Lance Sergeant Austen Campell Dent
Dan Hill’s research, edited by Ellie Grigsby
Austen Campell was born on the 29th July 1892 in Forest Gate, London, the son of Mr. Joseph Mallaby and Dent, the gentleman described today as a ‘visionary publisher.’ Perhaps his most notable work was producing the Everyman’s Library series (pivoting on his plans to achieve a great scope, with no less than a thousand classics) to be published in an attractive format and sold at one shilling, which he founded in 1906. Austen’s father did not live to see the thousandth volume mark reached in 1956 as business was slowed due to world events and legislation changes such as The First World War which brought with it, inflation and shortage of supplies, and the 1911 Copyright Act which extended protection to fifty years after the author’s death thus reducing the availability of Victorian texts. 152 titles were issued by the end f the first year. In 1888 Austen’s father founded the publishing firm of J.M Dent and company (it became J.M Dent & Sons in 1909).
Once Austen reaches the tender age of 8 years old, we can see through the 1901 National Census that the Dent family are resident at Salway Lodge in the civil parish of Woodford and have three servants, which comes as no surprise considering Dent senior’s successful career affording him and his family a life of certain luxury. By 1907 we know that Austen attended Bootham school, York, where he remained until 1910. The following year, Austen is a student at Jesus college Cambridge whilst his older brother, Paxton, at 20 years of age is studying at Oxford. A glowing account of Austen’s time at university focusing on his sporting ability can be found in the records of Jesus college for the years of 1912/1913:
“His sport of choice at Jesus was hockey, which was seemingly a popular choice as Chanticleer records that there were 51 men in college wanting to play in Lent Term 1912, Dent’s second year. Dent’s position was that of goalkeeper and he made the second XI in 1912 and was declared ‘a great success.’ In his third year he joined the first XI and although started the season off with some uncertainty his confidence grew, and he played the second half very well… He was described as ‘one of the best hockey goalkeepers we have had – alert, fearless and resourceful.”
By the end of 1913, Dent achieved his Bachelor of Art degree from Cambridge and left the university to join his father’s publishing company which had recently opened the Temple Press in the new town of Letchworth Garde City, Hertfordshire. Upon outbreak of the Great War, Dent was studying for his MA degree; evidently this young man was academically gifted, presenting himself as an intelligent youth who took great interest in his father’s company. Dent left behind his studies and volunteered for service with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Dent was posted as Private 2046 to the 88th Field Ambulance service designated to the 1/1st East Anglian regiment. Austen’s rush to colours was shared with his older brother Paxton, as he joined the Seaforth Highlanders as a private at the same time as him.
It is believed Austen first saw service during the Dardanelles campaign where his unit were part of the 29th Division of the British Army. Dent quickly climbed the ranks professionally, first being promoted to Corporal, then to acting Lance Sergeant. It is worth mentioning that as a highly educated young man, Dent would have been a perfect candidate to serve in the commissioned ranks as part of the officer class. It may have been that Dent was offered and chose to refuse a commission, with many men of this social status feeling they wanted to feel like ‘one of the men’ and understanding the dynamics of soldiering before leading them, or perhaps what was most likely is that he was serving as an NCO until a vacant commission became available.
Dent’s medal roll index card indicates his date of arrival in the Balkans as June 4th , 1915. Dent and his comrades in the 88th field ambulance were employed as part of a medical unit that was like a mobile, front line. The First World War Field ambulance, was not a vehicle, it was a body of men manned by the soldiers of the RAMC. Dent and his comrades held a special responsibility for the care of casualties of the 29th division and this role on the front would have unquestionably been tough. The theoretical capacity of the field ambulance was 150 casualties, but in battle, many would need to deal with much greater numbers. When at its full strength, a field ambulance was composed of 10 officers and 224 men, further split and organised into role-based sections. The field ambulance was responsible for establishing and operating a number of points along the casualty evacuation chain, from the bearer relay posts which were up to 600 yards behind the regimental aid posts in the front line, taking casualties rearwards through an advanced dressing station to the main dressing station. It also provided a walking wounded collecting station, as well as various rest areas and local sick rooms. What seems like the impossible task of carrying wounded men back from the decimation of a battlefield leaping over debris, smashed ground, piles of shrapnel and dodging crater holes whilst ducking from whizzing bullet fire, whilst looking into the eyes of the wounded and dying on the floor pleading for their return, was Dent’s war-time work. Providing emergency medical care so close to the combat zone was incredibly high-risk, especially once you were spotted under the enemy gaze by your identifiable red cross arm band which meant you were a tactical target to hit.
Frustratingly, the war diary for the 88th Field ambulance did not survive and so understanding the details of his war story and indeed the circumstance of Dent’s death, is very difficult. What we do know, is Dent was wounded in action on the 19th July 1915 whilst he was tending to a wounded soldier as part of the Dardanelles campaign. Dent was transported to a CCS where he later died the following day of his injuries. Dent was laid to rest in the Military Cemetery, Lancashire Landing, Gallipoli.
A Roderic Clark, wrote an obituary in the Bootham magazine, speaking emotively of Dent exclaiming: ‘…the frank sincerity of his exuberant boyishness awakened a response in many hearts.’
Both Dent brothers, Austen and Paxton, lost their lives during the First World War. Paxton was killed in the battle of Neuve Chapelle in the spring of 1915. The Morning Post wrote about both boys to express sympathy for the ‘well-known’ Mr. Dent who lost both sons to the war: ‘…Both served with more than ordinary credit and died like very gallant gentlemen.’
Paxton was just 24 years old when he died. Austen died the day after his 23rd birthday.
Dent senior once wrote to his son Austen talking about literature and explained to his boy ‘…lives are never lost – at least that consolation has been revealed to me.’ Dent spoke in context of writers, we will never know if he still saw the poetic in this when he lost both sons.