DENNIS EDWARD DENCH

Born: 1917, Ipswich.

Died: 13th February 1942; age: 24. Killed in the fighting for Singapore/Malaya

Rank: Private; Service Number: 582878.

Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 5th Battalion – Infantry.

Memorial Reference:

Column 3.

Singapore Civil Hospital Grave Memorial,

Singapore.

Relatives Notified & Address: Only son of Harry E. Dench & May E. Dench, of Ipswich.

Father: Harry Edward Dench, born 1889, Colchester, Essex.

Mother: May Eliza Dench (nee Juby Barham), 1887, Ipswich.

Buried in a water tank

Before the war, an emergency water tank had been dug in the grounds of the hospital and this was used as a grave for more than 400 civilians and Commonwealth servicemen.
After the war, it was decided that as individual identification of the dead would be impossible, the grave should be left undisturbed. The grave was suitably enclosed, consecrated by the Bishop of Singapore. CWGC

Note: I believe Dennis Dench lived next door to us in Bath street for a long time. I am going back to Singapore next week on the 20th Feb. to toast dads grave. Wally Fiddaman (son of Reginald Fiddaman killed on the same day)