Born: 15th September 1919
Story
Dennis Burton was the son of John William Burton (1878-1945) and Mary Ann France (1883-1953), who married in Kippax on 27th October 1901.
Before the War, Dennis was living with his parents at 1 Sissons Row with his parents and siblings, and Dennis worked as a Colliery pony driver. He moved to Mount Pleasant just before the War. Dennis was part of the British 1st Infantry, which had served at Dunkirk, and was used to break the deadlock in the fighting in Italy. Although the British, Canadian and American forces were attacked by the Luftwaffe, casualties were low, as the Germans were engaged fighting inland, and resistance was relatively light. The US Major General John P. Lucas opted not to push inland, and instead re-enforced the Anzio Beachhead to prepare for German re-enforcements, which duly arrived, and lead to a long stalemate. On 21st April 1944, it was reported that Dennis had been captured in February 1944 on the Anzio Beachhead, and was now a prisoner of war in Italy. His subsequent release and return to Kippax, along with other prisoners of war: Leslie Hall, Charles Eric Backhouse and George Wilkinson, was reported 25th May 1945. Dennis married Lena Horton (1913-1999) in 1952, and moved into Lena’s family home of 1 Park View, where they lived for many years. Dennis passed away in 1969.
Below: British Prisoners of War in Anzio, February 1944.
Kippax Roll of Honour 