Albert Edward Dack is the boy lying on his side on the front right in the photograph of the scout troop.
Albert Edward Dack was born on 1 August 1899 in Walworth, the fourth of the ten children of Alfred James Dack (1868-1923) and Alice Harriet Dack née Coleman (1873-1958). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1899 in the St Saviour registration district, Southwark. On 16 August 1899 he, together with an elder brother William Henry Dack (1897-1901), were jointly baptised at St John's Church, Walworth, where the baptismal register shows the family were living at 15 Victoria House, Blendon Row, Walworth, (demolished in the 1960's) and that his father was a described as a labourer. It also confirms his date of birth as 1 August 1899.
In the 1901 census he is shown as living in three of the rooms at 45 Kingston Street, Newington, Walworth, with his parents and elder sister Edith Ellen Alice Dack (1895-1975). His father was listed as an engine driver, stationary, electric light worker.
On 10 November 1902 he was admitted into the King and Queen Street School (since 1933 it has been known as the Robert Browning Primary School), King and Queen Street, Walworth, where he stayed until 28 August 1907 when he was transferred to their Boys School. The school admission register confirms the family were still living at 45 Kingston Street, Walworth.
When his father completed the 1911 census return form he was shown as living in two rooms at 144 Guinness Buildings, Brandon Street, Walworth, with his parents, and two younger sisters: Rose Elizabeth Dack (1902-1989) and Hilda Maud Dack (1909-1970). His father described himself as a tailor's worker and claimed that of his nine children, five had died.
As a boy scout in the 2nd Walworth Troop, he drowned, aged 13 years, on 4 August 1912 in the tragedy at Leysdown. and was buried on 10 August 1912 in the War Graves Plot, Square 52, in Nunhead Cemetery, Linden Grove, London, SE15 3LP. His death was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1912 in the Sheppey registration district, Kent, giving his age as 13 years. Unfortunately, his memorial at Nunhead Cemetery incorrectly shows him to have been aged 11 years.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
