John Dennett, Battle of the Atlantic Royal Navy Veteran and Friend of Western Approaches, Dies Aged 101

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of John Dennett, Royal Navy veteran and one of the last living links to the Battle of the Atlantic, who has died aged 101 following a brief illness. He passed away peacefully in hospital, surrounded by his loved ones.

John joined the Royal Navy in March 1942 at the age of just 17, training first at Devonport before completing specialist instruction as an anti-aircraft gunner. He went on to serve aboard HMS LST 322, a tank landing ship that played a vital role in delivering armoured vehicles to hostile shores throughout the war.

His wartime service spanned some of the most dangerous waters of the conflict. As a Royal Navy gunner operating in the Atlantic and surrounding theatres, John took part in Operation Torch in North Africa, the landings at Anzio in Italy, and ultimately the D-Day landings at Normandy on 6th June 1944 – one of the most decisive operations of the entire war. Following the end of hostilities, he transferred to a minesweeper tasked with clearing the Irish Sea and the Western Approaches, working to make safe the very waters where the Battle of the Atlantic had been fought.

John was a long-term friend of the Western Approaches Museum in Liverpool, the wartime nerve centre of the Battle of the Atlantic where the Allies coordinated the crucial effort to keep supply lines open across the North Atlantic. He was a regular visitor to the museum and a cherished guest, with staff arranging for him to board the Royal Navy’s flagship carrier HMS Prince of Wales when he was 100 years old, fulfilling a personal wish. He remained committed to commemorating the sacrifices made in those waters, and attended the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy as recently as June 2024.

Beyond his extraordinary service, John was a beloved figure in his community of Wallasey on the Wirral. In 1949, he and his wife Joyce, whom he met when his ship docked in Birkenhead, founded Ashville FC, naming the club after the street where they lived. Over seven decades on, the club thrives with its own ground and around 20 youth teams. In recognition of his lifetime of service to both country and community, he was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2022, followed by an MBE from King Charles III in 2023.

John Dennett leaves behind a legacy of courage, resilience and quiet dedication. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and by the Western Approaches family he was so proud to be part of.

Rest in peace, John Dennett. 1924 – 2026.