Hometown Hero:
JACK CROMPTON, FOUGHT WITH THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY, DIED AT PASSCHENDAELE
Diane Carl
Submitted article
It occurred to me that some of the men listed on the Wainwright memorial as well as many of those who came from the Edgerton or Wainwright area and who had served in various conflicts no longer had anyone to speak for them. Therefore I took it upon myself to research and write what I could regarding as many of these men as I knew about since it seemed only right that they should also be remembered in the new Legion publications. One old soldier was involved in the South African War but the remaining five were WW1 vets.
One of these men, named on the Wainwright clock cenotaph was J Crompton. I thought this might be the Jack Crompton who had once homesteaded land near Rosedale church, land that my father (Stanley Postans) had ultimately purchased after WW2. Sure enough, it was but except for an article and a couple of pictures in the Edgerton history book, there were no further clues as to Jack's military service during WW1... nothing in the national archives or elsewhere.
So, how did Jack's name get on the clock? Why was there no military records anywhere for Jack? According to local resident and Legion member, Chester Zajic, it didn't matter which of the allied countries Jack served with, if he was killed in action his name would be on the Wainwright memorial since he had lived in the community.
Where to look for Jack's military records, or any info on Jack for that matter? Except for info in the Edgerton book (submitted by my uncle) no information on Jack was to be found anywhere. But genealogy is my hobby and there is nothing better than a good mystery. I located a website created by a Richard Crompton of Oxley (sic) England and a bit of info on the website regarding his relative John Henry Crompton seemed to fit into what info I had about Jack's background.
John Henry (Jack) Crompton served with the Australian army, was killed in action at Passchendaele and is buried (sic) and memorialized at the Menin Gate and on the Wainwright memorial clock cenotaph.
It almost seems that after nearly a century, Jack Crompton has "come home again" to Wainwright. Richard Crompton wanted to send a memorial for Jack Crompton for the Nov. 11 Remembrance Day service in Wainwright this year.
J Crompton's name was read aloud in the roll call of local World War I servicemen killed in action.
John Henry Crompton, No. 4 Platoon, 'A' Company, 42nd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force was born Lowthorpe, East Yorkshire November 4, 1875. He Homesteaded in Greenshields, Alberta 1906-1914. He enlisted Elimbah, Queensland, December 6, 1915, at aged 40 years.
Crompton was wounded October 4, 1917 on the objective line below Tyne Cot Cemetery and Passchendaele Ridge.
Whilst being stretchered to the rear, he was killed by a shell and buried, facing the enemy, by the Ypres-Rouliers railway at Zonnebeke, Belgium.
Today this Yorkshireman and Wainwright resident is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, as an Australian.
“… after nearly a century, Jack Crompton has come home to Wainwright.”
- Diane Carl
THE EDGE
Wainwright, AB Friday, November 19, 2010