Denis Augustus Westwood was born in Hemel Hempstead in early 1895 and baptised at St Paul’s Church in the town on Sunday, 5th May in the same year. He was the elder of two sons born to Arthur Westwood and Annie Eunice Watson and his younger brother was Stanley Edgar, born in 1897. Stanley also served in the Great War as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Machine Gun Corps. He survived the conflict.

When Denis was born, his father worked as a ‘Clerk’ for John Dickinson & Co. Limited and the family lived at Westview Road which was situated behind the site of the Asda supermarket today. Six years later the family had moved to Apsley and lived at 10 Storey Street, presumably so that Denis’ father Arthur would be closer to Apsley Mills where he still worked as a ‘Commercial Clerk’.

By the time of the next Census in 1911, the family lived in a house known as "Horndean" on the Manor Estate in Apsley. The estate was part of the grounds of Shendish Manor, which had been developed in the early part of the 20th century and was in an area between the existing railway line and where the A41 runs today.

Arthur by this time was a ‘Foreman’ in the Engineering Repair Department at John Dickinsons and sixteen-year-old Denis was at Berkhamsted School. He left the school shortly afterwards to start a job with Coopers of Berkhamsted. This company had been set up by William Cooper in 1852, after his work as a veterinary surgeon led him to develop the world’s first effective sheep-dip. Cooper’s manufacturing works on Ravens Lane in the town was for many years one of Berkhamsted’s biggest employers.

Denis worked at Coopers as a clerk or an accountant and following the outbreak of war he remained with his employer until 1916. It is likely that he was called up following the passing of the Military Services Acts in January and May 1916.

He attested at St. Paul’s in London and joined the 26th (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Bankers) which was formed in London in July 1915 by the Lord Mayor and City of London. It comprised, in the main, of former bank clerks and accountants. He was sent to Aldershot to undergo basic training and when the Battalion was mobilised he went to France on the 4th May 1916 under the command of 124th Brigade in the 41st Division. Denis was assigned to the 11th Platoon, “G” Company and spent the first months after his arrival in France between Hazebrouck and Bailleul.

The Battalion saw its first significant action in September when it fought in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette where it was in support of the 21st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC). On the 15th September the assault began and the 26th soon reached its first objective but were then held up attempting to reach its second. For most of the day the position in the line was held until late afternoon when an order to fall back was received.

Over the next two days the Battalion remained in support, before being relieved on the 18th September by the North Lancashire Regiment and dropping back to camp. During these three days the Battalion incurred heavy casualties from rifle and machine gun fire and the War Diary recorded the following: "18th Our casualties during the action were as follows: Officers Lts M.J Shaw, A.J. Knight (Killed), Lts. G.W Havelock G.L.I. Astwood (died of wounds) & Lts Sir W.A. Blount Bart., Y.K. Patterson, R.L.W. Francis and C.A. Nells (wounded) Other Ranks 33 (killed), 58 (missing) and 140 (wounded)."

Denis was one of the men listed "wounded and missing" following the Battle and his parents were notified shortly afterwards, as reported in the Hemel Gazette in October 1916. 

It would be over a year until his parents received official confirmation that he had been Killed in Action on Monday, 18th September 1916. He had only been at the Front for four months when he died.

He is commemorated at St Mary’s Church in Apsley End.

Denis is Remembered with Honour on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A

He was 21 years old when he died.

Denis was entitled to the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.