7031 Pte. Frederick Crompton : 8th Bn. Manchester Regt.

[PhilipG]

The wife of this soldier was one of my mother's relatives.   Private Crompton was killed on the 16th June 1917 whilst serving as No. 302909 with the 16th battalion.  His grave lies in Perth Cemetery (China Wall), not far from the Menin Road, a cemetery which had long been used as a front line burial ground and is reputed to be the last resting place of a number of unfortunates who were "shot at dawn".

In 1919 Mrs Crompton re-married.  Her new husband was a former soldier who had recently been widowed and they went to live in the Bradford district of Manchester.

Would it be possible, please, to ascertain in what action, if any, Pte. Crompton died?  PhilipG.

[sphinx]

Phillip,

He was in 'A' Coy. on thge right of the line in the Hooge section.
There was no attack as such and he would have been killed by the heavy German Artillery Shelling or the heavy bombing for their planes during that time.
4 men were killed that day.

regards

[mack]

hiya Philip.
simon is absolutely right,thats what was happening that day.

not sure if this is any help with your ancestry.

fredericks widow,dora,alice Crompton,married 88041 George,francis hollis,MGC at st.lukes church,miles platting on 11-6-19.

Frederick was attatched to the 16th batt from the 8th manchesters

mack

[Tim Bell]

Resident 5 Stanley Street, Heaton Park. Worked for Herbert Whitworth.  Picture Below.
Tim
ps I have found access to Newspaper Archive @ £1 for a month.  If anyone wants the link please DM me.

[PhilipG]

sphinx,mack & Tim Bell,

Thank you for your kind help in this research regarding this soldier. I can visualise where the battalion was in the line.  Very sad.PhilipG.

[mack]

that's a good result Philip,great info from simon and nicely rounded off with a photo from tim

mack

[PhilipG]

Mack,
I totally agree.  As a small boy I was taken to meet this lady and after WW2 worked in the Bradford, Manchester area. But, of course, I did not know that the Hollis family may then have lived a few streets away from where I was working.

As you say, it was a good result and thanks again to all involved.  (You will notice I refrained from asking if you knew Pte Crompton's rifle number.   I'm only joking!!).  PhilipG.

[mack]

Mack,
I totally agree.  As a small boy I was taken to meet this lady and after WW2 worked in the Bradford, Manchester area. But, of course, I did not know that the Hollis family may then have lived a few streets away from where I was working.

As you say, it was a good result and thanks again to all involved.  (You will notice I refrained from asking if you knew Pte Crompton's rifle number.   I'm only joking!!).  PhilipG.

sorry Philip,you didn't mention this in your opening thread,here ya go.

SMLE No L5346

mack

[PhilipG]

Mack,

I suspect the letter "S" in the serial number may stand for "Spoof" ?  PhilipG.