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Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Stephen Dimmer (October 9, 1883 – March 21, 1918) was awarded the Victoria Cross after he was killed in action at Marteville, France, during the Battle of the Somme while holding off advancing Prussian troops. His citation read: “This Officer served his machine gun during the attack on the 12 November at Klein Zillebeke until he had been shot five times – three times by shrapnel and twice by bullets, and continued at his post until his gun was destroyed.” His actions halted the advance. Born in Lambeth, he attended Merton Church School before being awarded a scholarship at Rutlish School, in Merton Park. After working as a civil engineer he became a career soldier, joining the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in 1902 serving in Africa until the outbreak of war in Europe.
