Pte 27524 Hubert Stanley Denson

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

27524 Private Hubert Stanley DENSON, 18^th Battalion KLR.

Hubert Stanley was born on the 25th May 1894 at 198 Upper Warwick Street, Liverpool and was the sixth of nine children born to George Denson, a Liverpool born self-employed tailor, and his wife Clara (nee Ainsworth)who were married on the 22nd Sept 1884 at St John, Liverpool. George was a 23 year old tailor of 23 Mount Pleasant, father Thomas, whilst Clara was aged 19 of 23 Bailey St, father Robert. He was baptised on the 24 June 1894 at St Clement, Toxteth, his father a draper of 198 Upper Warwick St.  

In 1901 the family lived at 6 Claribel Street, Liverpool, when his father George was a 39 year old tailor-draper employing others, whilst his mother is 36 and was born in Liverpool. This Census shows Hubert, aged 6 referred to as Stanley and also shows that he had 7 siblings in the household, they were all born in Liverpool and are listed as: Harold aged 15 and a tailor and draper, Ernie whose full name was in fact Robert Ernest aged 13, Gertrude aged 12, George aged 10, Edgar aged 8, Arthur aged 5 and Clara aged 4. 

The 1911 Census shows George, (now aged 49 and a retired tailor), and Clara who have been married for 26 years living with seven of their children, including (Hubert) Stanley who is a 16 year old office boy with an animal product merchant, at 37 Hallville Road, Allerton, Liverpool. His siblings living at the property are listed as; Gertrude aged 22 a vest and skirt tailor, George Edward 20 and a tailor, Edgar Ainsworth 18 an office clerk for a raw rubber merchant, Arthur Leslie who is also an office clerk for a raw rubber merchant, Clara aged 14 and May aged 9. His parents declare that they have been married for 26 years and all nine of their children have survived.

Stanley was educated at Sefton Park Council School and on leaving school took up employment as a clerk with Calthorp Brothers Ltd, compound cake manufacturers of 56 Naylor Street, Liverpool.

His father died aged 51 on 08th July 1912.

Stanley made repeated attempts to enlist after the outbreak of war, being rejected on account of his height, but was finally accepted on 14^th May 1915 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, arriving in France in March 1916 as part of a reinforcement draft.

He was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on 01^st July 1916

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks. 

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

He was buried (reportedly with his Captain - possibly Captain Adam) in Vernon Street Cemetery, Maricourt, however his grave was lost and he is now commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”



His medal card shows he was awarded only 2 medals, having arrived in France after 31^st December 1915 and therefore not qualifying for the 1914-15 Star.

He is remembered alongside his father on the family headstone at Toxteth Park Cemetery:

"In memory of George

The beloved husband of Clara Denson, who died 8th July 1912, aged 51 years. At Rest.

Also Hubert Stanley beloved fifth son of the above, who was killed in action, France, 1st July 1916, aged 22 years."
  
Stanley also remembered on the war memorial in St Barnabas Parish Church, Penny Lane, Liverpool. 

Liverpool Echo 27th July 1916 

BURIED WITH HIS CAPTAIN. 

DENSON - Private H. S. Denson, aged 22 years, of the “Pals” has been killed. He went to France in March last. In a letter to his mother an officer of the Battalion writes of the young soldier “He was killed on reaching the objective and his buried with his captain close to where he fell. Prior to the war Private Denson was with Calthorp Bros. Limited. He resided a 37 Hallville Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool. 

Liverpool Echo 2nd July 1917 

LOST AT SOMME BATTLE. 

DENSON - In loving memory of Private Hubert Stanley (Stan) “Pals”, killed in action, July 1, 1916. 

In the prime of life death claimed him, 

In the pride of his manhood days; 

None knew him but to love him, 

None mentioned his name but with praise.  

(Always remembered by Muriel.)  

DENSON - In loving memory of our dear Stanley (Stan) 18th K.L.R. “Pals”, killed in action, July 1, 1916, aged 22 years, and buried at Maricourt.  

Someday - that golden someday which the future holds - 

When trumpets blow and angels line the way,  

My soldier boy will come to meet me down the glittering ranks,  

And he will say: 

“ Welcome, brave mother-heart the day at last has dawned,  

The parting and the pain have passed away.”  

Yes I shall see, my ears shall hear, my heart again young 

Upon that day. 

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Clara. 

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour 

HUBERT STANLEY DENSON 

Private No. 27524, 18th service “Pals” Battalion (2nd City) the King’s (Liverpool Regiment); 5th son of the late George Denson, master tailor by his wife Clara (37 Hallville Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool), daughter of Robert Ainsworth, born Liverpool 25th May 1894; educated Sefton Park Council school; was a clerk; made repeated efforts to enlist after the outbreak of war being rejected on account of his height but was finally accepted on 14th May 1915; went to France March 1916 and was killed in action on the Somme battlefronts 1st July 1916; buried at Vernon Street Cemetery, Maricourt. 

Mother died aged on the 20th April 1961 in Wallasey. 

Probate 1961:- 

DENSON Clara of 26 Gerard Road, Wallasey Cheshire widow died 20 April 1961 Probate Chester 20 June to George Edward Denson retired master tailor and May Hockey (wife of John Gilbert Hockey). Effects £5019 9s 9d. 

His elder brother, Edgar, born in 1892, enlisted in the Liverpool Scottish on 3^rd June 1912 aged 19 years 7 months and giving his occupation as a clerk with a firm called Hecht Levis & Kaher, his address as 37 Hallville Road and his next of kin as his father, who died that same year. All of his service was in the UK and he reached the rank of Corporal before being discharged on medical grounds on 27^th November 1918 as being no longer physically fit. On 20^th April 1918, Edgar married and he and his wife, Constance, lived at 18 Braunton Road, Aigburth. In August 1920, Edgar was issued with a War Badge and certificate of service.

We currently have no further information on Hubert Stanley Denson, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.