Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Crompton was born 1881 at Felling, Gateshead and baptised March 27th 1881 at St. James, the eldest of 8 known children, 4 sons and 4 daughters, father William Crompton native of Farnsworth, Worcestershire, born 1851 and his wife Mary born in Australia. William and James (20) worked as hewers at the colliery, Joseph (16) above ground as a pit heap boy, the family were living at Tanfield, County Durham. James was married 1904 to Jane Clemens native of Metal Bridge, in the district of Lanchester, County Durham and with whom he had two children, William born 1905 and Elsie 1909, both at Lintz, County Durham. In 1911 they were living at 102, Cardiff Square, High Spen in very crowded conditions. The house consisted of two rooms and a kitchen which was shared with her parents William and Ann Clemens and two of her siblings.
James was one of the first to enlist, November 14th 1914, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned as Private 24/99 to the 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pals Battalion. After initial training near home, they joined 103rd Brigade, 34th Division at Ripon in June 1915 and moved to Salisbury Plain in late August for final training. They departed to France, January 1916, where the division concentrated at La Crosse, east of St Omer. They were in action on the first day of the Battles of the Somme, July 1st 1916 during the Battle of Albert including the capture of Scots and Sausage Redoubts.
Private 24/99 James Crompton Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action July 1st 1916, his body buried on the battlefield. His body was not recuperated until April 10th 1935 from an unmarked grave along with that of a Private R. Manson, Lincoln Regiment and an unknown British Soldier, identified only by fragments of his tunic and kilt as Royal Highlanders, found at map reference 57 d. A.20. e.55.60. Exhumed and identified by means of a disc Private Crompton was brought into London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval, Somme, France for reburial with all honour and reverence grave VI. C. 24. At the time of his demise he was 35 years old.
His widow Jane received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Crompton is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
