Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Penzance Cemetery | Grave: IX.8.4 Penzance | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.121 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 3B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
In 1891, Thomas was recorded as resident at 29,Fore Street, Marazion. He was 37 at the time, and was also recorded as a Sergeant, Royal Artillery [RG12/1855]. His place of birth Oundle, Northamptonshire. He was living with his wife - Catherine, aged 26, born in Singapore and his 10 month old son Thomas N Denton.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: |
| Action : The Arras Offensive and associated actions |
9 April - 16 June 1917. The Arras Offensive consisted of a series of linked attacks starting with the Anglo Canadian assault on the dominant Vimy Ridge feature through the battles in the Scarpe River valley and up to the assaults on the Hindenburg line in the summer of 1917.
Sergeant Major Royal Artillery (1900)
Detail :
Thomas Denton was a career soldier having made his way up to Warrant Officer. In 1911, he was already an army pensioner turned Inn Keeper. Twenty years earlier he was recorded as an Ostler at a Hotel Yard. In between, he elevated through the ranks of the Royal Artillery, the only masonic reference to which is in the contribution record of the Lodge at United Grand Lodge.
His gravestone, in Penzance Cemetery does not bear the trappings of a Commonwealth war grave, but it does bear his rank. It would seem strange, if one was not involved in a military duty to record this, him having retired from duty. On this understanding the Penzance Book of Remembrance shows his connection to the military:
"DENTON, Thomas Sergeant Major Royal Field Artillery. Recruiting Officer, Penzance and formerly Instructor of the Volunteer Corps at Marazion. Died on Monday 2nd April 1917 age 63 at Chyandor Barracks, Penzance. Husband of Catherine Denton of Chyandor, Penzance and father of Serjeant George Denton, RFA. Listed on both Heamoor (St Thomas’ Church) and Madron War Memorials and in Penzance Book of Remembrance. Interred in Penzance Cemetery."
His grave also shows the name of George Denton, Thomas and Catherine's third son, who as a Sergeant in the Royal Field Artillery and who was killed in action 5th September 1915 He is buried in France but commemorated at his mother and father's grave in Penzance Cemetery (Plot 9,Row 8, Grave 4).
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Light in Adjoodhia No. 836 E.C. | Uttar Pradesh |
| Joined : | Mount Sinai No. 121 E.C. | Cornwall |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
15th June 1885 | 20th July 1885 | 17th August 1885 |
Joined Mount Sinai Lodge No. 121, Penzance from Lodge Light in Adjoodhai No. 836, Fyzabad on the 20th September 1900. In the 1921 Book, the Masonic Roll of Honour, it shows that he was Tyler and as a Company Sergeant Major.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley