2nd LIEUTENANT ARTHUR REGINALD DEAN (DCM), 1st BATTALION EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT.

2nd LIEUTENANT ARTHUR REGINALD DEAN (DCM), 1st BATTALION EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. KILLED IN ACTION 3rd JULY 1917 AGED 23.

Born in Ilkley on the 14th November 1894, Arthur was the third of four sons of Tom and Ester Dean who lived at Craig End Lodge on Cowpasture Road. Tom Dean was a well-known builder in the town who had a yard on Nelson Road where all his sons would be involved in the family business. Like his brothers, Arthur was also a pupil at Ilkley Grammar School before the war, where he excelled at football and rugby, later becoming a playing member of Ilkley Rugby Club.

Archie Dean 2nd left back row

In late August 1914, just after the start of the war, Arthur was one of many young men from the town who enlisted in the Ilkley Pals Company of the 9th West Riding Regiment. In July 1915
With the rest of his battalion Arthur arrived in France in July 1915 and was soon in action in the Ypres Sector of the Western Front. In September, Arthur, now promoted to corporal was wounded for the first time when he was shot in the right arm. In a letter home Arthur dismissed the wound as merely a "tap", nevertheless, he was evacuated back to Britain and spent six weeks in hospital. In another letter he makes clear his disdain for those people who talked of peace whom he described as "...milk sops of the earth." for advocating "peace at any price."

Arthur returned to his battalion in the late autumn of 1915 and spent the winter in the cold and wet conditions of the Ypres Salient. But as the ground began to dry with the coming of spring in 1916 the attention of the British High Command began to focus once again on attack.

Archie Dean with brothers far left

In late February and early March 1916 the 9th West Ridings were in the trenches at Railway Wood, St Eloi just south of Ypres. Along with a battalion of the Gordon Highlanders they were ordered to take part in a large scale trench raid against the German lines. At 4.30 am on the 2nd March bombing parties and assault infantry made their way across No-Man’s Land towards the enemy lines. Alerted the Germans poured artillery and rifle fire into the attacking British causing the advance to falter. A violent counterattack spearheaded by German artillery soon put the British under severe strain. Arthur was in charge of a machine gun section which poured fire into the advancing Germans. As his gun crew were killed he lifted the gun onto the trench parapet and continued to repel the enemy despite being wounded and in full view of enemy snipers he remained with the gun until the attack was halted. For his bravery Arthur was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Arthur's bravery and leadership qualities were now further recognised when he was recommended for a commission. Sent back to England to commence his training he would not return to his the West Riding's.
On 7th February 1917 Arthur Dean was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the East Yorkshire Regiment and returned to France, where on 28th April he joined the 1st Battalion who were at this time positioned just to the south of Arras. On the night of the 2/3rd July 1917 Arthur and his battalion were in the front line near to the village of Croisilles. Ordered to lead a wiring party, under the cover of darkness he led his men into No-Man’s Land accompanied by the commander of the battalion Lt Col. Waithman. The party was about 50 yards from the British lines when Col Waithman decided to return to the trenches. Somehow alerted a German machine gun opened and Arthur who clearly had more knowledge of the ground offered to guide his senior officer back to safety. Just as they reached the British trenches the enemy machine gun opened fire again. The Colonel jumped down but Arthur was hit and slumped to the ground just beyond the parapet from where he was dragged into the British trench. Arthur was badly wounded and within a few minutes he was dead.
2nd Lieutenant Arthur Reginald Dean was buried in the British Military Cemetery at Croisilles and is remembered on our war memorial in Ilkley. (Photo courtesy James Cooper)

Eyewitness Account: IG 31/3/16. 

Recently wounded. 

DCM. Conspicuous gallantry during operations. Worked machine gun over parapet under heavy shell fire & accurate sniper fire in order to repulse enemy counter attack. 

Dean's own account in letter to Gazette 21/7/1916: 

"As day broke on the second march we took enemies front line. It fell to the bombers of the Duke of Wellington's and Gordon's to clear the enemy out of his dug outs. With this completed the task of consolidating the position began. This was half done when the Huns opened heavy fire which lasted 30 minutes after which the enemy attempted to re-take the trenches. They only got past their wire when they fell back due to our shell fire. 

Heavy guns opened on us and pounding away until noon. Enemy attacked again under cover of communication trench which supported artillery and machine guns. Shrapnel poured into the trenches and the men fell left and right. I lost four of my gun team, ordered to check enemy's advance and gun firmly and accurately responded. Enemy had enough and retired. Relieved after 11pm. Handed over gun position and made way to the rear for a well-earned rest, but a shell dropped on the machine gun section and I was wounded."

IG 3/9/15. 

Acting as Cpl 5th Battalion W. York’s Regiment. 

Dean had a spell in hospital with gas poisoning plus a bullet through the muscles of his right arm. "Very anxious we should quickly learn to love our enemies - so say the milk sops of the earth. Problem of peace at any price for some individuals."

At the front from April & then 6 weeks in an English hospital. He was acting Quarter Master Sgt. He was getting rations when "tapped" on arm. Took part in sniping duties in Belgium & in heavy fighting.

IG 13/7/17 - 2nd Lt. 
One of four soldier sons of Tom Dean. Killed in action 3/7/17 - i/c wiring party of 10 men, 50 yards in front trench, hit by a bullet in the head on trying to enter trench & fell in shell hole. Unconscious & survived 10 minutes (so doctor said). Died at Croiselles and buried in Croiselles British Cemetery. 

DCM for conspicuous gallantry after being wounded in March 1916 - A private i/c machine gun & sniping & worked this over the parapet despite heavy shell fire. After enemy forced to retire handed over the position and made way to rear. 

Memorium Card