Harold Cecil Dobson (1904 - 1960)

Born 1904 in Grays, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Constance May (Ottaway) Dobson — married 5 Oct 1930 in St. Ann's Church, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, London

Descendants

Died 22 Jul 1960 at about age 56 in Orsett Lodge, Orsett, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steve Serowka [send private message]

Biography

Birth

Harold Cecil Dobson was born in Grays, Orsett, Essex in 1904. ^[1]

GRO Birth record Orsett, Essex 1904. ^[2]

Life in West Thurrock

1904-1926

Harold spent his childhood at 8 Milton Place (later renumbered ⛢ 418 London Road) in West Thurrock, Essex. He rarely ventured far from his childhood home. Besides residing in local lodging during his early twenties, he only moved a few doors down to 3 Milton Place (later renumbered ⛢ 428 London Road) when he married Constance Ottaway in 1930, and he remained there for the rest of his life.

⛢ Link to Street View

Testing map pin: 418 London Road

West Thurrock was an industrial area on the north bank of the River Thames, 15 miles east of the City of London. Principle activities included chalk quarrying, cement making, soap manufacture and shipping of materials/goods on the river.

Photo:
L-R Top: Louisa Jane Dobson (b.1873 - d.1926) Mother, Harold Cecil Dobson (b. 1904 - d.1960).
L-R Bottom: Winifred (Win) M. Dobson (b.1908 - d.1954) and Kathleen (Kit) R. Dobson (b. 1899 - d.1988) The poor quality photo is estimated to be taken around 1920 at 8 Milton Place, the last house on the right of the terrace.

1921

At the age of 16, Harold's occupation is Store Boy at The Tunnel Portland Cement Company, West Thurrock according to Census at 8 Milton Place.

Harold and Constance 'courting days'

1926

Polling List shows Harold living at ⛢ 10 Mill Lane, West Thurrock. This is where his sister Kathleen lived after marrying Arthur Martin in 1919.

⛢ Link to Street View

1926 26th August

Harold's mother Louise dies when he is 22 years old.

1927

Polling List shows Harold living at 4 Daisy Cottages.

1928-9

Polling List shows Harold living at 50 West Street. West Street. was either (1) no longer existing - previously at corner of Manor Road and London Road or (2) renamed ‘Charlton Street’.

A study of aerial views suggests that the photograph 'courting days' was quite likely to have been taken at the rear of property now known as 50 Charlton Street.

Harold & Constance Wedding

1930 5th October

Harold Dobson (26) marries Constance May Ottaway (23) at ✝︎ St. Ann's Church, Stamford Hill, Middlesex (London).

Harold's residence in 1930 was 99 London Road, South Stifford, according to their marriage certificate (PDF).

The wedding photo may possibly be taken at the Ottaway family home at ⛢ 10 Elizabeth Road, Tottenham, London. The bridesmaid on the far left is Constance younger sister Jessica Ottaway. The other two are unknown – could they be Harold's sisters? Winifred was 4 years younger than Harold and Kathleen was 5 years older.

⛢ Link to Street View

It's presumed that Harold & Constance moved to 3 Milton Place directly after the wedding.

Harold with baby Joan.

1931 22nd April

Birth of Harold and Constance's first child Joan Dobson.

1935 29th September

An unusual event where Harold's brother Geoffrey Dobson married his wife's sister Jessica Ottaway (whom is seen far left in wedding photo above) and at the same St. Ann's Church in Stamford Hill.

1939 Register The 1939 Register provides a snapshot of the civilian population of England and Wales just after the outbreak of the WW2.

Residents of 3 Milton Place on Friday 29 September 1939 were recorded as: Harold Dobson (35), Constance Dobson (32), Joan Dobson (8), James Dobson (7), John Dobson (5).

Work

Most of Harold's career was spent working in the local cement industry for Alpha Cement at the Metropolitan Works, West Thurrock

Death

Alpha Cement Letter.

He passed away in 1960.

Buried at West Thurrock Cemetery Plot No. 45A sec1 HCD.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2F6R-YXR : 1 October 2014), Harold Cecil Dobson, 1904; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Orsett, Essex, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ DOBSON, HAROLD CECIL (mother, MOORE) GRO Reference: 1904 S Quarter in ORSETT Volume 04A Page 658
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/256205499/harold_cecil-dobson: accessed April 17, 2024), memorial page for Harold Cecil Dobson (1904–22 Jul 1960), Find a Grave Memorial ID 256205499, citing West Thurrock Cemetery, West Thurrock, Thurrock Unitary Authority, Essex, England; Maintained by ! woowoo (contributor 49949980).

• Family Documents

• Personal recollection of events witnessed by Steve Serowka as remembered 6 Mar 2022.

• www.cementkilns.co.uk A very good source of information about the history of the UK cement industry and in-depth local factory information.