James Henry Dart was born on 10 July 1878 in Torquay, Devon, the eldest of the five children of James Dart (1857-1836) and Georgina Emma Dart née Westaway (1857-1905). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1878 in the Newton Abbot Registration District, Devon.
He had a brother, Fred Augustus Plymsaul Dart (1880-1880), who birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1880 in the Newton Abbot Registration District and who death was also registered there in the 2nd quarter of 1880.
In the 1881 census he is shown as James Henry Dart, aged 2 years and living in 36 Higher Union Lane, Tormoham, Torquay, with his parents and his brother William Ernest Dart (1881-1919). His father was described as a painter.
When the 1891 census was undertaken he was listed as James H. Dart, aged 13 years and an umbrella maker, residing in two rooms at a property in Pimlico, Tormoham, Torquay, with his mother who was also shown as an umbrella maker and three brothers: William Ernest Dart; James Edwin Dart (1882-1894) and Alfred John Percival Dart (1885-1906).
He was shown as Harry Dart in the 1901 census, aged 22 years and a marble polisher, living in three rooms at 3 Temperance Street, Tormoham, Torquay, with his parents and his surviving brother, Alfred John Percival Dart, who was listed as an errand boy. His father was described as a house painter and his mother was shown as a marble polisher.
In the 2nd quarter of 1903 he married Maud Maria Harvey (1881-1953) in the Newton Abbot Registration District and they had three children: James Henry Dart (1906-1956); Ernest Edward Dart (1908-1909) and George Harvey Dart (1912-1968).
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as James H. Dart, aged 31 years and an attendant at the Central Criminal Court, living in three rooms at 16 Mundella Road, Battersea, London, with his wife and their son, James Henry Dart who was shown as at school.
Electoral registers from 1921 to 1924 show him and wife listed at 16 Mundella Road, London, SW8. The 1930 registers show him, his wife and their son James Henry Dart at this address and in the 1932 registers it lists him there with his wife, their son James Henry Dart and their daughter-in-law Beatrice Esther Dart née Spurway (1907-1996).
The 1939 England and Wales Register confirms his date of birth as 10 July 1878 and records him as an attendant at the Central Criminal Court, still residing at 16 Mundella Road, Battersea.
Probate records state his address to have been The Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London, EC4 and that he was believed to have been killed through war operations, on 11 May 1941 at the Central Criminal Court, his dead body being found on 11 May 1941. Administration of his estate was granted to his widow on 5 August 1941 and his effects totalled £231-8s-3d. His death was registered as aged 61 years in the 2nd quarter of 1941 in the London City Registration District. The age recorded was incorrect. He was in fact 62-years-old. His body was buried in the City of London Cemetery & Crematorium, Aldersbrook Road, London, E12 5DQ.
He is shown as 'HARRY DART' on the Old Bailey WW2 tablet inside the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London, EC4. We believe that the German enemy air raid took place on the night of 10th/11th May 1941 and this has lead to the confusion regarding his date of death. We have opted to use the 11 May 1941 date. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website (that incorrectly shows his age as 61 years), on the Imperial War Museum's Register of Memorials website and his name is recorded as 'DART, JAMES HENRY age 61; of 16 Mundella Road, Thessaly Road, Battersea. 11 May 1941, at Central Criminal Court.' in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939-1945 that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey, London.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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