Pruett Dennett

Bank: London County & Westminster Bank

Place of work: Brighton Preston branch

Died: 2 June 1918

Pruett Mullens Dennett was born in New Southgate, Middlesex, on 21 January 1899, the only child of Ralph Mullens Dennett, a butcher, and his wife Ethel Lavinia. Ralph died when Pruett was only two years old, and his mother later married Herbert Charles Sandy, a newspaper illustrator. The family lived in Hastings.

On his 16th birthday Dennett went to work for London County & Westminster Bank. He was originally appointed to the bank's Hove branch, and was later transferred to Brighton Preston branch.

Dennett was anxious to join the war effort as soon as he was old enough to be accepted, and in preparation he joined the Royal Fleet Cadets early in 1916, not long after his 17th birthday. He was accepted into the Royal Naval Air Service as soon as he turned 18 the following January, leaving his job at the bank's Brighton Preston branch to go on full-time service. He earned his aviator's certificate in May that year, and went on to be a successful pilot, credited with ten aerial victories in the course of his career. By the time of his death in June 1918 he was a Lieutenant in the newly-formed Royal Air Force.

Lieutenant Dennett was killed on active service on 2 June 1918 near Estaires, France, when his Sopwith Camel aircraft was shot down. He was 19 years old.