Daniel Dennis was born about 1889 in Mostyn. He was recorded on the census of 1891 living with his family at 2 Marsh Row Mostyn. Head of the household was Edward Dennis aged 40 who was a Labourer in the Ironworks. His wife Ann was 43 and their listed children were Edward J 17 – also a Labourer in the Ironworks, Robert J 12, Mary A 5, William 4 and Daniel 9 months. All had been born in Mostyn.
The 1901 census records the family at 4 Colliery Yard Mostyn. Edward Dennis 55, was a Lime Filler in Ironworks. His wife Ann was 50. Their listed ‘children’ were Thomas 26 and Robert J 24 – both Laborers in the Ironworks. William was 16 and Daniel was 11. (The parents ages don’t tally with the previous census)
The 1911 census lists the family once again at Colliery Yard, Marsh Road, Mostyn. Edward Dennis was 60 and a General Labourer at a Blast Furnace. His wife of 38 years, Ann was 63. The census form tells us that she had given birth to 6 children but one had not survived. Robert John 35 and Daniel 22 were both labourers in the iron works and were the only two ‘children’ listed in the household.
UK Soldiers Who Died in The Great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk, confirms Daniel’s regimental details as at the top of this page. It adds that he enlisted in Mostyn and this source tells us he was killed in action. His medal index card, also on Ancestry, details his medals and records that his first Theatre of War was The Balkans and he entered it on the 8th August 1915. He was killed 2 days later.
The Local Press covered the story of his death as follows:
Prestatyn Weekly 25th September 1915
Private Daniel Dennis, Marsh Row, is another Mostynite who was just reported missing but has since been reported killed at the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Flintshire Observer 30th September 1915
Private Daniel Dennis, Mostyn
Private Daniel Dennis, Marsh Row, Mostyn, first reported missing has since been reported killed at the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Flintshire Observer 7th October 1915
Fallen Heroes. Memorial Service at Mostyn
Last Sunday morning at the Welsh Service at Christ Church, Mostyn, the Rev W Vaughan Jones (Vicar) conducted a Memorial Service for Private Daniel Dennis, Marsh Row and Private Isaac Jones of 1/5th Bttn Royal Welsh Fusiliers who were lately killed in action in the Dardanelles. The Vicar in sympathetic terms, referred to the two young men- Mostyn boys, faithful members of the Church Sunday School and Choir- who had sacrificed their lives for their country. They had died heroically in a foreign land but the memory of their well spent lives and their gallantry would live.
There is an index card for Daniel Dennis in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. The card gives the address Marsh Row and confirms the regimental details. It also says that he served from 1912 to 1915 and was killed in Gallipoli on the 6th August 1915. (This must be an error because his military records clearly state that he didn’t enter the war in Gallipoli until the 8th August). The card was signed by J Bithell on the 4th October 1919.
The card clearly states he had served from 1912. Presumably this means he had been in the local militia.