COMMEMORATED IN PERPETUITY BY THE

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Private Arthur Edward Denton enlisted at Abingdon and embarked to France with the 1st Battalion Royal Berks Regiment on 13th August 1914. After 18 months of deadlock in the trenches of the Western Front the Allies wanted, and needed, a decisive victory. After a week-long artillery bombardment of the German lines. Advancing British troops found that the German defences had not been destroyed as expected and many units suffered very high casualties with little progress. By the end of the first day of The Somme Offensive, on 1 July 1916, British forces had suffered 57,470 casualties, of whom 19,240 were killed. This represented the largest losses suffered by the British Army in a single day. Unfortunately, Lance Corporal Denton was one of those dreadful statistics, killed on that fateful day. (The CWGC index lists LCE CORP. A E Denton as 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment.)

The main Millencourt communal cemetery was used by units and field ambulances from August 1915 to May 1916, and again in April 1918, but after the Armistice the 64 burials were moved into the extension. The extension was used by units, field ambulances, and the III Corps Main Dressing Station in 1916, and by the 4th Australian Division and other units in March and April 1918. Millencourt Communal Cemetery Extension now contains 340 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, and five German burials.

Lance Corporal Arthur E Denton is also remembered on his Father’s headstone at St Michael’s churchyard, Steventon.

The Denton Family in Steventon go back to 1859 (1871 Census). Both of Arthur's parent's were born here. Arthur's mother, Emily Louisa Woodley's family go even further back; to 1835. Arthur was born at The Causeway, Steventon and was 1 of six children: 3 Brothers, 1 Sister. 1 Sibling died young. The family lived on the Causeway - 'near the School' until about 1908, when they moved to Rose Terrace, near the Fox Inn at Denchworth. This would have been the last known address for Arthur, as he stayed with his parents until he died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, in July 1916. 



For some additional information regarding this soldier. Please click here