Dennis C's Story.
Birkenhead News 16 August 1916
Another Rock Ferry Soldier Killed.
Was Through the Boer War.
Mrs. Poland, of 35, Marne Street, Rock Ferry, has received the sad intimation of the death in action on July 14th of her husband, Lance-Corpl. D. Poland. A letter from Lieut. B. R. B. Jones, of the deceased soldier’s company states that Lance-Corpl. Poland received his wounds in the recent heavy fighting in the Somme Valley, and died shortly after being taken to the clearing station.
The officer named, in his letter to the widow, writes :- “I pray that God will give you strength to bear your great loss bravely, as befitting the wife of a brave soldier. His death is deeply felt by us all – officers, N.C.O.’s and men – and I personally feel that I have lost one of my best men. His late company officer, who was wounded on the same day, thought a great deal of him, and I know that he too will be grieved to hear of his death. You may like to know that after being wounded he was taken to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station near a place called ____ , where he died, and was reverently buried in a cemetery close by. I trust it will give you some consolation to know that he died after nobly doing his duty. He was a good soldier and a husband of whom you may well be proud. The officers and men wish me to convey to you our sincere sympathy in your bereavement.”
Lance-Corpl. Poland, who was 33 years of age, was through the Boer War, and received the Queen’s Medal with three bars and a clasp. He was only 17 on joining the forces, and served with the Irish Guards. Before the present war he was employed by Messrs. Lever Bros. Ltd., Port Sunlight, and soon after the outbreak of hostilities he joined the South Wales Borderers. He had been at the front for nine months. He was a member of the church of Our Lady, and was educated at Our Lady’s School. He leaves a widow and four young children to mourn his loss.
Note: The location of the 38th Casualty Clearing Station referred to in the above article is blanked out presumably by the censor. However in July 1916 it was located at Bray-Sur-Somme.