The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Captain Harold Dench, 38th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on Captain Harold Dench, 38th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Captain Harold Dench, 38th Battalion, AIF
KIA 24 August 1918


Today we remember and pay tribute to Captain Harold Dench.

Harold Dench was born on 29 April 1887 to Henry and Rebecca Dench of Melbourne. He grew up in Camberwell, was educated at Glenferrie and Camberwell state schools, and later Camberwell grammar school. After working for two different companies, Harold joined his father’s firm, Henry Dench and Sons, as an auctioneer and estate agent. In 1910 his father was appointed Victorian manager of the Metropolitan Accident, Fire and General Insurance Company, and Harold Dench took over the business. He also played a prominent part in the Yarra Yarra rowing club, where he was variously captain and secretary. He would continue to donate money to the club to support it while he was at war.

Harold had a long-standing interest in military matters, and held a commission in the local citizens’ militia on the outbreak of war in 1914. He applied to be transferred to the Australian Imperial Force with his current rank, but instead he was sent to work as an instructor in the military camp at Bendigo. He proved popular, making many friends, but, impatient to go to war, resigned his commission in March 1916 to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. He and two other militia officers who went with him hoped to qualify for a commission after arriving at the front. Dench proved such an able officer while training in Australia that he was commissioned before leaving, and sailed for war in Jun e 1916 as a lieutenant in the newly formed 38th Battalion.

Lieutenant Dench was first sent to England, where he was transferred to the 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery. He went to France to fight on the Western Front in November 1916, and spent the bitterly cold winter of 1916 and 1917 in or near the front line with the trench mortars. On 31 January 1917 the 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery was in the front line near Armentieres, and fired 102 rounds on a German position. During the bombardment, Dench was wounded, but remained on duty.

After several more months with the trench mortars, Dench returned to the 38th Battalion, and in August 1917 was promoted to captain. His local newspaper reported the promotion, adding “the hope is expressed that he may be spared to return to his native land in the full enjoyment of health and the laurels won upon the battlefield.”

The 38th Battalion fought in two major attacks during the Third Ypres campaign in late 1917, at Broodseinde on 4 October, and at Passchendaele on 12 October. While Broodseinde was a success, albeit with heavy casualties for the 38th Battalion, Passchendaele was a disaster. Held up by cloying mud, torrential rain and a staunch enemy defence, the battalion was unable to secure its objectives, and suffered more than 60 per cent casualties.

Captain Dench was later commended for his action during this time, particularly at Broodseinde, where many of his senior officers became casualties. Dench took on the role of reorganising the 38th Battalion’s position and seeing to the welfare of the men in the front line. It was noted that “his courage, ability and cheerfulness under heavy fire were a great example to all.” For his actions he was Mentioned in Despatches.

Captain Dench suffered with bronchitis through the winter of 1917 and 1918, and spent several months in hospital in England. He returned to France in the midst of the German spring offensive, when the Germans made huge advances that threatened the security of the Allied line.

After helping to defend against a series of German attacks, the 38th Battalion took part in the British offensive launched at Amiens on 8 August. The battalion went on to take part in the slow advance that followed, fighting for weeks with little rest. Captain Dench was heavily involved in the advance, and Lieutenant Colonel Hurrey later wrote that he “was in no small degree responsible for the splendid things that now stand to the credit of the battalion. He had no fear whatever, and the example of courage and resourcefulness that he set to his company was simply invaluable.”

On the morning of 24 August 1918, the 38th Battalion was a little to the north of the French village of Bray. One flank of Dench’s company was in danger of being driven back, and so he “rushed forward into the open with one platoon and placed it to form a defensive flank”. He then “went out along and rallied the retiring troops” of the unit next to his. As a result of his actions, a German attack was thwarted and the safety of the entire line secured. He was later Mentioned in Despatches a second time.

General W. Ramsay NcNicoll described the action as “one of the most successful operations which has been undertaken by this brigade … largely owing to Harold’s work and fine example, the position was consolidated and held under very heavy fire and against determined counter-attacks.” However, McNicoll added, “he was killed instantly by a sniper whilst rallying men, not Australians, on his flank, who, having lost their officers, were giving way. It was a most gallant action on his part, for he had to stand and direct them in the open under heavy fire, but he succeeded in rallying them before he was hit, and this act along was of the greatest service to the brigade – and indeed to the whole Australian corps.”

Dench’s fellow officers wrote to his parents to tell them of their son’s courage. The commanding officer of C Company, Captain Peters, wrote, “Harold was known for his cool courage, initiative, and thoroughness. He was a grand leader, one who will be a big loss to our dear old 38th.”
Captain Harold Dench was buried near where he fell, and today lies in Bray Vale British Cemetery at Bray-sur-Somme. He was 30 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Captain Harold Dench, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section