Lieutenant Wilfred DANN
3rd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment attached to the 12th (Service) Battalion (Bristol)

Date of birth: 2nd November 1887
Date of death: 30th October 1917

Died of wounds aged 29
Buried at Lijessenthoek Military Cemetery Plot XXI Row AA Grave 5
He was born at Dartford in Kent on the 2nd of November 1887 the son of Henry Dann, land agent, surveyor and auctioneer, and Elizabeth Ann (nee Wyatt) of 36 Pelham Road, Gravesend.

He attended the King’s School Canterbury from January 1902 to July 1903.

He worked as an architect before enlisting at Westminster as Private 1404 in the18th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (1st Public Schools), University and Public School Corps on the 5th of September 1914. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was six feet tall, that he weighed 164lbs and that he had a fair complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 27th of January 1915, to Corporal on the 8th of May 1915 and to Sergeant on the 4th of June 1915. On the 8th of August he reverted to the rank of Private at his own request in order to apply for a commission in the infantry which he did on the 11th of August.

He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on probation in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment on the 15th September 1915 and was confirmed in his rank on the 29th of May 1916. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of July 1917 and was posted to the 12th Battalion of his regiment, joining them in the field on the 25th of October 1917, along with a draft of fifty six men and five other officers, when they were in Divisional reserve at a position known as Ridge Wood, near Vormelles.

On the 28th of October they marched to the front line at Sanctuary Wood in the Ypres salient with two companies in the first line and two in close support. The battalion war diary for the 29th of October reports “casualties very light, nothing of importance to report”. In fact Wilfred Dann had been wounded and evacuated to the rear where he died the next day at 10 Casualty Clearing Station.

His father received the following telegram dated the 2nd of November 1917: -

"Deeply regret to inform you 2/Lt W. Dann Gloucester Regt. died of wounds October thirtieth. The Army Council express their sympathy."

His brother, Private Frank Dann OKS A Company, 15th (Queensland and Tasmania) Battalion Australian Imperial Force, was killed in action on the 9th of August 1916.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Gravesend.
 

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