Street archway. (Alfred had easy access from his own back door.) He continued with the same business for the rest of his working life. Mrs. Dennes came from Gloucestershire and was a strong and virtuous character, popular with children. They passed World War II in the same house and became proud to exhibit the bullet holes on its staircase, reminders of the Nazi daylight attacks on Island towns. Mrs. Dennes outlived Alfred and, after a little while, moved to her relations in Gloucestershire. It was there she died. (We are very grateful to C. Hibberd, of Downside House, St. Boniface Road, for another piece of patchwork in Ventnor's history, F. Goodall.) Alfred Dennes died in 1951, Emily Dennes died in 1955. |
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Further Information :
Two of Dennes' travelling companions to Canada also died in World War I : George Edward Manning Frank / William Axhorn (who had been adopted by George Manning's parents). |
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Acknowledgments :
Janet Griffin for newspaper research |
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Page status :
Page last updated : 19 December 2014 (added 1990 report) |
Memorials & Monuments
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