Dennis Griffin (1896–1920)

Corporal

Royal Field Artillery 106748 Unit D Battery, 58 Brigade

The Courier 18 Sept 1920

Dennis Griffin

Biography
Dennis was born in Crich Carr during 1896 to James and Hannah Griffin. Hannah died in 1910 aged forty-three. Dennis attested in August 1915 at Derby, a farm labourer aged nineteen. He entered France as a gunner in October 1915 and was working as a shoeing-smith in February 1916. April 1916 saw him in hospital with scabies. He was demobbed in January 1919 and in 1920 married Jane Allsop moving to Furness Vale, New Mills, where he worked for the Midland Railway. He was tragically killed a few months later, in September 1920, when he was struck by a train at the Gowhole sidings, Bugsworth.

Medal Index Record
He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star Medals.

Army Service Record
Dennis Griffin attested 9th August 1915 at Derby. He was aged 19 years 4 months an unmarried farm labourer from Whatstandwell, height 5ft 8in and weight 170lb. His next-of-kin was originally his father James Griffin of Whatstandwell but this was amended to his wife Jane Griffin of Chapel Hill, Alderwasley.
09/08/15 Attested
26/08/15 Posted
29/09/15 Posted Gunner
04/10/15 Posted BEF
21/10/15 Posted
12/02/16 Fit for duties as Shoeing Smith
02/04/16 to 10/04/16 To hospital with scabies
15/07/16 Posted D/60th Bty Havre
08/01/17 to 17/01/17 Leave to the UK
29/01/17 Posted
19/01/18 Granted 14 days leave to UK
01/08/18 Appointed paid acting corporal. To hospital
06/10/18 Appointed paid Corporal
22/01/19 Demobbed
Letter dated 21 October 1920 from his wife, acknowledging receipt of medals, stated that Dennis had been killed at work, on the Midland Railway, some six weeks previously.
Widow: Jane Griffin, no children
Father: James Griffin, no mother
Brothers: Ben Griffin, age 19 of 7 Salisbury Street, Long Eaton, Notts
Sisters: Ethel Cowlishaw, age 30 of 60 Burfield Street, Leicester; Annie Winson, age 27, of Manor Road South Wingfield; Hannah Griffin, age 23 of Rock View, Whatstandwell; Hilda Griffin, age 11, of 60 Burfield Street, Leicester

Newspaper report

The Courier, 18 September 1920
PLATELAYERS KILLED
Whatstandwell Ex-soldier One of the Victims
An inquest was held last Friday night at Bugsworth Station, between New Mills and Chinley, on Dennis Griffin (24), eldest son of Mr James Griffin, of Whatstandwell, who was one of the victims of a shocking accident on the Midland Railway at the Jow Hole sidings, Bugsworth, on Wednesday of last week. Three plate layers will run down by a passenger train. One (Griffin) was killed on the spot. Another was fatally injured and a third just got clear in time.
The 4.25 train from Stockport which stops at New Mills and Chinley, was passing when Griffin, William Longston (40) and John William Rogers were walking up the slow line from Jow Hole towards Bugsworth. Rogers was in advance of the other men and had crossed the line to look at his points. Just when the other two men were at the points the train came up and knocked them down. Griffin was killed on the spot and his body shockingly mutilated, while Longston was injured beyond recovery, and died on arrival at the Infirmary
The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.
Griffin was married only about seven months ago. He served with the RFA for three years and came through the war without a scratch. The body was brought to Whatstandwell on Saturday and was interred at Alderwasley on Monday. The mourners were Mrs Griffin (widow), Mr J Griffin, Whatstandwell, (father), Mr and Mrs T Cowlishaw (Leicester), Mr and Mrs W Wilson, South Wingfield (brothers-in-law and sisters), Miss H Griffin (sister), Mr R Griffin, Long Eaton (brother), Miss Hilda Griffin, Leicester (sister), Mr R Gratton, (uncle), Mr W Alsop (father-in-law) and Mr F Carr, Mr and Mrs J Wardman, Mr and Mrs J Sheppard (brothers-in-law and sister-in-law) and Mr T Sandars, Alderwasley, The Rev H Ham, of Wirksworth officiated.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Bonsall

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Ann Holmes Head 64 Living on own means Bonsall
Hannah Griffin daughter 34   Bonsall
Ann Ethel Griffin grand daughter 10   Bonsall
Annie M Griffin grand daughter 7   Crich
Dennis Griffin grandson 4   Crich
Hannah Griffin grand daughter 3   Bonsall

RG13 piece 3241 folio 14 page 19

1911: Whatstandwell

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
James Griffin Head (wdwr) 54 Plate layer Winster
Ann Ethel Griffin daughter 20   Bonsall
Annie Maria Griffin daughter 17 Hosiery knitter Crich Carr
Dennis Griffin son 14 Farm labourer Crich Carr
Hannah Griffin daughter 13 Hosiery buttoner Bonsall
Benjamin Griffin son 9   Bonsall
Hilda Mary Griffin daughter 2   Crich Carr

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1918 Crich voters
Dennis Griffin, Whatstandwell; absent on military service