Denzil Tattersall's Story.
Birkenhead News 14 April 1917STAFF-SERGT. JONES.
The death has to be recorded of Staff-Sergeant Denzil Tattersall Jones, who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Jones, of 13, Elm Grove, Birkenhead. Born in 1888 and educated at the Scotch (Higher Grade) School, Higher Tranmere, the deceased was from 1903 to 1905 in the goods department of the Cheshire Lines Committee. He was then employed under Mr. Shepherd in the Free Library until 1907, did a spell of service in the medical departments of the Royal Navy, receiving his discharge in March 1913. In April of that year he went to Canada with his future brother-in-law, and took up farming. At the outbreak of war in 1914 the two gave up their farm, and the deceased joined the 1st Canadian Contingent, refusing the offer of a commission if he would stay for the second contingent.
He was soon in France, and through his knowledge of chemistry he was transferred to the Second Army Gas School. It was on Good Friday that he met with his death through an accident. One of his brothers served in the Boer War (two medals and four bars), and also in the recent campaign against the Germans in East and West Africa. Another brother is serving in Egypt with the Denbighshire Hussars, attached to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
According to military records that have survived, the accident that killed Denzil Jones came from an exploding keg of gunpowder. Sergeant Jones was stationed at the Second Army Gas School at Oxelaere, near the town of Cassel in Northern France. Sergeant Jones, along with some other men were tasked to create ‘smoke puffs’ using small quantities of gunpowder, taken from the keg and adding phosphorus which, when placed in small bags, were used for gas shell demonstrations. The gunpowder keg, weighing about 100lb, was kept in a storeroom in part of the house that was used as a billet for the Gas School. Witnesses recall a huge explosion which caused substantial damage to the building. Sadly, five other men as well as Denzil Jones were killed in that accident. Eight men were also injured and six men gassed (gas cylinders were kept outside the building and were damaged). The records that remain do not cover the cause of the accident following the official inquiry, however, a couple of witness reports state that when they rushed to the aid of injured men they smelt gas inside the building.
Research by Chris