John (Jack) John Henry Stephen Dimmer was born at 37 Gloster Street, South Lambeth. Following action at Klein Zillebeke, Belgium, Dimmer learned of his VC reading a British newspaper whilst recovering in a French hospital. Went on to become Lieutenant Colonel and was killed in France later in the war. Gloster Street (on some maps shown as Gloucester Street) no longer exists but this 1895 map shows it running north-south just above what is now Pickworth Close.
Awarded the VC for his heroism on 12 November 1914, age 31, while serving in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. "Shot five times, he continued to man his machine gun until it was destroyed by enemy fire. He was an inspiration. (Klein Zillebeke, Belgium)". Freemason at: №1174, Pentangle Lodge.
