Thompson James Filmer is the 1st on the left of the seven boys sitting in the photograph of the scout troop.
He was born on 28 January 1900, the eighth of the eleven children of John Apps Budds Filmer (1858-1943) and Ellen Charlotte Filmer née Hall (1864-1936). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1900 in the St Saviour registration district, Southwark.
In the 1901 census he is shown living in three rooms at 31 Albert House, Blendon Row, Walworth, (demolished in the 1960's), with his parents, seven siblings: Harry Bluff Filmer (1886-1956), Annie Ellen Filmer (b.1887), Clara Ellen Filmer (b.1889), Margaret Filmer (b.1891), John William Filmer (1893-1952), Keturah Katherine Filmer (1895-1981), Noel Falconer Filmer (1897-1912) and his paternal aunt Annie Filmer (1851-1926). His father was described as a scaffolder.
On 18 February 1903 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 26 August 1907 when he was transferred to their Boys School. The school admission register confirms the family were still living at 31 Albert House, Blendon Row, Walworth and confirms his date of birth as 28 January 1900.
When his father completed their 1911 census return form he was described as a schoolboy living in five rooms at 45 Townley Street, Walworth, with his parents, seven siblings: Harry, Clara, John, Keturah, Noel, Jane Charlotte Filmer (b.1902) and Walter Eric Filmer (1907-1985), together with his paternal aunt, Annie. His father was still listed as a scaffolder.
As a boy scout in the 2nd Walworth Troop, he drowned, aged 12 years, on 4 August 1912 in the tragedy at Leysdown on 4 August 1914, together with his brother, Noel, 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.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
