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Harry (Harold) Dittmer

Taken about 1950 at 37 Devonshire Road and sourced from Family Photos.

Harry Dittmer (circa. 1950)

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This picture was taken about 1950 at 37 Devonshire Road and sourced from Family Photos.

Individual Picture Notes
- Harry Dittmer, about 1950

Harry, known as Harold, was born on January 28th, 1893 in Everton and his baptism took place there on April 12th, 1893.¹²

Birth Notes
- 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

Harold's father was Johann (Henry) Peter Heinrich Dittmer and his mother was Friedericke (Freda) Dorothee Westphal. His paternal grandparents were Johann Heinrich Dittmer and Katherina Marie Magdalene Kuhlmaun; his maternal grandparents were Christian Friedrich Westpfahl and Friederike Louise Kleine. He was an only child. He died due to a respiratory problem and/or pneumonia, Bronchopneumonia & Cerebral arteriosclerosis, at the age of 73 on March 17th, 1966 at St. Catherine's (Tranmere). The funeral took place on March 22nd, 1966 at St. Marys (Upton). His cremation was on March 22nd, 1966 at the Landican Cemetery.³³

Death Notes
- 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.

General Notes
- 28-Jan-1893 Harry was born 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.
  
  In 1897, Harry (DOB 28 Jan 1893), son of Henry was still living at 104 Opic Street when he first admitted to School at St Peter's COE School, Sackville Street, Everton, aged 4.
  
  In 1901, Harry Dittmer was living at 4 Brumwick Road, Sculcoates, Kingston upon Hull, aged 6.
  
  In 1911, the family were at 56 Mossman Street, Windhill, Shipley. Harry was 18.
  
  3 Jul 1919, Harry, living at 86 Frodsham Street, married Elsie Brereton of 7 Tunnel Road (the Red Lion) at Birkenhead.
  
  Henry and Freda were living at Doctor Lane, Idle, Bradford diring the 1920's and 1930's. Mum's family always went to Idle, Bradford for their holidays. It was all they could afford.
  
  Harry was an Engineer at the Bus Depot at Laird St., Birkenhead. He smoked a pipe, and had an occasional cigar (at Christmas).
  
  When his father died in 1950, he inherited £231, a tidy sum in those days. He retired early about this time due to ill health, presumably helped by this inheritance.

Occupation Details
- From 1901 Harold's occupation was Port Messenger.
  - Occupation Notes
    - 1901 census
  From 1911 to about 1913 his occupation was Iron Turning Apprentice in manufacturing in Shipley.
  - Occupation Notes
    - 1911 census shows him as an apprentice, which was normally for about 3 years.
  From about 1913 his occupation was Engineer & Fitter full time in transportation for Birkenhead Busses, in Lird Street. He retired about 1950.
  - Occupation Notes
    - Retired early due to ill health.
      Recorded as Fitter and Turner (Corporation Transport, retired) on death certificate.
      
      An Engineer Turner & Fitter Motor Driver on the 1939 register.

Occupancy & Contact Details
- Harold lived at 104 Opic Street from March 1893.¹
  - Occupancy/Contact Notes
    - Harry Dittmer was born at 104 Opic Street, which was also their registered address (born 28-Jan, registeded 13 March).
  He lived at 4 Brunswick Road from 1901.⁴
  He lived at 56 Mossman Street from 1911.⁵
  - Occupancy/Contact Notes
    - Home of Henry, Friedericke and young Harry (aged 18) in 1911
  He lived in 86 Frodsham Street for three years from about 1916 to July 1919.⁶
  - Occupancy/Contact Notes
    - Harry Dittmer was living at 86 Frodsham Street, as was a fitter at the time of his marriage to Elsie Dittmer.
  He lived at 44 Upper Brassy St for fifteen years from about 1918 to 1933.⁷
  - Occupancy/Contact Notes
    - First home of Harry and Elsie, and where Mum lived until she was 11.
  He lived at 37 Devonshire Road for 56 years from 1933 to 1989.⁷
  - Occupancy/Contact Notes
    - Home of the Dittmer family from 1930. Harry, Elsie, Harry jnr, Joan and Clifford were all recorded there on the 1939 register.

Social & Emotional Relationships
- Johann (Henry) Peter Heinrich Dittmer funded Harold.
  - Relationship Notes
    - Peter Henry Dittmer left his eatate of £231-15-9 to his son Harry (the elder), or should he have predeceased him, then to his grandson Harry (the younger)
  George William Dittmer was a godfather of Him.
  - Relationship Notes
    - George and Alice may have been Godparents of Harry, as they looked after Harry and family while they were in Liverpool. They had no children of their own.

Ancestor Pedigree Chart
- Johann Heinrich Dittmer
  - b.~  1821 in Germany d.<  1874 in Hannover
  
  Johann (Henry) Peter Heinrich Dittmer
  - b.17 Aug 1867 in Diersbüttel d.25 Jan 1950 in West Derby
  
  Katherina Marie Magdalene Kuhlmaun
  - b.~  1821 in Hannover d.>  1867
  
  Harry (Harold) Dittmer
  - b.28 Jan 1893 in Everton d.17 Mar 1966 at St. Catherine's (Tranmere)
  
  Christian Westphal
  - b.~  1790
  
  Heinrich Christian Frederick  Westpfahl
  - b.13 May 1817 in Bremen d.1871 in Bremen
  
  Rebecca Fricken
  - b.~  1790
  
  Christian Friedrich Westpfahl
  - b.29 Sep 1846 in Bremen d.05 Dec 1893 in Liverpool
  
  Metha (Margaretha) Sophie Albertine Düssmann
  - b.~  1820 in Germany d.1850 in Bremen
  
  Friedericke (Freda) Dorothee Westphal
  - b.15 Feb 1870 in Bremen d.20 Oct 1939 in Idle
  
  Friederike Louise Kleine
  - b.~  1846

Personal Timeline

Click here for details of Harold's family with Elsie Brereton

¹ Certificate - Birth
² Liverpool CoE Baptisms 1813-1919
³ Newspaper - Harry Dittmer Snr
⁴ 1901 UK Census
⁵ 1911 UK Census
⁶ Certificate - Marriage
⁷ Individual - Mum & Dad
Source/Citation FreeBMD.org.uk