ISSAC CECIL DENBY

RANK: Second Lieutenant

REGIMENT: 6th Bn. attd. 1st/4th Bn.Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

BORN:

ENLISTED:

GAVE HIS LIFE: 27.06/1917.

AGED: 22.

CEMETERY: Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery Sailly-Labourse is a village five kms South-East of Bethune on the main road to Lens.

GRAVE: B. 8.

LEEDS MODERN: 1908-1910.

Isaac was the son of Herbert a Tailors Cutter by trade Born Bingley West Yorkshire 1866 and Emily Busfield Born Bradford 1863, they married at Bradford in 1890 and had another son Harold Born Cottingley Leeds 1892.


Isaac was brought up in Chapel Allerton Leeds and at school it was said Issac excelled in art and was a keen sportsman being the Captain of St Mathews Cricket Club.


On leaving Leeds Modern he joined James Rhodes and Company of Temple Works Leeds.


In November 1915 Isaac went to Leeds University joining the Officer Training Corps, and in March 1916 was transfered to Oxford joining No 4 O.T.C Cadet Battalion.


On the 17th June 1916 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the 1/6th Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment, and was sent to france on the 22nd September, being transfered to the 1/4 th Bn of his regiment.


Isaac was given leave in January 1917 and returned to his division (49th) near Lens France.


On the Wednesday morning of the 27th June 1917 Isaac lost his life when a German Trench Mortar Shell landed in their dugout. Isaac was not the only man to lose his life on that morning others included,


Isaac's Company Officer Captain John Graham Mowat 24 years old from Cleckheaton,


Private Isaac Watson Bousfield 20 years old service Number 203179 from Penrith Westmoreland,


Private T.Conroy Service Number 202120,


Lance Corporal R. A. Waller 24 years of age Service Number 202770 from Manchester.


All the above men lie at rest near Isaac in Sailly-Labourse.






Isaac's Superior Officer wrote:

"We lose an ideal officer,loved by his men and a real friend of all our officers"

The CWGC shows the following details:


Son of Herbert and Emily Denby, of "Winwood," 20, Northbrook St., Chapel Allerton, Leeds. Leeds University Officers' Training Corps, Nov., 1915. Oxford University, March, 1916. Gazetted, June, 1916. Born at Headlingley, Leeds.