| Regimental number | 1252 |
| Place of birth | London, England |
| School | Surrey College, Brixton Hill, London, England |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 25 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Master butcher |
| Address | Dwellingup, Western Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 30 |
| Height | 5' 8.25" |
| Weight | 141 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs E Dennis, c/o Mrs Brown, Guildersfield Road, Streatham, London, England |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Perth, Western Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 32nd Battalion, D Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on |
| The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 32nd Battalion |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | 'Killed by shell while leading bombing party in an attack, 19/7/16. May I just add his life was one of [the] straightest & best and he gave it willingly.' (details from sister, Mrs Dorothy Brown, London) |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 4), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 120 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Disembarked Suez, ex 'Geelong', 18 December 1915. Appointed Lance Corporal, Ferry Post, 26 May 1916. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 23 June 1916. Killed in action, 19 July 1916. Translation of German report, 25 October 1919, 'Iden: Disc handed over by Intell: Off: with 6th Army H.Q. through Central Office for Deceased Estates, 12/10/16[.] Australian Soldier S. W. Dennis, Iden: Disc 1252, 32nd Btn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles on 19/7/16'. On 20 February 1920, one of Lance Corporal Dennis' sisters, Mrs Dorothy Brown, wrote to Base Records and requested particulars about Lance Corporal Dennis' burial site. The Officer in Charge of Base Records replied on 16 April 1920 and noted, 'I regret to state no burial particulars have yet been received here regarding your brother, the late No.1252 Lance-Corporal S. W. Dennis, 32nd Battalion.' Red Cross File No 910508: 'The above man appeared on German list dated 4-11-16.' 'Disc received from Germany AND (sic) forwarded to N/K. 11.5.17.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Sister's subsequent address: Ethel B. Dennis, 23 Richmond Road, Easter, Devon; then 362 Wimborne Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Hants, England |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, DENNIS Sydney William
Red Cross file 910508 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
