Lancashire Fusiliers, 9th Battalion, Service no. 3/27866
Killed in action 26th September 1916, aged 33
Story
Son of Edmund Dent and Hannah Tomlinson, John was born in Ulleskelf, Tadcaster in 1883. The family fell on difficult times, and John along with his siblings was forced to stay at Tadcaster Union Workhouse as children. The Dents eventually moved to Kippax, with John’s half-brother Luke Dent marrying Bertha Halliday. Both John and Luke were hairdressers. In 1911, John was boarding at 32 Harvest Road, Surrey, and he enlisted for service in Guildford, initially as a Private in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry under Service no. 23832, before transferring to the Lancashire Fusiliers, 9th Battalion. He was killed in France on the 26th September 1916. The battalion were attacking Mouquet Farm (Mucky Farm to the troops) on the Thiepval Ridge, where the memorial to the missing now stands. The battalion had 400 casualties that day.
Lancashire Fusiliers 9th (Service) Battalion
The battalion was formed on 31st August 1914 at Bury as part of the First New Army and then moved to Belton Park, Grantham to join the 34th Brigade of the 11th Division. In April 1915 they moved to Witley, Godalming. The Battalion was mobilised for war in July 1915 and embarked for Egypt from Devonport. They arrived in Alexandria on 17th July 1915 and then moved to Imbros. On 6th August 1915 the Fusiliers landed at Sulva Bay, Gallipoli and the Division engaged in various actions including The Battle of Scimitar Hill and attack on Hill 60. On 18th December 1915 they evacuated to Mudros due to the severe casualties from combat, disease and harsh weather. In January 1916 they moved to Egypt arriving at Alexandria again on the 31st January where the Division was involved in the defence of the Suez Canal. During July 1916 they moved to France landing at Marseilles and the Division engaged in various actions on the Western Front including the capture of the Wundt-Werk, the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, the Battle of Thiepval.
Below: The remains of Mouquet Farm, October 1916.
Kippax Roll of Honour 