THEODORE ISAAC DEGENHARD
Born: 27th July 1893, Ipswich.
Baptised: 1st October 1893, at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich – family home at 3, Station Terrace, Rose Hill Road, Ipswich.
Died: 8th June 1916; age 22; died of Pulmonary Phthisis – Ipswich. Served 14 months in France.
Date of Entry Therein: 8th November 1914 – France.
Discharged 18th January 1916.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 1198
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st/4th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star.
Burial service held on the 13th June at St. Helen’s Church, Ipswich.
Grave Reference:
B.15.9.
Ipswich.
Relatives Notified & Relatives: Son of Eliza M. Godley (formerly Degenhard), of 10, Rosebery Road, Ipswich & the late Mr. Degenhard.
CENSUS
1901 8 Brigg Terrace, Orwell Road, Ipswich.
Theodore was 7 years old and living with his widowed mother & brothers.
Eliza Martha Degenhard (nee Harvey), 29, Wards – Women’s Infirmary, born Ipswich.
Harry Harvey Degenhard, 5, born Ipswich.
William Ewart Degenhard, 2, born Ipswich.
boarder – William John Godley, 36, a Carpenter, born Harwich, Essex.
1 servant.
1911 111, Orwell Road, Ipswich.
Theodore was 17 years old, a Foundry Worker – Moulding Works. He was living with his mother, siblings, stepfather & stepsiblings.
William Godley, 44, a Carpenter & Joiner.
Eliza Godley, 39.
Paulina Martha Degenhard, 14, a Day Girl, born Ipswich.
William, 12.
Rose Mary Godley, 8, born Ipswich.
Dorothy May Godley, 7, born Ipswich.
Violet Lilian Godley, 5, born Ipswich.
Frank Joseph Godley, 3, born Ipswich.
Frederick J. Godley, 9 months, born Ipswich.
Brother: George Alfred Degenhard, born 1892, Ipswich, and baptised on the 3rd July 1892, at Christ Church, St. Marylebone, London – family home at 25, Princes Street.
Theodore’s father was Theodore Degenhard, born 1867, Marylebone, London – died on the 3rd June 1899, at 110, Newton Road, Ipswich, in his 32nd year.
Soldiers’ Effects to Eliza M. Godley – mother.
Theodore is also remembered on the Orwell Works Memorial Ransomes Sims & Jefferies Ipswich, and on the war memorial at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Ipswich.
The VACCINATION ACTS – 1840-1898.
The Vaccination Act of 1840 provided free vaccinations for the poor. The Vaccination Act of 1853 made vaccination for all infants in the first 3 months of life compulsory; defaulting parents were liable to fines and imprisonment. Resistance to these new laws began immediately, with riots in several towns, including Ipswich. The Anti-Vaccination League was founded to provide support for opponents of vaccination.
In 1867, the Vaccination Act extended compulsory vaccination to the age of 14. The Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League was founded in 1867 to focus concern upon the infringement of personal liberty and choice. In 1898, a new Vaccination Act introduced a conscience clause, allowing parents who did not believe vaccination was effective or safe to obtain a certificate of exemption. The new 1898 Vaccination Act introduced the concept of “conscientious objector” into English law. Theodore’s father became the first “conscientious objector” in Ipswich.
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The Ipswich Journal – 8th October 1898.
IPSWICH ANTI-VACCINATIONISTS AND THE NEW ACT
THE FIRST CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
Theodore Degenhard, labourer, of 110, Newton Road, presented a certified declaration that he had a conscientious objection to his child, William Ewart, being vaccinated.- The Bench granted a certificate of exemption, and the Deputy Mayor (Mr. George Francis Josselyn) told the applicant that he had the honour of being the first conscientious objector in Ipswich.
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