Life story shared by Paul Beecroft
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
LESLIE C.F. DUMMER
DIED AUGUST 3RD 1925 AGED 17
ALSO HIS FATHER
CHARLES E. DUMMER
DIED AUGUST 20TH 1958 AGED 75
ALSO MOTHER
JUNE 12 1968 AGED 85 YEARS
AT REST
Charles E. DUMMER was born Charles Edward DUMMER on 15th May 1883 in Deptford, London. Very little is known of his life. On 31st March 1907 at the age of 19 he married Harriette MAYBANK in the parish church St. Nicholas, Deptford. Their marriage was to result in 3 children – Leslie Charles Frederick who was born in 1908 in Deptford, Kathleen in 1913 and Leonard in 1915.
It is not known exactly when they moved to Reading but the electoral roll confirms they were living at 8, Richmond Road in 1925. In August of 1925 a tragedy occurred on August Bank Holiday. A local paper reported on this tragedy:
THAMES BATHING FATALITY
Girl’s Plucky Attempt to Save Drowning Youth
While bathing with a party in the Thames just below the “Roebuck Hotel,” Tilehurst on Monday evening, Leslie Charles Frederick Dummer, a seventeen-year-old clerk of 8, Richmond Road, Reading, was seized with cramp and drowned. His sweetheart, Miss Lilian Young, of Thorston Heath, Croydon, went to his assistance and succeeded in reaching him but the drowning boy caught hold of her shoulders and dragged her under. As she was losing her strength and also in danger of drowning she had to leave go of him, and Miss Violet Holliday, of Valentia Road, Reading came to her assistance. Dummer sank and his body was recovered about half an hour later. Artificial respiration was applied but without success.
Holidays on the River
At the inquest held at Purley on Wednesday, Albert Arthur Haines, of 60, Kensington Road, Reading, said the deceased, another boy named Douglas and himself were spending their holidays on the river. They obtained a punt and started off on Saturday. On Monday the young ladies came down for the day and in the evening they all tathed in the river with the exception of Miss Bloomfield, who was in the boat. As he was not a good swimmer, witness did not go far from the bank, when suddenly he heard a shout and saw Dummer, who was about 15 feet further down the stream and out of his depth jumping up and down in the water and when he saw his face it looked as if he was in pain. Douglas, who was on the opposite bank, was swimming across and witness started to swim towards Dummer. Douglas shouted out to him to get on his back, and Dummer swam two or three strokes and shouted. Miss Young was also swimming towards him, and as witness began to lose his strength he swam to the bank and Miss Bloomfield helped him out of the water.
Dragged Under the Water
Miss Lilian May Young said that as soon as she heard Dummer call out, she swam towards him. Just before she reached him, he sank, and when he came up again, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her under. This had taken her breath away, but she caught hold of him under the chin and began to swim, but she was forced to let go and Miss Holiday came up and helped her to the bank. Witness added that the previous night deceased had complained of terrible abdominal pains.
George Witney, ferryman at the “Roebuck,” who found the body after three minutes dragging, applied artificial respiration for at least half an hour without result. There was a motor boat and five punts near the spot, and if anyone had used a boat hook, they could have pulled the boy out before witness got there, because the river at that part was quite clear.
The Coroner: Not everyone carries a boat hook.
Dr. Alexander Thomas, of Pangbourne motored to Purley as he was told that a man had been taken from the river and if he hurried he might save him. He saw deceased on the deck of Mrs. MacAndrew’s motor boat, and tried heart massage but there was no response. The appearance of the body was consistent with death from drowning.
A Distressing Case
The County Coroner (Mr. R.S. Payne) describing the case as a particularly distressing one, said he thought it only right to compliment Miss Young, who did her very best to save the youth. It must have been a terrifying experience when she found herself being dragged under, and in his opinion, she did the only possible thing in returning to the bank as her strength was leaving her, otherwise there might have been a double tragedy. He returned a verdict of “Accidentally drowned while bathing,” and expressed his sympathy with the parents.
The father of the deceased thanked the witnesses, and especially Miss Young, for all they had done.
All the witnesses refused to accept their fees and expressed the wish that they should be sent to the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
THAMES BATHING FATALITY
Scenes at the Victim’s Funeral
The funeral took place on Saturday morning of Charles Frederick Dummer, the 17 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dummer, of 8, Richmond Road, Reading, who was drowned while bathing in the river Thames near the Roebuck Hotel on August Bank Holiday. He was a keen sportsman and a popular member of Elm Park Hall troop of Boy Scouts. On hearing the news of Dummer’s death the flag was flown at half-mast at the Elm Park Hall Scouts’ Camp. The route from the house to Elm Park Hall, where the first part of the service was held, was densely thronged and at the entrance of the Hall a number of Boy Scouts were drawn up. The Rev. G.H. Morris conducted the service, and was assisted by Mr. H.G. Gale (cubmaster), and the hymns sung were “O God, our Help in Ages Past” and “For all the Saints.”
In the course of his address the Rev. G.H. Morris alluded to the severe loss sustained by all the young people of the church, also of the very bright and cheery disposition of the deceased at all times, and of the great interest he took in every kind of sport. He was then buried in Reading Old Cemetery.
Leslie’s father, Charles Edward died in August 1958 in Prospect Park Hospital at the age of 75. Leslie’s mum, Harriett died in Wokingham in June 1968. Although her name does not appear on the headstone it is believed that she was cremated and her ashes are buried in the family plot.
Division 29, Row F, Plot 21