South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 1487 Harry Daniel COMPTON - 1st/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in action on Friday 14th July 1916 aged 24


Military History

     
Theatre of War Campaign Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Thiepval Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Bravery & Conduct Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
22 Mar 1915 in Havre, France  ~ Leamington Spa War Memorial
    Leamington Spa St. Mary's Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted  
Battle of the Somme (Attack on Ovillers) Feb/Mar 1912 in Warwick   
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Ovillers   
     

Circumstances of Death

Daniel is listed as being killed in action on 14 Jul 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The 1st/7th Battalion war diary for the 13th and 14th July are transcribed below.

Bouzincourt 13-7-1916: Fine & warm at 1.30pm Battn moved by motor lorries to just outside Bouzincourt from there we moved in fighting order to Albert where lay down in a field until midnight having had orders thast the Bttn would attack NE of La Boisselle at 7.30am

NE of La Boisselle 14-7-1916: Moved into position in trenches and were heavily shelled going into La Boisselle. At 7.30am, after artillery preparation A&B Coys proceeded to assault. They reached their objective. Many casualties resulted chiefly from machine guns the following officers being killed 2nd/Lt Bullock and the following attached officers of the 3rd Dorset Regiment - 2nd Lt Jones, 2nd Lt Baker and 2nd Lt Forman.

We held the trench for 7 hours when we had to evacuate it on account of the enemy's extremely heavy enfilade fire both shell and machine guns. Lieut Col Knox who led the attack and had shown the greatest bravery thoughout was wounded later. Major Hanson them took command of the Bttn.

Our casualties estimated at 150 of whom 68 were reported killed.

[Daniel's name then appears in an appendix listing all those killed and wounded during the attack]
 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
8 Nov 1891 in Leamington Spa 9 May 1892 at St. Peter's RC Church, Leamington
   
Parents Names Abode
George Henry and Elizabeth Compton 7 Warneford Terrace, Leamington Spa 22 Sep 1914
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Ethel Annie Compton nee Kibbler Annie Elizabeth b 22 Sep 1914
Jul Qtr 1914 in Leamington Spa   
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1891 - 31 Albion Row, Leamington Spa 1901 - School age
1901 - 31 Court Street, Leamington Spa 1911 - Printers Machinist
1911 - 4 Ranelagh Street, Leamington Spa  1912 - Soldier in Royal Warwicks Territorials
1914 - 16 Waterloo Street, Leamington Spa  
   
  • Served in the name Daniel Compton - name confirmed via names of relatives on CWGC website