Stretford WW1 

Frank Crompton

Rank:PrivateNumber:493985
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:653rd
Name of Rgt or Ship:Labour Corps, H.S. Employment Coy
Died:10/10/1918
Country of burial:IrelandGrave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Grangegorman Cemetery, Dublin
Town Memorial:Stretford
Extra Information:
Born during the September quarter 1891 in the Rochdale R.D. - ref: 8e/41,
the eldest son of William & Ann Crompton (nee Greaves).

1901 Census - 30 Kershaw Street, Bury, Lancashire.   Son - aged: 10 - born:
Bury, Lancashire.   Head of household - William Crompton - Married - aged:
35 - occ: House Painter - born: Edenfield, Lancashire.   Also - Ann
Crompton - Wife - aged: 33 - born: Ramsbottom.   Plus 3 brothers (Frank
Wilfrid 8 - Tim 6 - Fred 3) and his paternal grandmother.

1911 Census - 112 King Street, Stretford.    Son - aged: 20 - occ:  Clerk -
born: Bury.   Head of household - William Crompton - Married - aged: 45 -
occ: Insurance Agent - born: Edenfield, Lancashire.   Also - Ann Crompton -
Wife - aged: 43 - born: Ramsbottom.   Plus 3 brothers (Wilfrid 18 - Tom 16
- Fred 14) and 1 sister (Emmeline 10). 

Formerly 265939 - 4th Reserves, Loyal North Lancashire Rgt.  Listed in the
Stretford Book as being in the LNLR.

Died on RMS. Leinster.

From Wikipedia - "RMS Leinster was a vessel operated by the City of Dublin
Steam Packet Company, served as the Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) to
Holyhead mailboat until she was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine
UB123 on 10 October 1918, while bound for Holyhead. She went down just
outside Dublin Bay at a point 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east of the Kish
light. Over 500 people perished in the sinking – the greatest single loss
of life in the Irish Sea.   The ship's log states that she carried 77 crew
and 694 passengers on her final voyage under the command of Captain William
Birch. The ship had previously been attacked in the Irish Sea but the
torpedoes missed their target. Those on board included more than one
hundred British civilians, 22 postal sorters (working in the mail room) and
almost 500 military personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal
Air Force. Also aboard were nurses from Britain, Ireland, Australia, New
Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Just before 10 a.m. as the Leinster was sailing east of the Kish Bank in a
heavy swell, passengers saw a torpedo approach from the port side and pass
in front of the bow. A second torpedo followed shortly afterwards, and it
struck the ship forward on the port side in the vicinity of the mail room.
Captain Birch ordered the ship to make a U-turn in an attempt to return to
Kingstown as the ship began to settle slowly by the bow; however, the ship
sank rapidly after a third torpedo struck the Leinster, causing a huge
explosion".
 
Despite the heavy seas, the crew managed to launch several lifeboats and
some passengers clung to life-rafts. The survivors were rescued by HMS
Lively, HMS Mallard and HMS Seal. 

The official death toll was 501, out of a total of 771 (77 crew and 694
passengers), which translates to roughly 65% of the souls on board, though
it has been suggested that the toll was higher than that.

The ship's anchor which was recovered from the wreck of the RMS Leinster is
now displayed at Carlisle Pier, Dun Laoghair, adjacent to the National
Maritime Museum as a permanent memorial to all those who lost their lives
when the Leinster was sunk.

M.I. - "A small tribute to a worthy chum".

CWGC - The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment - transferred to (493985) 653rd
H.S. Employment Coy. Labour Corps.

Memorials found on:
St. Matthew's (Stretford)
Stretford Borough Memorial Book
Similar Names