2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
William Henry Denne was born on 15 July 1876 at Elkstone, near Cirencester. He was the third son of the late Rev Richard Henry and his wife Katherine (née Evans) of Brimpsfield.
After being educated at Cheltenham College (from May 1891 to July 1895), he joined the Army in 1897 and served in the Mounted Rifles during the South African Wars, earning five clasps to his King’s and Queen’s Medals, as well as a Mention in Despatches. He served as Adjutant in the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment between 1905 and 1918, in a Staff post in Eastern Command between 1912 and October 1914, when he was promoted to Major.
He served on the Western Front from 1914, with the 2nd Battalion from November 1914 until January 1915.
He was wounded at about 7am on 12 March 1915, the third day of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, when second in command of the battalion. He sustained injuries while organising a counter attack to regain a lost trench and this caused him to be removed from the line completely. For this action he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). The award was gazetted on 15 April 1915 and read:
For conspicuous gallantry at Neuve Chapelle on 12th March 1915, when he lead a party of 20 men in a counter attack under most severe fire. All the 20 men we shot down, and he himself was seriously wounded.
He died aged 40 in the Queen Alexandra’s Hospital for Officers, Millfield Lane, Highgate as a result of these wounds, two years later on 21 February 1917.
Probate for his estate (£2770 3s 8d) was granted to his widow, Ethel Fleetwood Denne.
He buried in St Michael’s churchyard, Brimpsfield and is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in the porch of the church, and on a plaque attached to the wall to the rear of the village War Memorial.
Researched by Graham Adams 23 October 2011. Principal source: www.bedfordregiment.org.uk with additional information provided by Baden Russell