Peter's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Peter Dean was born on 3 September 1896 at Macclesfield, the second son of Emily (nee Moores) and Peter Dean, a labourer.
In 1901, Peter was living at 43 Lunt Hill, Macclesfield with his mother and brothers John James (7) and Alfred (1), and his maternal uncle Isaac Moores. The census enumerator incorrectly listed Peter as being aged 7 and John James as aged 4. Peter's father, who was serving in South Africa with the 4th Cheshire Regiment at the time of the census, died in Macclesfield in 1903.
Peter was educated at Sutton St George Branch (London Road) School and later attended Lord Street School.
In 1911, Peter, Alfred and their mother Emily were living with Emily's brother in law, Joseph Dean, at 13 Snow Hill, Macclesfield. Peter, then aged 14, was employed as a fancy trimmer.
WW1 SERVICE
Peter attested for the army reserve on 20th September 1913 and was placed in the 3rd Battalion Cheshire Regiment Army (Special Reserve) with service number 9689; on 9th January 1914 he joined the 1st Battalion of the regular army. A man of 5 feet 8 inches tall, he weighed 129lbs and had a 33½ inch chest, a fresh complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. He had a small oval scar on the back of his right forearm, and a small vertical scar above his right eye. He stated that he was eighteen years and 100 days old, presently employed as a quarryman, and his brother John was also serving with the Cheshire Regiment. Peter was in fact only 17 years of age in January 1914.
In March 1914, while in Londonderry, both Peter and John requested a free discharge from the army because their widowed mother was ill in Macclesfield Union Infirmary and unable to support their younger brothers and sisters, and they did not have the funds to purchase a discharge. John was granted a discharge but Peter's request was turned down.
Peter was reprimanded in Londonderry on 17th April 1914 for "holding a rifle to a comrade", for which he was confined to barracks for 3 days. Later, on 8th October 1914, he was reprimanded for "stating a falsehood" and on 26th October 1914 for being "absent from 9.30am parade and remaining absent until apprehended in town" (the locations where these events took place are not recorded).
On 28th November 1914, Peter was posted to the British Expeditionary Force and drafted to the Western Front on 6th December 1914. He was 'mentioned in dispatches' on 5th May 1915:
"Private Dean, seeing an officer, Captain White, of the KOYLI, lying wounded in the open, very gallantly crawled out to him in broad daylight, bandaged his wounds, and, assisted by two other men, Smith and Case, got him back safely".
Peter was killed in action near Ypres on 1st June 1915, aged 19 years. His death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 11 June 1915:
PRIVATE PETER DEAN KILLED - SERGEANT-MAJOR'S TRIBUTE
Mrs Dean, of 13 Snow Hill, has this week received a letter from Sergeant-Major A Hayes, of the 1st Cheshire Regiment, who is serving in France, stating that her son, Private Peter Dean, of the same regiment, has been kileld in action. Up to the present Mrs Dean has not received an official intimation from the War Office.
Sergeant-Major Hayes states: "It is with deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, Private P Dean. The officers, NCOs and men of this company wish me to express on their behalf their very sincere sympathy to yourself and family in your sad bereavement. Being a Macclesfield man myself, I take a great interest in any men who come to my Regiment from Macclesfield, and I shall miss him very much. He was very well thought of my all his comrades for his genial character and willing qualities as a soldier....
Private Dean was only 18 years of age and joined the Cheshire Regiment two years ago. He was stationed at Londonderry when war was declared, and went out to the front on 6th December 1914.
Private Dean was mentioned in dispatches in May 1915; this was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 7 January 1916:
KING CONDOLES WITH DEAD HERO'S MOTHER
Mrs Dean, 13 Snow Hill, has received the following letter from the War Office, relating to her son, Private Peter Dean, 1st Batt Cheshire Regt, who was killed in action on June 1st: - "We have, under command from his Majesty the King to inform you as next-of-kin to the late Private Peter Dean, No 10,325, of the Cheshire Regt, that this private was mentioned in dispatches from Field Marshall Sir John French, dated 31st May 1915 and published in the "London Gazette" dated 22nd June 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. His Majesty desires to condole with you in the loss you have sustained, and to express his high appreciation of the services of the late Private Peter Dean."
COMMEMORATION
Private Peter Dean has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel ref. 19 - 22 on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Peter Dean, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Private Peter Dean is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church and St George's Church war memorials.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.