Life story retold by Paul Beecroft
In sweetest memory of
JOHN WESLEY DAWBNEY
At rest April 14th 1932
Aged 78 years
Also
SARAH HANSFORD DAWBNEY
Wife of the above
At rest June 3rd 1932
Aged 77 years
—————–
Re – United
Also
FRANK GROVES DAWBNEY
Son of the above
Who died during active service
on H.M.S. Falmouth
May 18th 1915, aged 25years
“Greater Love Hath No Man Than This”
——————-
“Love is Eternal”
RICHARD CRAWFORD DAWBNEY
Beloved husband of HILDA
At rest July 1st 1952, aged 60 years
And his beloved wife
HILDA MARY SARAH
At rest April 7th 1983 aged 90 years.
JOHN AND WILLIAM
Twin sons, 13th and 26th of May 1897
Aged 4 and 16 days.
John Wesley DAWBNEY was born in Powerstock, Dorset in 1854 and was baptised in the same parish on April 23rd 1854. His father was Charles DAWBNEY and Elizabeth DAWBNEY (nee BAGG). His father’s occupation was a Publican. John had seven siblings. Malachi Thomas (1846), Julia Elizabeth (1848) Albert Byron (1850), Emily Jane (1852) Ellen (1856) William Elijah (1859) and Louanna (1862).
Sarah Hansford DAWBNEY (nee GROVES) was born in Long Bredy, Dorset in 1855 and baptised in Long Bredy on April 22nd 1855. Her father was a Thatcher.
John and Sarah were married in Beaminster, Dorset in July 1879. The villages of Powerstock, Long Bredy and Beaminster are all close to each other and the families may have known each other for some time.
John, like his father, became a Publican and in 1881 the census shows them living in Bridge Street, Reading and John is the landlord in The Plasterers Arms Inn.
John and Sarah had four children: Frank Groves, born in March 1890 and Hilda May Sarah, born in June 1892. In May, 1897, Sarah gave birth to twin boys, John and William but sadly they both died when only a few days old.
John was the landlord of the Plasterers Arms until about 1888 and then went to the Kennet Arms. The census for 1901 shows him being the landlord of the Kennet Arms Public House, 2, Pell Street, Reading. Sarah is recorded as assisting in the business. Resident at this address was also Hilda, their daughter, and Eliza Cox who was employed as a servant. Their son Frank was away at school.
In 1905, John retired, and the family moved to 20, College Road, Reading.
On February 8th, 1915, with Britain at war with Germany, Frank joined the Royal Navy and became a Steward’s Assistant. After completing initial training at Chatham Barracks he joined H.M.S. Falmouth, a town class cruiser. Just three months after joining Frank died suddenly of heart failure. His body was returned to Reading, and he was buried in Reading Old Cemetery. The Chronicle for Friday, May 28th reported, in part:-
READING MAN’S DEATH
AT SEA
MR. & MRS. DAWNEY’S GREAT LOSS
Much sympathy will be extended to Mr. and Mrs. John Wesley Dawbney, of 20, College Road, Reading, at the death of their only son, Frank Groves Dawbney, who died suddenly from heart failure at sea. . . .He had always enjoyed good health, and had passed three doctors.
The captain wrote to Mrs Dawbney as follows: “I very much regret to have to inform you that your son Frank Groves Dawbney, ship steward’s assistant, died suddenly at 4.15 a.m. on the 18th inst., of heart failure. He had only been in the ship for a short period, and was well liked by the ship’s company, and his death was much felt among his messmates. There is no doubt that he has sacrificed his life for his country as truly as those who have fallen in action. It will be a comfort to you to know that his death must have been a painless one.
Educated at Ardingley College, Hayward’s Heath, and York House School, Reading, the deceased commenced his career at the office of Mr. W. Galt Millar, architect and surveyor of Reading, and afterwards went to London, where he was engaged in the offices of the London County Council as an architect and surveyor. He was a young man of great promise, and his early demise has come as a great shock to his many friends. Only the day before his death he wrote to his parents saying he was quite well.
Information about Frank Groves is also on the War Graves in the Old Reading Cemetery website.
On Tuesday, January 2nd 1917, Hilda was married at St. Giles Church, Reading to Richard Crawford DAWBNEY. A reception took place at the home of John and Sarah and following this the couple left for their new home in Dorset.
During John’s time living in Reading he was very active with the Conservative Association and the Balfour Club.
In late March and early April 1932, John became unwell and died on April 14th. The Reading Standard reported on his death:-
DEATH OF MR. J.W. DAWBNEY
Popular Conservative Worker and
Former Licensee
It is with sincere regret that we have to record the death, which took place on Thursday of last week, of John Wesley Dawbney, of 20, College Road, Reading. The deceased was 78 years of age, and until a fortnight ago had enjoyed his usual good health. He was then removed to the Greenlands Nursing Home, but despite the best of medical skill and nursing he passed peacefully away as already stated. Mr. Dawbney hailed from Dorsetshire, but had resided in Reading for upwards of half-a-century. He became landlord of the Plasterer’s Arms, Bridge St., but later removed to the Kennet Arms, Elgar Road, of which he was the popular licensee for 17 years. He retired in 1905, when he took up residence in College Road.
A MODEL LANDLORD
It was whilst at the Kennet Arms that the deceased, by his quiet, amiable and loving disposition, won the universal respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. His death will be a great loss to the Reading Conservative Association, of which he was an active and valued member. This is proved by the fact that for many years he had been chairman of the Katesgrove Ward (No. 1) Conservative Association. He was also a member of the Balfour Club, and here again, he made his presence felt, for he served on the committee for a great number of years. By his numerous tenants he will be greatly missed, for he was regarded as a model landlord. He is survived by his widow and one daughter, with whom much sympathy is felt. Their only son (Frank) died at sea in 1915, whilst on service with the Royal Navy.
A tribute to his popularity was evidenced by the large concourse that attended the last sad rites, which took place on Monday, when the interment was at Reading Cemetery. Previous to this, Canon F.J.C. Gillmor conducted a service at St. Giles’ Parish Church, where the hymns “Abide with me” and “Jesus, Lover of my Soul” were sung.
Just seven weeks later, on June 3rd, Sarah also passed away. The Reading Standard recorded her death which reads in part:-
THE LATE MRS. DAWBNEY
Widow of Former Reading Licensee.
The death occurred on Friday of last week at 20, College Road, Reading, of Mrs. Sarah Hansford Dawbney, widow of Mr. John Wesley Dawbney, who predeceased her only seven weeks ago. The deceased lady, who was 77 years of age, had not enjoyed the best of health for a considerable period. A native of Dorset, Mrs. Dawbney came to Reading upwards of fifty years ago, when Mr. Dawbney became landlord of the “Plasterers’ Arms,” and subsequently of the “Kennet Arms,” Pell Street, at both of which houses she endeared herself to all by her quiet amiable and loving disposition.
The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, a service at St. Giles’ Parish Church, at which the Rev. Canon Gillmor officiated, preceding the internment in Reading Cemetery.
Following the death of her parents Hilda and her husband Richard moved to Reading and resided at 20, College Road. Richard became a successful House Property Manager. They had one child, Eileen Hilda who was born in 1921.
Richard died in 1952 at the age of 60 and Hilda died in 1983 at the age of 90. Both are buried in the family plot in Reading Old Cemetery.
N.B. The name DAWBNEY is sometimes spelt DAUBNEY or DAUBENEY but for consistency I have kept to DAWBNEY as that is the correct spelling.
Division 52, Row B, Plot 5