Leslie Dengate

Leslie Dengate

Leslie Dengate

KEY DATES:

Birth: 14 September 1899, Hastings, East Sussex

Marriage to Florence Smith: 2 June 1922, Salvation Army, Battersea, London

Marriage to Dorothy Flora Sainsbury: 26 December 1943, Salvation Army Citadel, Hastings

Marriage to Dorothy Naomi Hollands: 18 March 1967, The Salvation Army Citadel, Eastbourne, East Sussex

Died: 16 January 1984, Hastings, East Sussex

Cremated: 24 January 1984, Hastings Crematorium, East Sussex

BIOGRAPHY:

Leslie Dengate was born 14 September 1899 in Hastings, East Sussex to Ernest Alfred and Agnes Lucy Dengate. He was raised in Hastings, spending his early years living at 69 Manor Road with his parents and brothers and sisters. From an early age he attended the Salvation Army Citadel in Hastings.

Leslie met Dorothy Naomi Hollands when Leslie was with the Fleet Air Army at Eastbourne and the pair went out together for a while. Then Leslie went to Battersea, London and met Florence Priscilla Smith, known as Floss. Whilst in Battersea, Leslie formed a Life Saving Scout Troop and was appointed Leader of Battersea 1 Corps. He later formed a Scout Troop in Hastings, again becoming leader.

Leslie Dengate

Leslie Dengate's war medals

Leslie and Florence married 2 June 1922 in the Salvation Army, Battersea, London and had four children; Eveline, Maisie, Gordon and Dorothy. Both Leslie and Florence Priscilla were regular members of the Salvation Army, attending the Citadel Corps in St Andrew's Square in Hastings.

The marriage of Leslie Dengate and Florence Priscilla Smith

Leslie was a founder-member of the Young People's Band at Hastings Citadel, himself being a band-member from 1915. He was appointed Corps Secretary in 1924, then Corps Treasurer in 1930. He also held the positions of Deputy-Bandmaster and in 1936 was commissioned Band Sergeant. Whilst the band and songster leader were serving in the armed forces during 1944 and 1945, Leslie took over the reigns of both until the leaders returned. He then returned to the role of Corps Secretary until 1950 when he was commissioned Corps Sergeant-Major.

Dengate family

Left to right: Gordon, Maisie, Eveline, Floss and Leslie Dengate

Leslie worked with his father, Ernest Alfred, and after his father's retirement, with his two brothers Stan and Cecil in the family furniture and removals shop in Hastings. The Dengate shop in Cornwallis Street opened in the 1930s, selling second hand furniture. It was such a success that larger premises were sought, so they bought a shop in Queen's Road, Hastings from Messrs Staite and Co. Ltd for the sum of £3,700 on the 17 February 1930. The cost of the premises was £3,000 for the shop and depository in Waterworks Road and £700 for 'the goodwill of the business of furniture storers carried on therein', signed by Ernest Alfred and his sons Cecil, Stan and Leslie Dengate. The three brothers divided responsibilities; Cecil was in charge of shop trading, Leslie was in charge of the removal side and Stanley was in charge of the furniture side.

Dengate Shop, Queen's Road, Hastings (original shop left)

Leslie to the right of the Dengate van in Waldergrave Street, Hastings

The Queen's Road shop was gutted by a mysterious fire in 1938, but was later rebuilt and refurbished. The business was sold in 1948 to the Co-op due to high taxation.

During the Second World War, Leslie continued to work full-time as a furniture-remover for Dengate's and as a Sub Inspector for the Special Constabulary, achieving around 80 duties each year 1940-1944. Leslie also worked for the Special Constabulary, progressing through the ranks of Sub Inspector (1940), Inspector (1947), Chief Inspector (1951) and Deputy Commandant (1960). The Mayor of Hastings, commenting in 'The Musician' said that Deputy Commandant Dengate had, 'set an example of public service which he hoped many people in the town would follow'.

Leslie Dengate in his Special Constabulary uniform

Florence Priscilla Dengate died 11 January 1940, aged 43 years at the family home in 3 Keppel Road, Hastings, East Sussex, of a heart condition. Following a service at the Salvation Army Citadel, Hastings, on the 15 January, she was buried in Hastings Cemetery. To read more about Florence's funeral, click the following hyperlink.

Cutting from Hastings Observer of the funeral procession of Florence Priscilla Dengate

Florence Priscilla Dengate's grave, Hastings Cemetery

Soon after Floss's death, Leslie's cousin Dorothy Flora Sainsbury (nee Gutsell) moved into the family home to help look after the children, notably Dorothy who was still a young baby. Three years later Leslie married Dorothy on the 26 December 1943 in the Salvation Army Citadel, Hastings. Dorothy, known as Dolly, was given away by her brother, Leonard Gutsell. The bridesmaids were Eveline, Maisie and Dorothy Dengate and Margaret Gutsell. The best man was Leslie's brother Cecil Dengate. The couple had their honeymoon in Croydon and St Ives.

Wedding day of Leslie Dengate and Dorothy Flora Sainsbury

Leslie and Dolly lived in Keppel Road for several years, followed, during the war by 33 Godwin Road and then 63 Downs Road. The pair continued their dedication to the Salvation Army, and Leslie to his work and Special Constabulary duties.

Leslie also worked as a Liberal Councillor for the town, being voted in as Councillor of the Holy Trinity Ward of Hastings. Leslie polled 1,152 votes compared to his Conservative rival of 806 votes.

Leslie Dengate (right) campaigning for votes

Dorothy Flora Dengate died aged 61 on Tuesday 15 February 1966, taking her own life after suffering with ill health. She died at her home in 63 Downs Road, Hastings by filling the lounge chimney with newspaper and switching on the gas to the fire. She had previously suffered depression, for which she had undergone an operation in 1964, and undergone treatment for a nervous condition. Leslie had left home at 2.20pm, returning to find her dead at 6.40pm. Her funeral was held at the Salvation Army Citadel, Hastings on Monday 21 February 1966 at 2pm, conducted by General Wilfred Kitching, CBE (Retired). Dorothy was cremated at Hastings Cemetery.

Dorothy Flora Dengate's memorial stone in Hastings Cemetery, 2003

Leslie married Dorothy Naomi Hollands on Saturday 18 March 1967 at The Salvation Army Citadel in Eastbourne, in the presence of their families and many members of the Hastings and Eastbourne Citadels. The ceremony was conducted by Major Leslie Phillips at 11.15am. The honeymoon was spent in the West country.

The marriage of Leslie Dengate and Dorothy Naomi Hollands, 1967

On the 4 June 1970, Leslie and Dorothy attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in his capacity as a town alderman, along with the Mayor (Councillor E. P. Nye) and Mayoress of Hastings.

On the 26 January 1974, the Hastings Observer confirmed the towns three new aldermen, one of whom was Leslie Dengate, a former Liberal member of Hastings Council.

Leslie held the position of Corps Sergeant Major from 1949 until retirement in May 1970. His retirement was honoured with a service and musical presentation in which Eastbourne Songsters, Hastings Citadel Songsters and band performed. At the same time Dorothy transferred from being a Songster to Songster reserve. She conducted the Eastbourne Songsters for a number of their pieces at the service. Leslie told the Hastings & St Leonards Observer at the time, 'There is one aspect of my service at the Salvation Army in Hastings which helps to sweeten my retirement and gives me much pleasure and that is that my family and most of my grandchildren are members, making them fourth or fifth generations of Dengates serving in Hastings. While I am resigning my position as Corps Sergeant-Major, I shall continue as an active Salvationist, and my wife will also carry on her work in the Home League. I was born in Hastings, and my whole life, both business and social, has been spent here. I have no intention of leaving in retirement to live elsewhere.'

Leslie's third wife, Dorothy Naomi Dengate died 14 September 1979. Her funeral was conducted by Leslie's niece Brigadier Dora Chandler on the 21 September 1979 at the Hastings Citadel Salvation Army, followed by interment at Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Dorothy Naomi Dengate's grave, Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne, 2003

For the last few years of his life, Leslie lived in a bungalow in 195 Downs Road, Hastings. He died 16 January 1984, aged 84 years in The Laurels nursing home, Old London Road, Hastings. He was cremated at Hastings Crematorium on the 24 January 1984 following a service at Hastings Salvation Army Citadel and was interred with his first wife, Florence Priscilla Dengate in Hastings Cemetery. Also interred in the grave are the cremated remains of Florence Priscilla's sister, Ellen Amelia Smith who was interred 7 November 1983.

Florence and Leslie Dengate's grave

The bench in Alexandra Park overlooking the bowling green where Leslie was President

CENSUS:

1901 Census

Grateful thanks to Eveline Florence Edwards, Maisie Irene Pocock and Gordon Dengate for their help, memories and photographs.