Born 1890 † 09/05/1915
Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez (6 miles north of Arras)
At the beginning of the War he was a postulant discerning his vocation Ampleforth Abbey.
LETTER 18 Dec [sc. 1914]
My dear Father Paul,
This is just to send you all my Xmas love and wishes. Tomorrow I am off for my second visit to the trenches. I long more than I can say to be back with you all. And if God spares me, I shall come back and throw myself upon your mercy. Life is strenuous out here & it is hard to keep fit. I expect a Commission shortly. Pray for me please and let me come back someday.
Yours affy,
Ken Dennis
LETTER 14 Feb 1914 [sc.1915]
My dear Fr Paul,
Your letter has just come. I cannot tell you how splendid it is to hear from you & Ampleforth. I think so much about you all. I would have written to you before – having heard of the death of your brother – but I am terribly[?] futile when I try to write sympathy. But I do feel for you. I have unknowingly been quite near his grave. Do you remember the diagram in your letter? This is where I have been and where I found my Regiment. I cannot, for obvious reasons make the diagram clear.
Though I can fully enter into the longing of those at home to be out here, I cannot but hope and pray for their own sakes that they should remain in England. People see daily – when in certain districts of the fire line sights that must be unforgettable, sites that will haunt for ever the most guiltless soul, the most tranquil conscience. Long-sounding & badly balanced sentences! But terribly true!
I think the most cheerful man out here must – to a certain extent – live in a minor key – there is so much & so bravely borne suffering – there is always the nearness, – death at your elbow feeling. The last – no sad – dead feelings for a Catholic – but sobering, chastening … It was in this feeling that I wrote to Father Abbot, as head of the place that I love and feel part,of – forgetful of etiquette, ecclesiastical or otherwise. Everything is awfully real out here, & I did not think that it would matter if I wrote to the Holy Father himself for rosaries. The curt rebuff written on the envelope of your letter – though I am sure fully justified – bring one back suddenly[?] to England – order and convention. But my men want rosaries and they shall have them. If I have to write to every layman and Prelate at home. Let good people who flock to retreats and knit enormous woollen garments in their spare time – let them fling away their knitting and send out 1d. prayerbooks, string rosaries and the like! The soldier's body is always in the thoughts of those at home. His soul seems forgotten.
We have a magnificent chaplain fighting a grand fight against the prevailing vice of Irish soldiers – & he is winning – beating Cognac & other enemies, is winning inch by inch. I play during our rest period here – for Benediction every evening. I don't play well, but I can keep them together and is is glorious to be able to do even that for the poor fellows.
Ampleforth's contribution to the war in is fine. I do hope that her sons – most of them – will be allowed to live. Oh how I wish I was back. But this war – if I shall be allowed to come through it – will a great prelude to Novitiate. If one is killed one has at least died honourably – & my close relations will speak of me with pride – not felt in life! But I prefer to think of life & Ampleforth! Of Fairfax – fishing – Father Bede – Gormire day (I can't spell it)!
Now one request. In all the monastery have I such friends that once a week there will always be a letter from Ampleforth. I ask a lot. But if each one in turn will write, of those who know me best? Do you think they could? On my short leave I had to glorious hours with Father John (also a general confession). What more can one want?
Goodbye, Father Paul, & please pray for me sometimes. Your letter was a great joy to me.
Remember me to all yours.
Kenneth Rose Dennys
LETTER from R.J.Watt to the Editor of the Tablet May 1915
23rd Fld.Amb.
7th Div:
B.E.F.
19-5-1915
Dear Mr Willis,
Thank you so much for the welcome gift of the Tablet. I quite understand your inability to continue your generosity in the circumstances.
I wonder if you would give publicity to a few facts about second Lt K. R. Dennys, 2nd Munster Fusiliers, killed 9th May near Richebourg. The Times of the 15th inst. tells us he was an actor and had been some time. private Sec. to Mgr Benson, but after all, by far the most important thing he did was when he gave up acting after appearing with some success in The Shepherdess without a Heart and because became a postulant at Ampleforth, in which calling he had undoubtedly found his true vocation. With his Abbot's permission, he enlisted in the Artists Rifles, for the duration of the war, where he was most popular with his comrades. He was promoted to 2nd Lt in the Munsters, where again his men loved him, and where, during the few months he was with them, he set a magnificent example of what a Catholic officer ought to be. Father Gleeson, chaplain to the 2nd Munsters, tells me he heard. Kenneth Dennys' confession a few hours before his death. I saw him often out here and a few weeks ago, when we lunched together, he said to me, 'I don't expect to get through this war, but if I do I shall take the first possible train back home to Ampleforth'. R.I.P.
Yours sincerely,
Reginald J.J. Watt