14538 Lieutenant Leslie Hunter Denniston, MC, (17/11/1885-8/8/1965). "his good judgement"

 

Sergeant L. H. Denniston, who has been attached to the 14th Reinforcements, which will leave Wellington shortly, has received a commission as second lieutenant in the 18th Reinforcements.  -Otago Witness, 28/6/1916.

"B" Company (Lieut. T. H. Denniston) was in reserve, with orders to follow in fairly close touch with the leading companies. The battalion followed the barrage in good order, but on nearing the first railway line the centre company met with disaster. Machine-guns brought enfilade fire to bear upon the leading line, almost annihilating the right platoon. A section from the support platoon worked round to deal with the guns; and when the remaining sections were called for to reinforce the front, they too were found to have shared the fate of the forward platoon. Thus, within the first few minutes, this one company had lost more than a third of its strength. In the endeavour to close the gap, Sergeant J. Grubb, of the left platoon, extended his right section and at once proceeded to deal with two machine-gun posts on his immediate front. These he succeeded in silencing, but the advance of the company was still being held up by the enfilading post. Rifleman C. Birch, of the trench mortar battery attached to the battalion, now came up to locate this nest. This done, he brought a Stokes gun to bear upon it and reduced its fire to fitful bursts. With Rifleman W. Ferguson, another of the gun team, he advanced to the position bombarded, took prisoner the whole garrison, consisting of an officer and twenty-seven men, and captured its three guns. By this time, however, Lieut. L. H. Denniston, on observing the disorganization of "A" Company, had brought his reserve company forward, passed through the centre company, joined up with those on the flanks, and pressed on with them towards the objective.  -Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

London Gazette 8 March 1919, p3253 Citation, 4 October 1919, p12378: For gallant leadership in command of a reserve company at Le Quesnoy on 4th November, 1918. The centre company suffered severely at the start. He moved his company forward at once, and went on until the capture of the objective, on which he established his company, and succeeded in gaining touch with the flank companies. He had previously organised and directed several successful raids.

A list of tho New Zealand officers, to whom the Military Cross has been awarded, published in a cable message in our issue of yesterday, contains the name of Lieu tenant P. H. Denniston. There is reason to suppose that the recipient of the honour is Lieutenant L. H. Denniston, a son of Mr G. L. Denniston, of this city, and that the distinction was gained at the last engagement in which he was concerned just prior to the close of the war, when he was wounded for the third time.  -Otago Daily Times, 12/3/1919.

Denniston's third wound, as detailed in his Army record, was a gunshot wound to his left thigh. A previous wound is described as "gsw rt arm slight."

With the war behind him, Leslie Denniston settled down to local life, becoming an orchardist, Justice of the Peace and attending veterans' reunions. He also got into the newspaper business.

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Otago Representative : L. H. Denniston, Fruitlands, Central Otago.  -Otago Daily Times, 7/6/1922.

Property Changes 

The Alexandra Herald, which has been conducted by Mr L. H. Denniston for some years, has been purchased by Messrs Stevens Bros., of Clyde, who will take over the building as from April 1.  -Otago Daily Times, 4/3/1939.

FUNCTION AT HERALD OFFICE

TRIBUTE TO MR L. H. DENNISTON 

A number of friends of Mr L. H. Denniston gathered at the office of the Alexandra Herald on Friday evening as a gesture of recognition for the manner in which he had conducted the Herald, during the eight years that he has been associated with the business. In outlining the purpose of the gathering, Father O'Connell, who acted as chairman, paid a fine tribute to the tact, courtesy, and kindliness of Mr Denniston; and referred to his good judgement and the splendid manner in which he had carried out his duties as Editor and Manager of the Herald. Other speakers on behalf of the various organisations to express their appreciation for the service given by Mr Denniston and wish success to the now proprietors wore as follows: Mr T. Sunderland: Business People. Mr R. McLay: Tennis Club. Mr Nightingale: Cricket. Mr Comerford: Horticultural Soc. Mr A. Stewart: Stock Agents. Mr H. Guy: Herald Staff. Mr K. McKissock: Returned Soldiers Association.  -Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Guardian, 3/4/1939.

During World War 2 Leslie returned to uniform, attending an October 1940 meeting to form a Home Guard and being elected Chairman.

HOME GUARD

On Saturday, 5th July a battalion parade was held at Roxburgh. The day was ideal for the manoeuvres. The total number on parade was 300 including 90 from Alexandra, the Clyde Company was also represented. Two bands were in attendance, the Alexandra Pipe Band and the Roxburgh Municipal Brass Band. Batallion drill was carried out under the direction of Bat. Com. Capt. L. H. Denniston M.C. and second in Command Capt. G. H. Eliot, after which the Batallion was inspected by the District Commander Col. Bruce Smith and Area Commander Major P. Mackenzie. A route march headed by the Alexandra Pipe Band, from the Sports Grounds to the town, concluded the exercises. The salute was taken by Col. Bruce Smith from the balcony of the Commercial Hotel, after which the Col. addressed the parade and expressed his appreciation of the work being carried out by the Batallion. The Mayor, Mr Laloli, extended an invitation on behalf of the ladies of D Coy Roxburgh, to afternoon tea in the Town Hall.

This wonderful gesture by the ladies responsible for such a lovely tea was greatly appreciated by all guardsmen. The Bat. Com. Capt. L. H. Denniston and Col. Bruce Smith congratulated the ladies and returned thanks on behalf of the officers and guardsmen of the Batallion. Col. B. Smith and Maj. Mackenzie were deeply impressed with the work carried out during the afternoon and instructed the Bat. Com. to convey to the officers and all other ranks their appreciation of their splendid showing on parade and made particular mention of the Alexandra Pipe Band and all those who had travelled a distance. To those guardsmen who so kindly supplied their cars for the conveyance of the guardsmen the Bat. Com. extends his sincerest thanks. The next parade in Alexandra will be held at the Recreation Ground at 2 p.m. on Monday) 14th inst. Guardsmen who are willing to donate a blood transfusion are asked to hand in their names next parade night.  -Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 9/7/1941.

At around this time, L. H. Denniston is reported as being appointed to the local Licensing Committee and as local Coroner.

Farewell to Home Guard 

There was an excellent attendance in the Alexandra Town Hall on Thursday evening last, when 'A' Company, Home Guard, Alexandra, "declared peace" and closed down. The social which was a bright and enjoyable one, and which was for the All Purposes Appeal, netted £l5 odd. During the evening the Mayor, Mr A. McKellar, made a short speech, during which he thanked the Guardsmen for the zeal they had displayed in their splendid efforts at a time of great crisis. He assured the Guardsmen that the town was grateful and all were glad to realise that their services were no longer necessary. Major L. H. Denniston, on behalf of the Home Guard, returned thanks to the Mayor for his generous remarks and said that it had really been a privilege for the Guardsmen to assist.  -Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 26/7/1944.

Mr L. H. Denniston, auctioneer, Alexandra, last Friday submitted the lease of the Islands at the Head of Lake Wakatipu. The upset price was £24 per annum. The lease was sold at £28 per annum to a Dunedin firm as agents for a client.  -Lake Wakatip Mail, 9/11/1944.

Obituary

MR L. DENNISTON 

Mr L. H, Denniston, formerly a well-known Alexandra businessman, died in Christchurch recently. 

He was born in Dunedin in 1889 and attended the Otago Boys’ High School. Later he studied law. and was an associate of his uncle, Sir John Denniston, a judge of the Supreme Court.

Mr Denniston served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the First World War, and was awarded the Military Cross. 

On his return to New Zealand he was an orchardist at Fruitlands, then managed the Earnscleugh station, and was editor of the "Alexandra Herald." 

Mr Denniston later began the Central Otago Commission Agency, which he ran till his retirement in 1961. 

He was appointed a district coroner in 1914 and served for 20 years, was a member of the Central Otago Licensing Trust for about 13 years, and for a time was chairman of the Alexandra branch of the National Party. He is survived by a son and a daughter.  -Press, 14/8/1965.

Alexandra Cemetery.