Tasmanian War Casualties

WW1

If you could spare a few dollars to help with the running costs of hosting this website to keep it alive would be very much appreciated.
Thankyou from Gravesites of Tasmania in advance.

Dennis, Rowland Harris

Born Perth Tasmania the son of George and Elizabeth Dennis he embarked Hobart 20^th October 1914 on board “HMAT Geelong” with the 12^th Infantry Battalion.

Company Sergeant Major Dennis was serving with the 52^nd Battalion when he was killed in action 26^th April 1918 in France and is commemorated in the Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, Villers-Bretonneux Area, France.

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal which was gazetted 3^rd June 1918.

During the operation in the vicinity of Zonnebeke in October 1917 this NCO showed great gallantry, disregard of personal safety and devotion to duty, inspring and cheering all ranks in his vicinity. His work has throughout been good and of great assistance to his Company Commander.

Period covered 22^nd September 1917 to 24^th February 1918.

His brother Pte Archibald George Dennis (No 168) died Hobart Tasmania 25^th June 1916 of cerebro spinal meningitis and was buried in Cornelian Bay Public Cemetery, Hobart.

Mr and Mrs G Dennis of Clarence Street Perth, have received the following from Chaplain Blackwood, 13th Australian Infantry Brigade, France, in connection with the death of their son, Sergeant Major Roland Dennis, who was killed somewhere in France:-"I wish to convey to you the sincere sympathy of all officers, N.C.O's, and men of the 15th Australian Infantry Brigade and my own personal sympathy with you in the sad loss of your son. He took part in one of the greatest actions of the war-the retaining of Villers Bretonneux on April 24-25, 1918. All did splendidly, going forward in the face of great machine-gun fire, and secured a real victory. I trust that it will be some consolation to you to feel that he took part in and helped to secure such an important success. We were able to give him a decent burial on the battlefield, and a memorial is being erected near the place. Your son was a splendid fellow, and had a future before him. Yet it was not to be. He had gone right through the attack and was sitting in his trench on the night of the 25th when he was caught by a shell and killed instantly. His friend, Sergeant Allen, was killed beside him. They were reverently buried on the spot by Sergeant Rosendal.

Examiner Launceston 20^th July 1918

Please note that there might be information from other websites or brochures "reprinted" here- under the laws of "fair use". In every instance -we hope- we have provided a direct link to the owners web site. We do not claim rights or ownership to any of their information. We do thank them sincerely for their efforts. We have in every instance made a good faith effort to contact and request 'reprint' permission. Nonetheless, we do want to be certain that nothing gets lost due to web site disappearance and the like, so it appears duplicated here.

Tasmanian War Casualties, Honouring the past, building understanding.