DENNISS,
WILLIAM CALVERT
BORN 10 SEPTEMBER 1878
William Calvert Denniss
was born on 10 September 1878, son of John Henry Dennis, (b 1843 in Yorkshire) and Elizabeth Denniss (née Dooby, b 1847 in Hull Yorkshire). John and Elizabeth were married in 1864 and in the 1871 census they were living at Thorngumbald, Patrington, Yorkshire. John and Elizabeth had six children: Sarah Elizabeth, (b 1867 in Yorkshire), Ethel Mary (b 1870 in Yorkshire), John H (b 1873 in Yorkshire), Alice (b 1872 in Yorkshire), William Calvert and George C (b 1885 in Bowden, Cheshire). The school records show that William entered the School on 9 January 1890, aged 11. His mother was widowed and the family were living, at Wolverton House, Clarendon Road, Redland. The 1891 census shows William and his siblings George C, Alice and John H at Wolverton House with their mother Elizabeth and Grandmother Sarah Dooby. William left the School in April 1892, aged 13, transferring to the Haywardsfield Boarding House, Wycliffe College, Gloucestershire. The book ‘Wycliffe and the War 1914-1918’ documents his time from 1892-1895 as follows. Denniss, William Calvert, was at Haywardsfield from 1892- 1895, became a Probationer, and was a member of the '94-’95 ‘invincible’ Football XI. After Fifth Panel
leaving school he was for some years in a bank in India, and later became a planter in British East Africa. On the outbreak of war he joined the King's East African Rifles, and was killed in action early in 1916. The only details regarding his death are found below. “I am directed by the Secretary, Mr. Bonar Law, to inform you that a despatch has been received from the Governor of the East African Province stating that the late Lieut. W. Denniss, in company with Mr. Hall, Intelligence Agent, went out to reconnoitre a certain strip of bush, where they came into contact with the enemy, Lieutenant Denniss being killed and Mr. Hall taken prisoner. As the latter was the only eye-witness of the event, the Governor regrets that he is at present unable to furnish more complete details." (From Wycliffe and the War). William died on 7 February 1916, aged 37, whilst serving with the East African Intelligence Department. He was mentioned in dispatches,
War Memorial in Wycliffe Chapel 32
