Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred William DENCH

Military Medal

‘East of GUEDECOURT on the night of 14/15th February 1917 Lance Sergeant DENCH displayed exceptional coolness and courage under fire.  Prior to a raid made by his Battalion he assisted the Scout Officer in making a reconnaissance of NO MANS LAND and entering wire at great risk, and was able to give the raiding party much valuable information.  On the night of the raid he assisted in laying out the tapes and assembling the party in NO MANS LAND, 70 yards from the Enemy Trench and his work generally had much to do with the success of the raid. After the raiders had returned he went out with parties under heavy shell and machine gun fire and brought in two wounded men.  This conduct was of the highest order and worthy of special recognition. This NCO has an excellent record in the Battalion having one more than one occasion distinguished himself on patrol work and obtained much valuable information’.

Recommended by Lt Colonel 57th Infantry Battalion

The Bendigo Independent reported in late February 1916: - ‘The Commanding Officer has been pleased to promote Corporal K. Emonson and Private Dench to the Rank of sergeant. Sergeant Dench has held a commission in the camp for some months, but as he was a cadet, officer he was prevented from obtaining a commission in the A.I.F and so  joined as a private.’[1]

The Commanding Officer was obviously a good judge of soldier, as both Bendigo men Keith Emonson and Alfred Dench would go to become recipients of bravery awards in the war. 

Although Alfred Dench left Australia in September 1915 it appears he may have served only briefly at Gallipoli landing on December 7, 1915 just two weeks before the whole allied force was secretly evacuated on December 19.

Despite promotion to Sergeant back in Egypt, Alfred like a good number of Australian soldiers who returned from Gallipoli would face discipline charges in the January 1916. As part of the massive reorganisation and expansion of the AIF Alfred would be transferred to the new 57 Battalion. The 57th Battalion would be part of the new 15th brigade that would draw on half of the experienced 7th Battalion to populate four battalions under the command of the former 7th Battalion and revered Commander, Harold (Pompey) Elliot. By the end of June 1916, the reorganisation was largely complete and most of the AIF would leave Egypt for France heading to a new front to fight a new foe, the Germans. 

In mid February 1917, Alfred undertook the heroic deeds resulted in a Bravery Medal at the village of Guedecourt, south of Bapaume, in Northern France.

A few weeks later in March 1917, he would be evacuated to England suffering trench fever and be awarded the medal when he is discharged from hospital in mid March. He would recover and return to the front only to be wounded with multiple gun shot wounds in September 1917 most likely in the fighting at the battle of Broodseinde in Belgium. This ended Alfred’s fighting days and he would again be evacuated again to England for retreatment, returning to Australia in June 1918. A year later Alfred would apply for a passage for his fiancée to sail from England.

No photo of Alfred Dench located as yet.

SERVICE DETAILS:  

Service Number: 2787

Born: Brisbane Queensland

Religion: Presbyterian

Occupation: Gardener

Address: Crusoe Road, Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo, Victoria

Marital status: Single

Age at enlistment: 25

Next of kin: Father, W Dench, Crusoe Road, Kangaroo Flat

Enlistment date: 1 July 1915

Unit name: 7th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement

Embarked: HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria on 10 September 1915

Final Rank: Lance Sergeant

Unit: 57th Battalion

Fate: Returned June 1918. Married.

East of GUEDECOURT on the night of 14/15th February 1917

 ‘In February 1917 the Germans took the Allies by surprise by withdrawing from their front line to consolidate along the much stronger and straighter front along the Hindenberg Line.  In doing so they sought to eliminate what is known in military parlance as "a salient".  "Salients" are projections of the front line into enemy territory, which leave the defender of the salient vulnerable to being outflanked and cut off, hence the German consolidation. However the speed of the process took the Allies by surprise. The Australian Divisions as part of the British 5th Army began a cautious follow up. When withdrawing in this way the absolute imperative for the withdrawing force is to achieve a 'clean break' so the withdrawal can be conducted in an orderly manner and out of contact.  This is achieved by good security and deception, concealing one's intent and then by imposing delay on the follow up force.  Defended posts, booby traps and defensive artillery fire are all used to achieve delay.  The Germans carried this out to very good effect.[3]

 [1] The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918)  Tue 29 Feb 1916  Page 3

[2] AWM Collection: REL35985 Sketch by Will Dyson, Sunset at Gueudecourt
[3] Virtual War Memorial Australia website https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/21