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Thomas Dennistoun
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 03/03/1897 |
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Place of birth: Uddingston, Lanarkshire,, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Dock Place, Grangemouth, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Grocer |
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Religion: Church of Scotland |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Serjeant |
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Service number: 30465 |
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Enlistment date: 25/11/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Scots, 13th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 01/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Beck House, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: IX Row: B Grave: 21 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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British War Medal Medal |
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Military Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Thomas Dennistoun was born on 3 March 1897 in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, the son of John and Elizabeth Dennistoun. During World War I, he served with the 13th Battalion, Royal Scots. The battalion belonged to the 45 Infantry Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. Thomas landed in France on 2 September and during his time in the front line obtained the Military Medal, a high award given for bravery in the field. The exact citation was not recovered. On 31 July, the Battle of Passchendaele began and the division's objective was the capture of the ridge at Frezenberg and then the capture of Hill 35, a slope north-east of Frezenberg. Thomas's battalion was held in reserve. However, the Germans did not sit idly by and they launched a counterattack.
On the afternoon of 31 July, because of this counterattack, the 13th Battalion was sent to Beck House, between Frezenberg and Hill 35 with the intention of consolidating the captured terrain. They were to be relieved in the evening, but this did not materialise. The next day, the Germans launched a counterattack here and the battalion was almost completely surrounded around Beck House. The losses were heavy. 368 soldiers died, were wounded or went missing. Thomas Dennistoun was killed west of Beck House. He currently rests in Tyne Cot Cemetery. He was 20 years old.
On the afternoon of 31 July, because of this counterattack, the 13th Battalion was sent to Beck House, between Frezenberg and Hill 35 with the intention of consolidating the captured terrain. They were to be relieved in the evening, but this did not materialise. The next day, the Germans launched a counterattack here and the battalion was almost completely surrounded around Beck House. The losses were heavy. 368 soldiers died, were wounded or went missing. Thomas Dennistoun was killed west of Beck House. He currently rests in Tyne Cot Cemetery. He was 20 years old.
Sources 4
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45th Infantry Brigade (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/1946/4. http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 28. Sources used |
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Medal Card Thomas Dennistoun (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War, WO 372/14/212114). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Thomas Dennistoun, The National Archives; London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War Wo363. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462541 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2378728 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/4b9b7352-88a3-4fcb-8451-aa32b68b05a0 |