Thomas's Story.
Birkenhead News 10 April 1915
ANOTHER BIRKENHEAD SOLDIER FALLS
Comrades Honour the Dead
The toll of war is quickly increasing, and losses among the gallant Cheshires continue to be reported. Private Thomas Dennis, who was only 22 years of age, and who was attached to the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on March 22nd. Early in the week his parents, at 59 Henry Street, received news from the War Office that he had fallen. A comrade who was near him in France during a heavy engagement writes :- “We have been near the Cheshires in an engagement, and I saw Tommy Dennis, and I’m sorry to say that he was killed by a shell, but we all subbed up and bought a wreath for his grave.”
Private Dennis was a native of the town, and received his education at St. Mary’s Church School. His name appeared among the list of St. Mary’s old boys serving with the colours which appeared in our columns recently. He joined the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment on the outbreak of war, and was drafted to France in September.
Numbers of letters have been received from him, in which he stated he was safe and sound. Previous to the war young Dennis was employed by Messrs. Cammell Laird and Co., and the news of his death has been received with great regret by his fellow workers.
In the last letter home received by Private Dennis’s parents the young soldier describes himself as being in the best of health. He says he could not write before because “I have been very busy with the Germans,” but adds – very pathetically in the circumstances – “I will soon be home again.” The postscript is “May God bless you all at home.”