An emotive First Day of the Battle of Loos Memorial Plaque awarded to Captain A.C. Denison, 2nd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) who saw service on the Western Front being wounded in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 and subsequently being Mentioned in Despatches. He would later be killed in action on 25th September 1915 – the first Day of the Battle of Loos having given a magnificent example to his company, exposing himself fearlessly at their head and inspiring by his gallantry the efforts of the bombing parties that drove the enemy 300 yards back and secured the flank of the first advance. He fell at the head of his company just as their task was completed. Having no known grave he is now remembered on the Loos Memorial.
Great War Memorial Plaque; (ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL DENISON)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Archibald Campbell Denison was the son of the late Joseph Basil an Annie Louiss Denison of Balure, Bembridge, Isle of Wight. He was gazetted to the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch which was then in India in 1910, and would carry the Colours in the Guard of Honour at the Delhi Durbar in 1911, and represented the Regiment in the ‘Sabre’ Competition at the Durbar Military Sports.
He went with the Regiment from India to the Western Front in November 1914 and would be slightly wounded at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 subsequently being Mentioned in Despatches for gallant conduct in the field. The Regimental History relates:
‘On the 17th, the left section was taken over by the Seaforths, Battalion Headquarters and Nos 1 and 2 Companies moving into Division reserve. Meanwhile Nos. 3 and 4 Companies remained on the right of the line, the two companies relieving one another in the front line trenches every forty-eight hours.
Conditions in the front line were severe, for the Germans were continually sapping forward to within bombing distance, Opposite Nos. 3 and 4 Companies they were kept at a respectful distance by several successful raids on the sap heads. One of these raiding parties under Lieutenants Inglis and Denison met two German parties double their strength, and yet after a fierce struggle in No Man’s Land, reached and demolished the sap head, though with a loss of nearly a third of the raiding party. Elsewhere the German efforts to get within assaulting distance had been more successful, and on November 23rd Nos. 3 and 4 Companies become involved in the heaviest fighting which the Meerut Division had yet been called on to face; and in this, its first serious test, the fine fighting qualities of the Battalion were abundantly proved.’
Denison would be killed in action on 25th September 1915 – the first day of the Battle of Loos. Lieutenant Colonel A.S. Wauchope, 2nd and 4th Battalion, Black Watch would write:
‘You know how greatly I always cared for and admired Archie, both as a man and as a soldier. He was in peace and war a splendid young Officer. Of his action on the day of battle I can only say that it was wonderful, and I would like all his friends to know how well he did, and all friends of the Regiment to know the General’s and everyone’s praise.’
A brother-officer wrote:
‘I feel I must write a few words as to how Archie Denison fell. Every N.C.O. and man who was near him speak of the gallant way in which he led his men in the attack, always in the front, frequently standing on the parapet directing operations, encouraging his men on, apparently fearless.
It was in front of his men bombing up a trench that he was sniped, shot through the head and killed instantaneously. It was almost up to the limit of our objective that he fell, and to have reached such a point, in the words of the General to the men yesterday, will be an endless glory to them. His dash and courage, at the same time his coolness, to keep his men together, to penetrate so far, must have been wonderful. Unfortunately all the Officers who were killed were well behind the German lines, so, on account of the withdrawal later, are left where they fell’
The Regimental History stating ‘Captain Denison gave a magnificent example to his company, exposing himself fearlessly at their head and inspiring by his gallantry the efforts of the bombing parties that drove the enemy 300 yards back and secured the flank of the first advance. He fell at the head of his company just as their task was completed.
Having no known grave he is now remembered on the Loos Memorial where he is noted as the son of the late J.B. Denison, of Balure, Bembridge, Isle of Wight.
