Douglas Henry Dimes

  General Notes:

Educated at Highgate, then Kingsbridge Grammar School. Became a veterinary surgeon.
1901 Census living at Ashburton, Devon.
WW1 Lieutenant in the 1st Division Ammunition Column, Royal Garrison Artillery. Then Captain in the 111th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Sent overseas in 1916.
In 1919 returned to live in Wadstray, which he bought from his father in 1923 for £2000. He and his wife had no children of their own but liked to welcome members of the 'wider' family to stay with them.
Hubert Dimes, a nephew recalls "The tennis court and the mulberry tree alongside and the walled garden at the bottom of the slope where I used to go and play and feast myself on ripe gooseberries and lovely ripe figs. Uncle Douglas had a bull dog I remember which I was a bit afraid of. I can recall playing some kind of tennis there and I think Auntie Dorothy was there most of the time. I used to run over to the farm to look at the ferrets and go up into the loft where i was allowed to turn the handle of the chaffcutter. Also I was lifted on to the backs now and then of the enormous cart horses. Then there was a pony which used to run round and round a pole which in turn worked the cider press. I was allowed to sit on the pony. Uncle Douglas in those days had a motorbike (a Rudge Multi I remember with a belt drive) and he used to take me for rides on the carrier (no pillions in those days) and ride with his cap on the back of his head" (from Wadstray House, a history).
1927, Douglas sold Wadstray and went to live and work with Ethel his wife in Tanganyika, East Africa as a vet. They returned to England on 22nd Sep 1933 from Beira, Mozambique.landing in London after a stop in Plymouth the day before.
1942, living at Westmead, Weyhill, Andover, Hampshire.
1950 living at 4 Morland Cottage, East Stowe, Dorset.
Douglas inheritted Fir Cottage in 1958 from his second wife Ida until 1960.
In his will left his house, goods and £150 per annum to Mrs. Marian Elsie Taylor and one sixth share to his nephews and nieces.

Douglas married Ethel Emmie Sorby in 1912 in Selby Registration District. (Ethel Emmie Sorby died on 8 Sep 1950 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.)

Douglas next married Ida Mary Bennett Q2 1952 in Romsey, Hampshire, England. (Ida Mary Bennett died on 19 May 1957 in Andover, Hampshire, England.)