Percival Dunham, photojournalist
Percival Dunham,
photojournalist
Winston Churchill arrives for a brief visit while First Lord of the Admiralty
Percival Dunham was Jersey’s first photojournalist, albeit for a very brief period in 1913 and 1914, when he worked for Jersey Illustrated Weekly and then the Morning News
In the years leading up to the First World War the Evening Post had not embraced the relatively new processes for including photographs in newspapers and its competitors, the Illustrated Weekly and Morning News, were the pioneers of photojournalism, along with other short-lived publications such as The Jerseyman.
The early photographs were largely portraits or promotional images to keep advertisers happy, but then, in 1913, along came Percival Robert Dunham to work simultaneously for the Illustrated Weekly and Morning News.
Photography business
He had been in business as a photographer at 57 Bath Street since 1911, and had already been taking photographs of the Jersey Battle of Flowers and such events as the grounding of the Roebuck in St Brelade’s Bay in 1911.
He left Jersey in 1914 to serve in 503 Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery during World War 1. He served as a gunner with the service number 182352.
Little else is known about him. He is described in the Jersey Roll of Service as ‘from St Helier’, but it seems unlikely that he was born in the island – no records of any Dunham births, baptisms or marriages are in the Jerripedia database, although there is a burial recorded of a William Dunham in St Helier in 1812.
There are no Dunhams in either the 1901 or 1911 Channel Island census, so all the indications are that Percy Robert Dunham came to Jersey from England in the second half of 1911.
He survived the war and returned to Jersey, where he had married Miss M Mourant at St Simon’s Church. He lived until 1961.
Exhibition
An exhibition of his work was opened at Jersey Arts Centre on 7 April, featuing 40 of over 1,000 of his images which are in the collection of La Société Jersiaise. Sadly only a fraction of those can actually be viewed on the Société’s website, so for the benefit of those unable to visit the Arts Centre exhibition, Jerripedia has put together its own collection of Dunham images, some of which have been on the site for some time, some of which are new to us.
The whole collection, although relatively small, presents a remarkable picture of life in Jersey before and just after the outbreak of the Great War which, although it had nowhere near as dramatic impact on the island as the second global conflict which would follow 25 years later, nevertheless marked the end of an era in Jersey.
Percival Dunham's candid style of news photography was well ahead of his time and compares favourable with that of any of the early photojournalists, long before the word had actually been coined.
File:DunhamStates.jpg|States Members arrive for a special sitting on 12 September 1914 after the declaration of war File:DunhamWedding.jpg|The wedding of Yvonne Lempriere and Charles Harold Robin at Rosel Manor. Capt Robin was killed in the war at Oppy near Arras File:DunhamCoastguards.jpg|Revolver practice for coastguards at Grouville Common in June 1914 File:DunhamRoss.jpg|J Ross of Tiptree House, Grouville, in November 1913 with calabashes grown from seed File:DunhamWinstonChurchill.jpg|Winston Churchill arrives at the Albert Pier for a short visit while First Lord of the Admiralty File:DunhamNewsboys.jpg|The annual outing of newsboys of C M Brooks of King Street File:DunhamWilliamWilkinson.jpg|The lifeboat William Henry Wilkinson File:DunhamBeachChildren.jpg|A group of children on the beach in the summer of 1914 File:DunhamLaurens.jpg|G D Laurens' Hilgrove Street entrance File:DunhamTearooms.jpg|Le Riches tearooms File:DunhamFortParade.jpg|A parade of garrison troops at Fort Regent File:DunhamFortRCrowd.jpg|And the crowd looking down from the ramparts File:DunhamSoldiers.jpg|A view from the ramparts as soldiers disperse after a parade File:DunhamPetitBecquet.jpg|Ladies at Petit Becquet, a natural stone bridge at St Ouen File:DunhamGdHotelSnow.jpg|Snow carpets the Esplanade promenade opposite the Grand Hotel on 21 January 1914 File:DunhamPigeons.jpg|Providing water for homing pigeons about to be shipped out of the island for a race File:DunhamTomGrading.jpg|Tomato grading File:DunhamTeaParty.jpg|A tea party File:DunhamPotatoBarrels.jpg|Horses and carts with potato barrels at the Weighbridge File:DunhamKite.jpg|A giant kite File:DunhamFieldGun.jpg|A field gun File:DunhamElection.jpg|R R Lempriere reading the act of the Royal Court ordering an election in December 1913 from Jersey Illustrated Weekly File:DunhamCinema.jpg|Mr O'Keefe, the manager of the Alhambra Cinema, with his staff on 20 August 1913, from the Morning News File:DunhamMilitaryBand.jpg|A military band plays at a Militia camp open day File:Call-up1914.jpg|Militia reservists reporting for call-up at Halkett Place School on 7 August 1914 File:DunhamMilitaryEquip.jpg|Loading military equipment File:DunhamDevonshiresLeave.jpg|Men of the Devonshire Regiment leave the island File:DunhamBeachFamily.jpg|A family on the beach File:DunhamLadies.jpg|Members of Miss Bate's Nelson Hall Physical Culture Class with their coach Mrs Gordon Bennett - Miss C Smith, Miss W Young, Miss V Barnes, Miss E de Faye, Miss D Smith, Miss M le Mouton - published in the Morning News on 7 May 1914 File:DunhamAlexandra.jpg|Selling posies of wild roses on Alexandra Day in support of the Jersey Dispensary and Infirmary, from Jersey Illustrated Weekly File:DunhamHunt1913.jpg|A drag hunt meeting in November 1913 at St Peter's Barracks, from Jersey Illustrated Weekly File:DunhamVCJOOTC.jpg|Victoria College OTC shooting team, winners of the Haines Sheid, from the Morning News of 26 June 1914 File:DunhamBrightonRd.jpg|On 28 August 1914 pupils of Brighton Road school relocated to Canon Street School, from the Morning News File:DunhamVisite.jpg|A visite Royale on 25 July 1914, from Jersey Illustrated Weekly File:DunhamFrenchTour.jpg|French farmers about to tour the island on 10 June 1914, from the Morning News File:DunhamSgtMessXmas1913.jpg|A Royal Garrison Artillery sergeants' mess at Christmas 1913, from the Morning News File:DunhamFrenchReservists.jpg|French reservists leave for Carteret on ss Jersey on 4 August 1914, from the Morning News File:DunhamMethMinisters.jpg|Methodist circuit ministers welcomed at the Albert Pier on 30 August 1914, from the Morning News File:DunhamVCJOTC2.jpg|An inspection for the Victoria College OTC, from the Morning News File:DunhamNavyRecruitment.jpg|Recruiting for the Royal Navy on 7 August 1913, from the Morning News File:DunhamHumphreysButcher.jpg|Humphries butchers shop on 27 December 1913, from Jersey Illustrated Weekly File:DunhamCaenVd'H.jpg|A band from Caen at a Town Hall vin d'honneur on 30 June 1914, from the Morning News File:DunhamLeCrasFuneral.jpg|The funeral of Pc P R Le Cras on 16 July 1914, from the Morning News File:DunhamLeQuesne.jpg|Inside Le Quesne and Company, wine merchants of Burrard Street, on 27 December 1913, from Jersey Illustrated Weekly File:1913-Percival-Dunham-flag-day.jpg|A flag day in 1913 File:LavoirdesDamesDunham.jpg|Men bathing at Lavoir des Dames File:WPBeachDunham.jpg|Deckchairs and beach tents at West Park in front of the 'tin hut' West Park Pavilion File:BeaulieuCreche1914.jpg|A creche at Beaulieu for children of working French women whose husbands had gone to war File:BeaulieuCrecheWW1Dunham.jpg|More children at the Beaulieu creche File:GovHseLevee14Dunham.jpg|A Government House levee in 1914 File:MilitiaArtilleryLesPlatons1914-PercivalDunham.jpg|Militia artillery drill at Les Platons in 1914 File:GovHse1914Dunham.jpg|Ladies at Government House File:DunhamWCroad1949.jpg|W Croad and Sons centenary dinner in 1949, a photograph taken by Dunham in later years File:MilitiaMedicalCorps1913Camp.jpg|Militia Medical Corps at a 1913 camp File:Lib15AlexandraDayDunham.jpg|Alexandra Day File:Lib14DunhamHarbour14.jpg|Troops ready to embark at the Harbour in 1914 File:Lib15CookeryDunham1913.jpg|Young cookery students File:Lib15WeighbridgeDunham.jpg|The Weighbridge File:Lib15BicyclesDunham.jpg|Ladies with their bicycles outside the Town Hall File:Lib15BofFDunham.jpg|Battle of Flowers File:Lib15Bouled'OrDunham.jpg|Visiting French fire brigade men and their families outside the Hotel Boule d'Or in Conway Street File:Lib15BrideDunhamNewSt.jpg|A bride enters St Paul's Church in New Street File:Lib15CampFamilies2.jpg|Families visiting a Militia camp File:Lib15CampFamiliesDunham.jpg|Families visiting a Militia camp File:Lib15CampFamlies3.jpg|Families visiting a Militia camp File:Lib15CampVisitDunham14.jpg|Families visiting a Militia camp File:Lib15CharaDunham.jpg|A charabanc outing File:Lib15CharaDunham2.jpg|A charabanc outing File:Lib15CoffinDunham.jpg|A funeral procession in St Helier File:Lib15CrowdDunham.jpg|A policeman watches over a crowd of spectators - the occasion has not been recorded File:Lib15DevRegDunham13-14.jpg|Soldiers of the Devonshire Regiment in 1913 File:Lib15DevRegPierRd14.jpg|The Devonshire Regiment in Pier Road File:Lib15DunhamFashion1910s.jpg|Fashions begin to change after the end of the Edwardian era File:Lib15DunhamSidecars.jpg|An interesting shot of motor cycles and side cars, but unfortunately no details are available of the occasion File:Lib15FilmCrewDunham13.jpg|Members of the cast and crew of a film being made in jersey File:Lib15FuneralDunham.jpg|Dunham frequently attended the funerals of island notables File:Lib15GovHouse14Dunham.jpg|The Lieut-Governor poses with a young officer and his lady at a Government House levee File:Lib15GovHouse14Dunham2.jpg|Smartly dressed ladies at a Government House levee File:Lib15GovHouseCar.jpg|Guests arrive for a Government House levee File:Lib15GunsGlacis1913Dunham.jpg|Militia guns on Glacis Field File:Lib15HarbourArriveDunham.jpg|An official welcome for a party of dignitaries at the Harbour File:Lib15HarbourBarrelsDunham.jpg|Potato barrels ready for export File:Lib15HarbourVansDunham.jpg|Farm vans at the Harbour with tomatoes for export File:Lib15HorseBusDunham.jpg|A horse-drawn bus File:Lib15JDispensaryDunham13.jpg|Fund-raising for the Dispensary File:Lib15JRailwaysStationDunham.jpg|Staff at the Weighbridge railway terminus File:Lib15LauraCrewDunham.jpg|The crew of the Laura File:Lib15LesQDunham1913.jpg|Militia soldiers start to set up camp at Les Quennevais File:Lib15LifeboatDunham.jpg|A lifeboat on board a mail steamer File:Lib15MichelinManDunham.jpg|A publicity stunt for Michelin File:Lib15MilitiaDunham1913.jpg|Militia members in 1913 File:Lib15MilitiaResDunham14.jpg|Reservists ready to sign up in 1914 File:Lib15ParadeSnowDunham.jpg|A snow-covered Parade File:Lib15PassengersDunham.jpg|Passengers on board ship in St Helier Harbour File:Lib15PassengersDunham2.jpg|In the Harbour File:Lib15PigeonsDunham.jpg|Pigeons just arrived at the Harbour being released to race back home, probably to somewhere in England File:Lib15PoliceFootball14Dunham.jpg|A Police football team in 1914 File:Lib15QuarryingDunham.jpg|Quarrying at an unidentified location File:Lib15Recruit14Dunham.jpg|A recruit for war service is measured File:Lib15RochfortDunham13.jpg|Lieut-Governor Sir Alexander Rochfort was frequently photographed by Dunham File:Lib15RochfortDunham13a.jpg|Lieut-Governor Sir Alexander Rochfort File:Lib15RochfortDunham13b.jpg|Lieut-Governor Sir Alexander Rochfort File:Lib15RochfortDunham13c.jpg|Lieut-Governor Sir Alexander Rochfort File:Lib15RochfortWedding14.jpg|Lieut-Governor Sir Alexander Rochfort arrives to attend a wedding File:Lib15SandcastleDunham.jpg|A sand castle competition File:Lib15ScoutsDunham.jpg|Boy Scouts File:Lib15SnowHillDunham.jpg|A large crowd heads down Hill Street from Snow Hill File:Lib15SoldiersArsenalDunham.jpg|Soldiers at the Town Arsenal File:Lib15SquareParadeDunham.jpg|A parade in the Royal Square File:Lib15StPeterDunham.jpg|The funeral of Charles Philip Le Cornu at St Peter's Church in 1911 File:Lib15StPeterDunham2.jpg|The funeral of Charles Philip Le Cornu File:Lib15StPeterDunham3.jpg|The funeral of Charles Philip Le Cornu File:Lib15StPeterDunham4.jpg|The funeral of Charles Philip Le Cornu File:Lib15StPeterCPLeCornu.jpg|The funeral of Charles Philip Le Cornu File:Lib15StSimonFuneral14.jpg|A funeral at St Simon's Church File:Lib15StSimonFuneral14a.jpg|A funeral at St Simon's Church File:Lib15TopHatsDunham.jpg|These gentlemen in top hats were probably part of the St Helier Municipality File:Lib15WeddingDunham.jpg|Trinity wedding of solicitor Josue Renouf Bisson to Elize Mary Pallot, daughter of Mr P Pallot of Aurora Cottage, Trinity, published in the Morning News on 5 June 1914 File:Lib15WesleyGrDunham.jpg|Inside Wesley Grove Church File:Lib15WestsDunham.jpg|West's Cinema File:Lib15WestsDunham2.jpg|West's Cinema File:Lib15YachtDunham.jpg|Passengers in formal attire on the yacht Pinafore File:SuffragettesDunham.jpg|Suffragettes File:Su16AnnePortDunham1909.jpg|A 1909 photograph of Anne Port File:Lib17DumhanBattleofFlowers.jpg|Battle of Flowers - a child pushing a decorated pram File:Lib17DunhamTomatoCleaning.jpg|Tomato cleaning machine File:Lib17BattleStagecoach.jpg|Battle of Flowers stagecoach File:Lib17DunhamSallyArmy.jpg|Salvation Army ladies File:Lib17DunhamSoldiersCookPots.jpg|A group of soldiers with cookpots File:Lib17DunhamHorseDrawnVan.jpg|An outing in a horse-drawn van File:Lib17DunhamSnowHillCrowd.jpg|A large crowd gathered at Snow Hill, occasion unknown File:Lib17DunhamSailorInCarriage.jpg|A sailor and companions leave the Harbour in a horse-drawn carriage File:Lib17DunhamSandCastle.jpg|Sand castle competition at West Park File:Lib17DunhamWOmenInVan.jpg|A charabanc outing for a group of ladies File:Lib17DunhamBisquineGorey.jpg|The Bisquine undergoing maintenance in Gorey Harbour File:Lib17DunhamWeighbridgeMan.jpg|On duty at the public weighbridge File:Lib17DunhamMilitiaCampTents.jpg|Tents at a Militia camp File:Lib17DunhamMilitiaRecruits.jpg|Militia recruits outside a parish arsenal File:Lib17DunhamChauffeuredCarHarbour.jpg|A gentleman leaving the Harbour in his chauffeur-driven car File:Lib17DunhamHarbourFishing.jpg|Fishing at the pierheads of St Helier Harbour File:Lib17DunhamScoutsWestPark.jpg|Scouts parade at West Park in front of the entertainment venue known as The Shack File:Lib17DunhamTomatoPacking.jpg|Tomato packing File:Lib17DunhamHorseRacingCrowd.jpg|Members of the crowd watching horse racing at Les Quennevais File:Lib17DunhamGrandHotelGuests.jpg|Grand Hotel guests arriving at the Harbour File:Lib17DunhamShipDocks.jpg|A ship prepares to dock in St Helier Harbour File:Lib17DunhamBoysBrigade.jpg|Boys Brigade parade at the Harbour File:CaesareaCrew1913-Dunham.jpg|The crew of the Caesarea in 1913 File:Jim15StMkBBrig1914.jpg|St Mark's Boys Brigade departing for camp in Guernsey in August 1914 File:D18BattleDunham.jpg|Dunham took many photographs of the Jersey Battle of Flowers File:A18BofFPercivalDunham.jpg|Another Battle of Flowers picture File:Lib18GrandHotelGuestsDunham.jpg|Grand Hotel guests being met at the Harbour File:Lib18TomatoGradingDunham.jpg|Tomato grading File:Lib18TomatoGrading2Dunham.jpg|Tomato grading File:Lib18BrickChimneyRepairsDunham.jpg|Demolition of Town Mills chimney on 12 June 1914 File:Lib18FieldGunsPierRoadDunham.jpg|Field guns in Pier Road on their way to manoeuvres in the north of the island File:Lib18PoliceGovernmentHouseDunham.jpg|Police parade at Government House File:Lib18BreesHotelCourtesyVehicleDunham.jpg|Brees Royal Hotel courtesy carriage File:Lib18CharabancDunham.jpg|Dunham often took photographs of charabanc outings, either for publication or with a view to selling copies File:Lib18SmallShipHarbourDunham.jpg|A passenger vessel arrives in the Harbour File:Lib18MilitaryParadeDunham.jpg|A military parade File:Lib18BoyDriverDunham.jpg|A Victoria College pupil poses at the wheel of his father's car File:Lib18BoyScoutsDunham.jpg|Boy Scouts File:Lib18Charabanc2Dunham.jpg|Another charabanc outing File:Lib18JerseyRailwayRoyalCelebrationDunham.jpg|Jersey Railway celebrates a Royal anniversary File:Lib18FireEngine2Dunham.jpg|St Helier's fire engine File:Lib18ShipInHarbourDunham.jpg|A small passenger vessel in the Harbour File:Lib18ChristmasTreat1913Dunham.jpg|A 1913 children's treat File:Lib18DrainageCulvertDunham.jpg|Construction of a drainage culvert to provide more building land File:Lib18Men&Car1913Dunham.jpg|A motor car in 1913 File:Lib18ChildrenOnVanDunham.jpg|An outing for children File:Lib18ScoutPresentationDunham.jpg|Scout presentation File:Lib18WeddingStPaul'sDunham.jpg|A wedding at St Paul's File:Lib18HorseInspectionDunham.jpg|Inspecting a horse destined for war service File:Lib18CiderMakingDunham.jpg|Cider making File:Lib18HorseMorningNewsDunham.jpg|Publicity for the Morning News File:Lib18GoatCartDunham.jpg|A young boy's cart is pulled by a goat File:Lib18WarReliefFundDunham.jpg|Collecting for the War Relief Fund File:Lib18CarriageOutingDunham.jpg|A carriage outing File:Lib18RochfortHorseCompulsoryPurchaseDunham.jpg|Lieut-Governor Sir Alexander Rochfort inspecting horses selected for compulsory purchase for the Great War File:Lib18DinghyStHelierDunham.jpg|A dinghy in St Helier Harbour File:Lib18MenOnCharabancDunham.jpg|Men on a charabanc File:Lib18FootballTeam2Dunham.jpg|An unknown football team File:Lib18BofFHorseDunham.jpg|Battle of Flowers horse File:Lib18ClothingStallDunham.jpg|A clothing stall File:Lib18SeatonPlaceMethodistChurchDunham.jpg|A group photograph at Seaton Place Methodist Church File:Lib18FootballTeam3Dunham.jpg|Another football team File:Lib18MilitaryFootballTeamDunham.jpg|A military football team File:Lib18ScoutsRoyalSquareDunham.jpg|A Scout parade in the Royal Square File:Lib18BoreholeDrillingDunham.jpg|Borehole drilling File:Lib18TownStreamDunham.jpg|An open town stream - they are all covered by culvets now File:Lib18MilitiaCCompanyDunham.jpg|C Company of the Militia File:Lib18MilitiaSergeantsDunham.jpg|Militia sergeants File:Lib18MilitiaCampWivesDunham.jpg|Wives join their husbands at a Militia camp File:Lib18MilitiaSnowHillDunham.jpg|Militiamen at Snow Hill File:Lib18MilitaryWeddingDunham.jpg|A military wedding File:Lib18Militia&CartDunham.jpg|A group of Militiamen File:Lib18MilitiaShootingScoringDunham.jpg|Scoring at a Militia shooting event File:Lib18MillLaneDunham.jpg|A lane leading to a watermill File:Lib18TownChurchDunham.jpg|The Town Church File:Lib18MontAuPretreDunham.jpg|Mont au Pretre File:Lib18QueensValleyDunham.jpg|Queen's Valley File:Lib18TownViewDunham.jpg|A view of St Helier from the west File:Lib18TownView2Dunham.jpg|A view of St Helier from the west File:Lib18TownView3Dunham.jpg|A view of St Helier from the west File:Lib18FamilyCarDunham.jpg|A family outing in their car File:Lib18ToyHorseDunham.jpg|Two boys with their toy horse File:Lib18HarbourCarriageDunham.jpg|Waiting at the harbour File:Lib18BoysGroupDunham.jpg|A group of orphan boys File:Lib18MenAtHarbourDunham.jpg|At the harbour File:Lib18Military&CiviliansDunham.jpg|Civilians join a Militia group File:Lib15GunsGlacis1913Dunham.jpg|Guns being manoeuvred on the Glacis Field at Fort Regent in 1913 File:Lib18RifleTrophiesArsenalDunham.jpg|The presentation of Militia rifle shooting trophies at the Town Arsenal File:Lib18ArsenalInspectionDunham.jpg|An inspection at the Town Arsenal File:Lib18PrivateLangtonFuneralDunham.jpg|The funeral of Militiaman Private Langton File:Lib18VictoriaCollegeDunham.jpg|The Victoria College Officer Training Corps on parade on College Field. Hundreds of these cadets would soon join the Army after the outbreak of war and many would lose their lives File:Lib18RoyalSquareParadeDunham.jpg|Dress uniform for a Militia parade in the Royal Square File:Lib18DemolitionDunham.jpg|Demolition in a St Helier street, possibly for road widening File:Lib18MilitiaOfficersArsenalDunham.jpg|An informal picture of Militia officers at the Town Arsenal File:Lib18BeresfordStreetCrowdDunham.jpg|A crowd of people preceding a carriage in Beresford Street after the funeral of Dorothy Rodda of the Salvation Army File:Lib18ArtilleryPierRoadDunham.jpg|Militia artillerymen rest at Pier Road File:Lib18StPeter'sBarracksInspectionDunham.jpg|Senior officers with a Militia recruit at St Peter's Barracks File:Lib18FireEngineDunham.jpg|St Helier's fire engine at speed at an unknown location File:Lib18PostBagsDunham.jpg|Post bags being unloaded after collection from the Harbour at Christmas 1913 File:Lib18MilitaryBandDunham.jpg|A military band File:Lib18FootballTeamDunham.jpg|An unknown football team File:Lib18BisquineGoreyDunham.jpg|The schooner Bisquine grounder in Gorey Harbour for maintenance work File:Lib18CarriageInspection2Dunham.jpg|A carriage is presented for its annual inspection in St Helier File:Lib18HarbourGunsDunham.jpg|Militia artillerymen with their guns at the Harbour File:S23Children'sDayRoyalCrescentDunham.png|Children's Day at Royal Crescemt File:S23CRichardsonCoalMerchantOrdnanceYardDunham.png|C Richardson was in business as a coal merchant in Ordnance Yard File:S23FireBrigadeMenSJPA033122.png|Members of the Fire Brigade File:S23GeorgeBaillieFuneral.png|George Baillie funeral File:S23HighlandsNewBuilding1914.png|New building erected at Highlands in 1914 File:S23InterInsularGolf1913Dunham.png|Inter-insular golf in 1913 File:S23JohnPhilipDeLaPerrelleDunham.png|John Philip de La Perrelle File:S23LaRocqueRegattaDunham1.png|La Rocque regatta File:S23MilitiaWestBattalionInspection.png|Inspection of militia West Battalion File:S23OldTownMillsEngine.png|Town Mills engine demolition File:S23OrvissDeliveryDunham.png|Orviss delivery in 1914 File:S23TownMillsChimneyDemolitionDunham.png|Town Mills chimney demolition File:S23VCJSwimming1913Dunham.png|Victoria College swimming competition prizegivving in 1913 File:S23WestParkMarching1913Dunham.png|Militia march along Victoria Avenue at West Park in 1913
