Octavius Ommanney

A pillar of the Victorian community, Octavius Ommanney’s occasionally detailed cameos in the local press suggest a Pickwickian figure, by turns genial and ludicrous.

Baptised on 19 January 1816 and educated at Winchester, Octavius went on to run the family naval agency, Ommanney and Son. 

photo courtesy of Leander Club

As a young man he rowed for the Leander Club (then based in Lambeth on what is now the site of St Thomas' Hospital) in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in 1840 (commemorative plaque, left).

He married Helen Gream on 2 September 1841 at Uckfield, Sussex, and they had eight children between 1843 and 1856, several of whom had notable careers.

In the introduction to the biography of his son George, Ommanney of Sheffield, Octavius' third son Sir Robert Nelson Ommanney recalls him as follows:

My father was a man who always took a great interest in local affairs; he was Churchwarden of the Parish Church of Mortlake, before Christ Church was built at East Sheen, and later he was also Churchwarden of that church. He was a keen sportsman, and a splendid shot; he was also a good oarsman, and rowed in the first race for the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley. He also took a great interest in the Volunteer Movement. This movement started when I was very young, but I well remember both my father and my eldest brother, Frederick, used to go to drill on Sheen Common after returning home from their business in London. My father eventually became Colonel of one of the Surrey Regiments, and he was granted the Volunteer medal. About the year 1870 my father gave up his house at East Sheen, and went to live at Bloxham. He remained there until his death in 1901, and took the same interest in local affairs as he had done at East Sheen and Mortlake.

When the precursor to the Territorial Army, the Volunteer Movement, was founded in 1859, Octavius quickly became involved:

The London Gazette, 28 February 1860
9th Surrey Rifle Volunteers

Lieutenant Octavius Ommaney to be Captain. Dated 25th February 1860.

From contemporary advertisements for recruits it appears that the Surrey Rifle Volunteers drilled at 8pm four days a week during the 1860s; it was no idle hobby.

In 1862 the family business amalgamated with a firm of bankers and naval agents to become Hallett, Ommanney and Co. Octavius was also a Director of the National Bank of Ireland and Deputy Chairman of the Contract Corporation, which undertook the construction of railways and other public works at home and abroad. He was also, possibly, capable of being a bit of a bore:

Surrey Comet, 2 November 1867

The second of the series of Penny Readings for the present session was given on Monday evening to a highly respectable and crowded audience. The chair was occupied by Mr. H. Hunt. Several good recitations and readings were given, but the one by Major Ommanney appeared too long for some of the audience…. 

This is all highly respectable Victorian stuff, and rather dull. Dull, that is, until you search for Octavius in the contemporary press. Then a more interesting picture begins to emerge:

Western Daily Press, 20 September 1869

A summons was issued on Friday from the Wandsworth police court, against Major Ommanney, of the volunteer service, for interfering with the comfort of the passengers at the Clapham Junction Station. The gallant major would appear to be of the order of General Boom. He went to the station with a party of volunteers, and his ticket was demanded. He refused to produce it, ordered his men to do the same, then drew his sword, and made a great disturbance.

On 2 October 1869 the following exchange was published in the Surrey Comet:

Sir,--In your paper of the 25^th, you state that a summons against me was adjourned on account of my absence in Belgium; as those who know that I have not been from home may think that I used a false pretext to have it adjourned, I request you will contradict that statement, which is as false as the accusation of an assault, or of drawing my sword, and to disprove which I shall produce 100 witnesses.

Yours most obediently,

O. OMMANNEY

East Sheen, Sept. 27.

[Our reporter informs us that he merely reported the application for the adjournment as made by Mr. Haynes, jun., who appeared for Major Ommanney, and that he is confirmed in the correctness of his report of Mr. Haynes’s remarks by the accounts published in some of the evening and morning papers. The gallant defendant may not have been in Belgium, but at all events his representative said he had to be there.- ED. S.C]

Later on the very same page, Octavius appears again, this time as a magistrate. A gypsy boy has been brought up, seemingly for being in possession of a suspiciously expensive coat. Octavius’ voice is heard: “Go away, and get your hair cut, and don’t show your nose here again. (Laughter). – Prisoner vanished.”

Following the hearing on the Clapham Junction incident later that month, the true picture begins to emerge:

South London Chronicle, 16 October 1869

VOLUNTEERS RETURNING FROM AN EXCURSION

Major Ommanney, one of the Surrey magistrates, appeared to answer three summonses, one with interfering with the comfort of passengers on the South-Western Railway, at Clapham Junction Station, and the others for assaulting two of the company's servants.

The summonses had several times been adjourned and now came on for hearing. On the night of the 30^th of August last, a special train arrived at the Clapham Junction station from Portsmouth with a number of volunteers. The defendant, who was in uniform, refused to show his ticket, and tried to pass down the steps. Thomas Armstrong, the ticket collector, prevented him, and while Joseph Channings a porter, was assisting, he was kicked by the major on the leg. Defendant called out “Don't show your tickets, I am responsible.” There was a general rush, a number of volunteers, with other persons, passed down the steps without showing their tickets. It also appeared that persons were prevented from going up the steps, and that a Richmond train which was waiting for passengers from the other, was delayed ten minutes in consequence of the uproar and confusion.

Mr. Haynes, who defended, gave an emphatic denial to any assault being committed, and complained of rough treatment to the major. He said the defendant engaged a special train, and purchased tickets, which he handed to volunteers and their friends for the purpose of an excursion to the Isle of Wight. On a former occasion they were not called upon when they returned to produce their tickets, and the major believing on the night in question that the Richmond train was starting and that some of the party would be left behind, rather precipitately took upon himself to say it was not necessary to draw their tickets. He (Mr. Haynes) then read a correspondence which had taken place between the major and Mr. Scott, the manager of the South-Western Railway, from which it appeared that the latter had required an apology, that one was sent after the summonses were issued, but it was not accepted. The apology was in effect that the defendant regretted having been the instrument for the misconduct at the station by telling persons that they need not produce their tickets.

Mr Dayman said if the apology had been read before, an hour of his time might have been saved, for the really important summons which he had to consider was the one for interfering with the comfort of passengers. He wished to know why he was troubled to go on with the case when an apology had been given.

After some conversation, Mr. Potter, the company's superintendent of police, said he would leave the case in the hands of the magistrate.

Mr. Dayman said the summons for the interference would be withdrawn, and the others dismissed, he considering that the servants of the company may have made a mistake in the confusion which prevailed, as to the major kicking the porter.

On the decision being known, there was a loud cheer from a number of volunteers who were outside the court.

A verbatim record of the trial appeared in the Surrey Comet on 16 October 1869 for those in search of more detail. A month later, and it has all become material for a joke:

Surrey Comet, 20 November 1869

9^th SURREY RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.--ANNUAL DINNER

...Major Ommanney on rising to respond was received with much applause. He said he had been received in such a flattering manner that he felt great difficulty in expressing his feelings. After alluding to some of the difficulties which he had had to encounter during the past year, and which he said had rendered his position anything but a bed of roses, the gallant major referred to the Clapham Junction affair. He had been excessively amused on being told by a friend who came from abroad that he had read in the Independence Belge an account of a disturbance at Clapham Junction, in which the volunteers were said to have charged the porters, transfixed three with their bayonets, (laughter), collared and locked up the station master (laughter), and all under the orders of Major-General Ommanney. (Roars of laughter).

In 1870 Octavius and his family moved from Surrey to Bloxham in Oxfordshire. The local press published the following report of a farewell event arranged by the community:

The Surrey Comet, 29 October 1870

FAREWELL TESTIMONIAL TO OCTAVIUS OMMANNEY, ESQ, J.P.

On Thursday evening a meeting was held at the National Schools, Mortlake, for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to Mr. Octavius Ommanney on the occasion of his leaving the parish. [A long list of attendees follows].

The Chairman said they had met for a very gratifying purpose—to offer a testimonial to Mr. O. Ommanney on his leaving Mortlake, as a token of their appreciation of the valuable services he had rendered to the parish during a residence of many years. Those who took an active interest in parish matters found that they were in no sinecure or bed of roses, and that they could better consult their own personal comfort by staying at home by their fireside. Mr. Ommanney, however, had taken a very full share of parish matters, as the list of them would show. The Chairman having read from the address, a copy of which we give below, a list of the offices which had been filled by Mr. Ommanney, concluded as follows: —Mr. Ommanney, we very much regret that you are going to leave us; but we trust that the testimonial which we are about to present will be an additional link between you and ourselves, and that it will prove that we have not forgotten the very valuable services rendered by you during many years’ residence among us. I have great pleasure, on behalf of the parishioners, in presenting to you this testimonial, and in expressing the hope that in your new home you and yours will enjoy every happiness. (Cheers).

Mr Penrhyn, as one of the oldest inhabitants, bore testimony to the valuable services rendered to the parish by Mr. Ommanney. It was gratifying to notice how deeply all classes felt Mr. Ommanney’s departure. Having alluded to the useful work done by Mr. Edward Ommanney, Mr. Penrhyn said that some little time after Mr. Edward Ommanney was withdrawn from amongst them, Mr. Octavius Ommanney came to reside there. His brother’s services had set a high standard for him, and he would put it them whether he had conformed to that standard. (Cheers). He would say, if they sought a monument of Mr. Ommanney—look around. Al his services spoke with far more eloquence than words could express. A most eloquent testimonial was seen in the silent tribute of respect and affection paid to him by the poor, whom he was always ready to visit, and to whom he and his were ever ready to administer comfort and relief. He believed that they and all the parishioners heartily wished Mr. Ommanney and the members of family God-speed in the new sphere to which they were going. (Applause).

Mr. Ommanney said he was sure they would all appreciate the difficulties under which he laboured at that moment. He could hardly give utterance to his feelings. When it pleased God such should be the course of events that it became necessary for him to withdraw from the parish, they could hardly conceive the pain it gave him to part from so may kind friends—to part from the parish of his birth, the parish of his baptism, the parish of his first communion, a parish that he had really loved and earnestly endeavored to serve. It was very gratifying to hear two such friends as Mr. Shutte and Mr. Penrhyn speak so favourably of his services; and he could truly say that what he had done he had done with a single mind for the good of the parish. They had recorded the numerous offices he had filled, and he could assure them that he had filled them with great pleasure. He had endeavored to be “all things to all men,” so far as was consistent with his position: he had taken pleasure both in associating with tradesmen and in entering the houses of the poor. (Cheers). He feared, however, that there was one whom the poor would miss more than himself—he alluded to Mrs. Ommanney (hear, hear, and applause) —because he knew the expressions they had made use of when she informed them of her intended departure from among them. The testimonial was entirely unexpected on his part, especially as some time since he received a handsome testimonial in acknowledgement of his services as churchwarden. He thanked them exceedingly for their valuable testimonial. He should often look at it, and always think of Mortlake. (Applause). He should still retain the office of treasurer of the parish stock, so that they would probably see him once a year—on Easter Tuesday. (Cheers). In leaving Mortlake he felt as if he were severing one half of himself from the other half. He wished them and all in the parish every blessing, and trusted they would be saved from some of the difficulties which during the last few years had fallen on himself. (Cheers).

The testimonial consisted of a handsome massive silver tea tray, two silver waiters, and a gold chronometer watch, all bearing suitable inscriptions; also the following address, beautifully illuminated:—

“The undermentioned friends and fellow parishioners of Octavius Ommanney, Esq., gratefully remembering this many and valluable services rendered to their parish at Mortlake, Surrey, during a period of thirty years in the several offices following – viz, as treasurer of the parish stock, treasurer and trustee of the national schools, vicar’s churchwarden of St. Mary’s Church, parish churchwarden, overseer of the poor, captain of the fire brigade, Major Commandant of the 9^th Surrey Volunteer Rifles, hon. Secretary of Christ Church building committee, and as the zealous promoter in his private capacity of allthat could tend to the welfare of his neighbours—offer to him on the occasion of his ceasing to reside at Mortlake, a Testimonial consisting of a silver tea tray and two waiters, and a gold chronometer watch, accompanied by their sincerest wishes for the future happiness of himself and his family. —October, 1870.” (Then follow the names of 236 subscribers to the testimonial.)

The address is bound in morrocco extra, with bevelled edges; on the cover is Mr. Ommanney’s crest in relief and inside in addition to the address and the names, are two photographs of St. Mary’s Church and Christ Church.

On arrival in Bloxham, though, it was not long before Octavius was making an impression:

Oxford Times, 17 December 1870

On Monday evening the employees of Messrs. Barratt and Bartlett, builders having completed some alterations at the new residence of O. Ommaney, Esq., that gentleman kindly entertained the whole of those employed on the works, to the number of 40, to a most substantial dinner at the White Lion Inn. Mr Ommaney presided. There were also present, Messrs. Barratt and Bartlett and a few friends. After dinner the health of Mr. Ommaney was proposed by Mr. Barratt, coupled with a few words of thanks on behalf of the men for his hospitality that evening, and accompanied thoroughly with musical honours. The employers likewise came in for their share of greeting. Some characteristic songs were sung, and the meeting separated after singing the National Anthem.

In 1873 it appears that Octavius indulged in visions of becoming an MP. He embarked on a campaign in faraway Barnstaple – on the seemingly tenuous basis that his father had been the Barnstaple MP half a century earlier; – it was a campaign which seems peculiarly amateurish even by Victorian standards:

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, September 26, 1873

Another candidate for the representation of this borough issued his address to the electors yesterday. The new aspirant to Parliamentary honours is Mr Octavius Ommanney, a Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2^nd Surrey A.B.R.V. He states that in politics he is a Liberal-Conservative, that his father (the late Sir Francis Ommanney) had the honour of representing the borough for a period of six years, and that, therefore, he may claim some connection with the constituency. He adds that he will issue a longer address in a few days, and will then take the opportunity of commenting upon the various topics of the day.

The Birmingham Daily Post of the same date added wryly that ‘This gentleman… comes forward without being requested to do so by the leaders of either party…’. It is not clear whether he ever got round to giving his more extensive comment upon the ‘topics of the day’, but he certainly never reached Westminster. I have not traced a record of his performance in the election, if indeed he was still in the race at that stage.

There is plenty of evidence of Octavius’ comfortable position in Victorian society during his long retirement. As a typical example, here he is presiding at at dinner for the Banbury cricket club at the Joiners’ Arms Inn on Tuesday 30th October 1883, together with the ‘principal farmers and tradesmen of the parish’. 

Oxford Journal, 17 November 1883

‘Forty sat down to dinner, after which the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given and duly honoured…

Mr. Finch, timekeeper on the Banbury and Cheltenham railway, next indulged the company with a parody on the itinerant quack and philosopher, the droll, witty recital of which fairly convulsed all with laughter.—The Chairman [Ommanney], before proposing the next toast, said he had come a good many miles to be present that evening with them. He thought the last meeting was one of the most cordial and happy meetings he had seen in Bloxham…

Mr John Barrett thanked the President and gentlemen present for the gracious manner in which his health had been proposed and drank… In return he wished to propose “The health of Mr. and Mrs. Ommanney.” He did not know any gentleman who had been more maligned and less understood than Mr. Ommanney had been, especially by the poor of the place, for whose interest and welfare both he and Mrs Ommanney had incessantly worked. He relied upon the time that would bring its own conviction that no better busy workers for their good existed in the parish. —The toast was drunk with musical honours, and with cheers for Mrs. and Miss Ommanney and family.

There is a surely a story in this ‘maligned and misunderstood’, though I have yet to trace it. 

In 1892 he appears in Sheffield with his equally maligned and misunderstood son, the Rev. George Campbell Ommanney, confirming the picture of a man who was not afraid to speak his mind, or his prejudices:

Sheffield Independent, 23 September 1892

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH ANNUAL FESTIVAL

After the service the customary annual luncheon was held at the Cambridge Hall, Cambridge Street. Viscount Halifax has been expected to preside, but the recent death of a relative... prevented his attendance. In his absence Colonel Ommanney, J.P., father of the vicar, presided....

The CHAIRMAN proposed “Church and Queen.” observing that her Majesty was highly honoured by her health being drunk in connection with the Church. He also referred to the Lincoln judgment as an occasion for great rejoicing. In every point of ritual and doctrine, the holdings of the Primate were sustained, which showed great progress in the Church over which they were entitled to rejoice, leaving other people—since the Church of England was composed of people of different opinions—to do as they liked about it. The Church Association at any rate was beaten, and had been taught a lesson not to pry into country churches to see what persons were doing. They had better not send down to St. Matthew's—(laughter)—or, if they did, they had better do so on a day like that, when they would see so fine a service as that of that morning.

...The Rev. J. WYLDE proposed “The Chairman,” and

The CHAIRMAN, in responding, observed that last year he got foul of the Independent newspaper because he said that General Booth had collared money which the clergy could have done better with, and more to turn people to right ways. He still stuck to that. (Laughter). He had got that newspaper extract in his shaving drawer, and occasionally looked at it and laughed. (Renewed laughter). They had friends there from East London. Had the Salvationists done any good whatever in East London? From all he had heard from clergy they had absolutely done nothing at all. How had they spent that £100,000? He should like to have it to charter a steamer and go all round the world with. (Laughter). He did not say that some people might not do good. Everybody—clergy and laity—could do good in a way, but when a man collected £100,000 to do good—he would not say to his own pocket—(laughter) —the public had a right to an account for it. General Booth was now appealing for another £50,000. All he wanted to know was if those members of the Church of England who subscribed before were going to be such fools as to give it now.

The Rev. G. S. HALL and the Rev. A. G. S. MELVILLE also spoke briefly, and the proceedings ended.

In April 1892 he retired as churchwarden in Bloxham. It appears his age was beginning to tell.

Oxford Journal, 21 October 1893

THE FIRE BRIGADE DINNER

Mr Goodwin then sang a song of his own composing, entitled “The Bloxham Fire Brigade”, the rendering of which in the chorus embodying, as it did, a lot of humour of local interest.

Mr Denchfield, in responding, expressed the pleasure he felt in Colonel Ommanney’s flattering remarks…

Mr O. V. Aplin proposed “The health of Col. Ommanney.” He was sure that all were very much indebted to him for his influence and assistance in the parish, for all purposes connected with its progress in every way. We had all heard more than enough about the G.O.M., but he was glad to think that we had a real G.O.M. for Bloxham, whose political feelings were in unison with our own, and hoped he would be long spared to live amongst us. The health of Col. and Mrs. Ommanney were drunk with musical honours, amidst much enthusiasm.

Helen Ommanney died in 1894. Octavius lived on until 1901, the note of his death in that year in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph stating that ‘he had been an invalid for several years’ (1 August 1901). The census of that year records him as ‘feeble minded’, nursed by his daughter Octavia, herself 45 years old by that time. Octavius died on 30 July.

Font by Henry Ingle Potter (1868-1957) in memory of Octavius and Helen Ommanney, 1903. St Matthew, Carver Street, Sheffield. For information on the link with this church see the blog entries for George Campbell Ommanney. As at 2014 the font was still in regular use at St Matthew’s.