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Christopher (Fred) Frederick Dittmer

This picture was taken on June 5th, 2020 in Kirkdale and sourced from Family Photos.

Christopher, known as Fred, was born in January 1881 in Liverpool.¹

Birth Notes
- Recorded as aged 36 on 9-Aug-1917
  
  DITTMER, CHRISTOPH FRIDERICK HEUER
  GRO Reference: 1881 M Quarter in LIVERPOOL
  Volume 08B Page 28

Fred's father was Johann (Chris) Heinrich Christoph Dittmer and his mother was Katharina (Margaret) Margretha Magdalena Heuer. His paternal grandparents were Johann Heinrich Dittmer and Katherina Marie Magdalene Kuhlmaun; his maternal grandparents were George Heuer and <unknown>. He had six brothers and four sisters, named George, William, Henry, Chris, John, Charles, Mary, Margaret, Lizzie and Catherine. He was the fourth oldest of the eleven children. He had a half-brother and a half-sister, named George and Doris or Dora. He died as a war casualty, Torpedoed by U53 on the SS Verdi, at the age of 36 on August 22nd, 1917 in At Sea. His burial was in London.²³

Death Notes
- Frederick was an Assistant Steward in the merchant marine and served on SS Verdi (Lamport and Holt Line), the vessel plied the Liverpool to New York route, she was torpedoed by U53 in the Atlantic on 22 Aug 1917- the vessel was built in 1907, 7,120 tons deadweight, and sank 115 miles North West by North of Eagle Island, 6 crewmen were lost, she was carrying general cargo when sunk, Christopher Frederick is included in the roll of honour in Liverpool Cathedral and there is a plaque on the Merchant Marine Memorial on Tower Hill.
  
  The Captain of U53 was Hans Rose one of the top 10 U boat aces of WW1, he was responsible for over 200,000 tons of Allied shipping losses during WW1, his boat was surrendered to the French on 11 Nov 1918. He went on to become one of the main U boat trainers in WW2.
  
  Family stories tell that Frederick was killed trying to save another sailor after being torpedoed. Just 13 days earlier he had arrived in New York from Buneos Aires, which was recorded and Indexed.
  
  CWGC Reference:
  Name: DITTMER, CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK
  Initials: C F
  Nationality: United Kingdom
  Rank: Assistant Steward
  Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine
  Unit Text: S.S. "Verdi" (Liverpool)
  Age: 36
  Date of Death: 22/08/1917
  Additional information: Son of Cathaine Maria Margaret Dittmer, and the late John Henry Christopher Dittmer; husband of the late Maud Seymour Dittmer. Born at Liverpool.
  Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
  Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
  
  He is listed on his parents headstone

General Notes
- Born Christopher (or Christoph) Frederick, and known as Fred.
  
  In 1891, Living at 45 Ascot Street, (Scotland ward), Liverpool (aged 3 months).
  
  In 1901, Living at 63 Lambeth Road, Kirkdale. Son Will was baptised in Kirkdale in 1905.
  
  Fred was living in Asser Road, West Derby in 1900's and was an Assistant Steward on the Verdi in 1917. When visiting NY, he was recorded as British (Race and Nationality) from Liverpool and 5'4" tall and 140 lb in 1917.
  
  In 1905, Fred married Maul Seymour Lindop.
  
  In 1911 Fred was married, an assistant in a shop selling tea and butter and living at 1 Albany Road, Prescot.
  
  8 Aug 1913, Fred's wife Maud died. Fred was recorded as Frederick George Dittmer (i.e. not Crhistopher Frederick), a Grocer's Manager of 1 Albany Road, Prescot. However, when his son George Henry died in July, he was correctly named Frederick Dittmer.
  
  In 1914-15, Frank Dittmer, 33, born Liverpool was a crew member, "Assistant Steward", on the Westmeath. Later, aged 34 he was Assistant Steward on the Canada.
  
  9 Aug 1917, Frederick (36) as recorded arriving at New York from Buenos Aires on the Verdi.
  
  In 1818, 1819, 1921, Christopher and (mother or wife?) Margaret "Dittmar" are listed on the Liverpool Electoral Registers at 42 Alton Road, together with (brother) Charles Dittmar.
  
  Buried (or memorial) in a war grave 22 Aug 1917:
  DITTMER, CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK (36), Assistant Steward, SS Verdi, Mercantile Marine, died 22/08/1917, Son of Cathaine Maria Margaret Dittmer, and the late John Henry Christopher Dittmer; husband of the late Maud Seymour Dittmer. Born at Liverpool, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial

Occupation Details
- From 1901 to about 1911 Fred's occupation was Grocers Assistant in Liverpool.
  - Occupation Notes
    - A Grocer's Manager in 1913 when wife and son died.
  From about 1911 to 1913 his occupation was Grocer's Manager in Prescot.
  - Occupation Notes
    - Assistant manager in 1911, and a Grocer's Manager in 1913 when wife and son died.
  From 1914 to 1915 his occupation was Assistant Steward for Westmeath & SS Canada, in Liverpool.
  - Occupation Notes
    - In 1914-15, Frank Dittmer, 33, born Liverpool was a crew member, "Assistant Steward", on the Westmeath. Later, aged 34 he was Assistant Steward on the Canada.
  From before 1916 his occupation was Assistant Steward contractor in transportation for SS Verdie, in Liverpool. He died on August 22nd, 1917 while still employed there.
  - Occupation Notes
    - Frederick (36) as recorded arriving at New York from Buenos Aires on 9 Aug 1917 on the Verdi. Buried (or memorial) in a war grave 22 Aug.

Occupancy & Contact Details
- Fred lived at 45 Ascot Street from 1891.⁴
  - Occupancy/Contact Notes
    - Living at 45 Ascot Street, (Scotland ward), Liverpool in 1891.
  He lived at 63 Lambeth Road from 1901.⁵
  - Occupancy/Contact Notes
    - Home of some of the Lancashire Ditmers in 1901

Ancestor Pedigree Chart
- Johann Heinrich Dittmer
  - b.~  1821 in Germany d.<  1874 in Hannover
  
  Johann (Chris) Heinrich Christoph Dittmer
  - b.19 Jun 1845 in Hannover d.09 Aug 1912 in Toxteth Park
  
  Katherina Marie Magdalene Kuhlmaun
  - b.~  1821 in Hannover d.>  1867
  
  Christopher (Fred) Frederick Dittmer
  - b.Jan 1881 in Liverpool d.22 Aug 1917 in At Sea
  
  George Heuer
  - b.<  1817 d.>  1874
  
  Katharina (Margaret) Margretha Magdalena Heuer
  - b.1853 in Hannover d.07 Mar 1927 in West Derby

Personal Timeline

Click here for details of Fred's family with Maud Seymour Lindop

¹ 1881 UK Census
² Headstone - Chris & Margaret Dittmer
³ Individual - Tony Beard
⁴ 1891 UK Census
⁵ 1901 UK Census

Christopher (Fred) Frederick Dittmer

Occupation Details

Occupancy & Contact Details

Ancestor Pedigree Chart

Personal Timeline