Name
Cyril Alfred Tompkins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
41157
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ADANAC MILITARY CEMETERY, MIRAUMONT
Plot IV, Row D, Grave 38.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, Not on the Croxley Green memorials
Pre War
Cyril Tompkins was born on 4 October 1898 in Croxley Green and christened there on 1 January 1899. His parents were Arthur and Annie Tompkins (Nee Dell). Arthur came from Berkhamsted and Annie from Bovingdon.
His parents married 17 February 1890 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley, Herts. Arthur died 12 July 1921 in Watford aged 58, and was buried 14 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Annie died 7 August 1955 in Watford aged 85, and was buried 10 August, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Cyril was born 4 October 1898 in Croxley Green, Herts, and baptised 1 January 1899 at All Saints, Croxley Green.
In 1901 they kept a butcher’s shop next to the blacksmith’s and just along from the Sportsman pub in Scots Hill, Croxley Green.
He attended Victoria Junior School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 8 January 1907 to 28 July 1910. He won a County Scholarship to Watford Grammar School, from September 1910 to July 1913. He resided in Watford.
In 1911 they had moved to 304 Hagden Lane where the family still kept a butcher’s shop. Arthur and Annie had three sons, Arthur, Percival and Cyril.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Wartime Service
Private Cyril Tompkins 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, formerly 45961 Suffolk Regiment.
In August 1918 Cyril’s unit joined the decisive Allied offensive at the Somme. On 19 August they were at Sailly-au-bois and on 21 August they moved forward to attack early in the morning, meeting relatively slight resistance. On 23 August it was a different matter. The battalion had advanced to positions at Achiet-le-petit, near Bapaume. At 11 am they attacked the ridge at Achiet-le-grand. They overran the German position with a bayonet charge but suffered badly from machine gun fire.
Their commanding officer Lt. Colonel Courtenay was wounded severely and later died. Altogether 8 officers were killed and 2 wounded. There were 129 other ranks killed and wounded, including Cyril.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action at Achiet-le-Petit.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“TOMPKINS, CYRIL ARTHUR. School period: September, 1910, to July, 1913. Lewis Gunner, Bedfordshire Regiment. Enlisted in April, 1917, in 3rd Suffolks; transferred to 1st Bedfordshires. Italy and France. Killed in action at Achiet-le-Petit, 23rd August, 1918.”
Unfortunately, Cyril’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a Death announcement for Cyril in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 28 September 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 23 August 1919. After the war the army paid Cyril’s father £14 0s 7d.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Brian Thomson
