16157, Private, George Henry DENNIS
Aged 23


8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Died of his Wounds on Tuesday 14th November 1916

Born in Newmarket in Q3-1893 [Newmarket 3b:498] to Harry and Susan Alice DENNIS (née PRYKE) of Icewell Hill, Newmarket.

1901 census...George [8] was at The Duddery (part of The Rookery), Newmarket, with his father Harry [41], hairdresser born Fordham; mother Alice [38] born London, and his brother Albert [18] born Kirtling, and sisters Rebecca [14]; Mabel [11]and Minnie [4], all Newmarket born.

1911 census...George[18] was boots to Mr Wilson in The Avenue, Newmarket. His parents and sisters Rebecca; Minnie and Alice [8] born Newmarket were still at the Duddery. Brother Albert was a barman at The Wheatsheaf, Regents Street, Newmarket.


George enlisted in Newmarket. The dead from 49 C.C.S.and 9 C.C.S. are the majority of the graves in Contay Cemetery. The 8th Suffolks, part of the 53rd Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division ,had been involved in the capture of Thiepval at the end of September. The Battle of Ancre 13th-19th November 1916 was the final battle of what is known now as the Battle of the Somme and the Suffolks were heavily involved in it. It is impossible to know exactly where or when George was wounded, but it would have been quite close to Contay and not long before his death

His elder brother Albert was killed 4 months earlier.. see here





photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission


George is buried in Contay British Cemetery, France-Ref: II.F.12
and also commemorated on the Roll of Honour in St Marys Church, Newmarket


click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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