Dennis died on 8 December 1998, aged almost 70.

Cpl DN Kirton
Cpl DN Kirton

He enlisted at Birmingham in August 1946, initially into the 1st Royal Tank Regiment, whom he joined in April 1947 at Detmold. In March 1949 he was posted to HQ 7 Armoured Division at Verden.

In June 1949 he returned to the UK and was transferred to the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, then stationed at Leicester East Airfield. He joined HQ Squadron and was appointed Lance Corporal in January 1950, and promoted to Corporal in February 1950, when he was in MT Troop.

He played a major part in the HQ Squadron team inter-regimental athletics meeting in June. In October 1950 he sailed on the Empire Fowey with the rest of the Regiment to Korea. He was in Recce Troop and was attached to ‘C’ Squadron, returning with them on the MV Georgic on 15 December 1951.

In March 1952 he was posted to the Northants Yeomanry, taking his first release in August 1952.

He re-enlisted in April 1954 and rejoined in the 8th Hussars, then stationed in Luneburg as a Corporal and was posted to Recce Troop as a troop Corporal. He was a member of the Regimental athletics team. In December 1956 he left HQ Squadron on posting to the Yorkshire Hussars, with whom he remained until taking his discharge in August 1958.

Dennis was well-liked and a capable and efficient instructor. He was a most energetic and reliable worker who was not afraid to use his initiative. He rejoined the Regimental Association in 1995 and attended the dinners in Birmingham together with his brother Ralph and their wives.

In civilian life, he became a sheet metal worker but had to retire at a comparatively early age due to ill health. He was a keen indoor and outdoor bowls player.

Related topics

  1. A short history of The 8th Hussars
  2. Timeline: Korea 1950-51