Born: West Derby, Lancashire.
Civil Registration List 2a p35_

Harry was born on 28-Jan-1893 at 104 Opic Street, North Everton in the district of West Derby.  His father was Peter Henry Dittmer (known as Henry), a sugar house labourer, and his mother was Frederica Dittmer, formerly Westpfhal.

The birth was registered on 13-March-1893 by Geo. Hleaver (registrar).  The 1939 register confirms the DOB.

The 1911 censis confirms he was born in Liverpool.

Name: Harry Dittmer 
Gender: Male 
Baptism/Christening Date: 12 Apr 1893 
Baptism/Christening Place: Holy Trinity, Liverpool, Lancashire
Father's Name: Henry Dittmer 
Mother's Name: Fredericka 
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I03147-6 
System Origin: England-EASy 
Source Film Number: 1656018 
Reference Number: item 5 p 68 

Harry retired early due to ill health.
He died, aged 73 at St. Catherine's Hospital Annex, Birkenhead.
Occupation on death certificate was "Fitter and Turner".
The death was registered on 18th March 1966.

The death was recorded by his eldest son Harry, of 7 Woodcoate Bank, Birkenhead.

He had a thrombosis in the leg and was in great pain.  The doctor wanted to amputate, but he wouldn’t sign the consent form, so he was prescribed whisky instead.  What a result!  He survived many years after the thrombosis.  Cause of death is unknown (Mum doesn't remember).

DITTMER – March 17 peacefully in hospital of 37 Devonshire Road, Upton aged 73 years.  Harry dear husband of Elsie, beloved father of Harry, Joan and Cliff.  Service St Marys Church, Upton on Tuesday next at 11am,: Cremation at Landican 11:30am.

Probate:
DITTMER Harry of 37 Devonshire Road Upton Birkenhead died 17 March 1966 at St Catherines Hospital Annex Birkenhead.  Probate Chester 11 May to Elsie Dittmer widow £3,493.

Born in Birkenhead, Cheshire

BRERETON, ELSIE        TIMMIS 
GRO Reference: 1894  J Quarter in BIRKENHEAD
Volume 08A  Page 486

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1894
BRERETON Elsie Birkenhead Wirral   BIR/178/75

Aged 17 in 1911

Name: Elsie Dittmer
Birth Date: 15 Mar 1894
Death Registration Month/Year: Nov 1987
Age at death (estimated): 93 
Registration district: Birkenhead 
Inferred County: Cheshire 
Volume: 37 
Page: 775 

Name:    Elsie Brereton
Gender:    Female
Baptism Date:    4 Apr 1894
Baptism Place:    Holy Trinity, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Father:     Richard Brereton
Mother:     Lydia Brereton
FHL Film Number:    2104037

Died 12-Nov at 93 years old.

Elsie (my Grandmother) had breast cancer which was removed.  She suffered from regular heart attacks or black-outs and also osteoporosis.  She broke a rib once while bending over.  She broke her hip in a nursing home and was moved to Arrow Park Hospital to have a pin put in.  She died several weeks (in November) from complications (heart problems?) after the operation.


DITTMER – Elsie, November 12 1987, peacefully, in hospital, aged 93 years, devoted wife of the late Harry, beloved mother of Harry (deceased), Joan and Cliff, and a loved and loving grandmother and great-grandmother.  (Her nature was loving and giving, her heart was made of gold, and to all that truly loved her, her memory will never grow old.  Her wish has been granted.)  Service at St. Mary’s Church Upton on Wednesday November 18th at 1:15pm followed by cremation at Landican Crematorium.  Family flowers only please, but donations if desired to Cancer Research Trust.

PROBATE:
DITTMER Elsie or 37 Devonshire Road Upton Wirral Mersey died 12 November 1987. Probate Liverpool 21 December.
Not exceeding £70,000

Elsie Dittmer Born 15 Mar 1894
Died Nov 1987 93  Birkenhead  

DITTMER, HARRY        BRERETON 
GRO Reference: 1920  S Quarter in BIRKENHEAD 
Volume 08A  Page 1021

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1920
DITTMER    Harry    BRERETON    Tranmere, Wirral    TRA/139/12

Harry had a heart bypass operation, involving taking a vein from his thigh and transplanting it to his heart.  He died following the operation.

Funeral 1pm 29 Sep 1976, at St. Mary's Parish Church, Upton.
Michaelmas Day.

The paper reported:  Mr H Dittmer of Broadway, Bebington has died in Sefton General Hospital.  He was 56.  He leaves a wife and three children.  A service on Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church, Upton at 1pm was followed by cremation at Landican.

Mum was born 20-Jan-1922.  She went to school in Tollimash Road, Birkenhead.  They lived at 44 Upper Brassy St. until 1933, when they moved to 37 Devonshire Road, Upton.

DITTMER, DOROTHY  JOAN      BRERETON 
GRO Reference: 1922  M Quarter in BIRKENHEAD 
Volume 08A  Page 888

Name: Dorothy J Dittmer
Mother's Maiden Surname: Brereton 
Date of Registration: Jan Feb Mar 1922
Registration district: Birkenhead, Cheshire 
Volume Number: 8a 
Page Number: 888


Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1922
DITTMER    Dorothy Joan    BRERETON    Tranmere, Wirral    TRA/143/94

Mum died after suffering from Pancretic Cancer for four months.  The final cause of death was a blocked bowel, which caused sickness and stopped her from eating.  Inserting a stent was attempted at Arrowe Park hospital on Tuesday 12th August under general anesthetic.  However, the tumor was obstructing the dudoneum, so an emergency stomach bypass operation was carried out on the Thursday.  After four days, she was able to eat and drink again, but the sucess was short lived, and the bowel blocked again.  She stopped eating on the Sunday 2 September and died about 11pm on Tuesday the 4th.

The funeral service was performed by David Nugent, my second cousin.

The note on the coffin top flowers read:
A dear mother, aunt, and friend who will be sadly missed by so many.  Although departed from this Earth, she will remain in our hearts forever.

In place of flowers, donations to Cancer Research UK at
http://myprojects.cancerresearchuk.org/group-giving/JoanMather

Uncle Cliff was born at home at 44 Upper Brassy St. when my mum (Joan) was 4 years old.

DITTMER, CLIFFORD          
GRO Reference: 1926  D Quarter in BIRKENHEAD 
Volume 08A  Page 786

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1926
DITTMER    Clifford    BRERETON    Tranmere, Wirral    TRA/156/73

Cliff suffered badly from “nerves” and retired early through ill health.

He died November the following year after Elsie.  Mum found him dead in bed.  He had a heart condition and diabetes, and had died of a massive heart attack.

Name: Clifford Dittmer
Birth Date: 21 Oct 1926
Death Registration Month/Year: Nov 1989
Age at death (estimated): 63
Registration district: Birkenhead
Inferred County: Cheshire
Volume: 37
Page: 597