Name
Wilfred Tompkins
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/07/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
57897
Cheshire Regiment
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BELGIAN BATTERY CORNER CEMETERY
I E 13
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Markyate memorials, Bury Park United Reform Church, Luton, Book of Remembrance, WW1, Luton
Pre War
Wilfred Tompkins was born Markyate, Flamstead in 1889 to Thomas William Tompkins, baker, and Sarah Annie (nee Goodyear).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Winifred Augusta (born 1883), Marian Elizabeth (born 1884), Eleanor Couper (born 1886) and Wilfred were living at London Road, Flamstead.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Maria Elizabeth & Eleanor Couper (straw hat finishers), Wilfred and Rosalinde (born 189) were living at Lindin (London Jul 1917?) Road, Markyate.
On the 1911 Census Wilfred was a coach painter and was living with his parents, Winifred (straw hat finisher), Eleanor, (milliner), & Rosalind at 42 Maple Road, Luton
Wartime Service
Wilfred volunteered as a Territorial Soldier for an engagement of 4 Years on 21 Apr 1915. He was embodied (taken into service) as Sapper 2221 Royal Engineers, 2/2 Field Company in the East Anglian Division (TF).
On 8 Dec 1916 Wilfred was transferred to 64 Reserve Brigade for Infantry training with a further transfer on 29 Dec 1916 before being posted to B E F leaving Southampton on 30 Dec 1917 and arriving at 4 Infantry Base Depot Rouen on 31 Dec 1916 as Private 59897 Cheshire Regiment. On 11 Feb 1917 he left Depot to join 1st Cheshires in the field joining them on 13 Feb. On 6 Apr 1917 he reported sick with Tonsilitis and was evacuated through 3 Canadian Field Ambulance to 14 VAD Hospital, Maidstone.
He returned to France on 15 Jun 1917 being initially posted to 13 Battalion, however Wilfred was posted to 11 (Service) Battalion, Cheshires on 9 Jul 1917, probably as a replacement following the Battle of Messines (7-14 Jun 1917). Wilfred was killed in action on 12 Jul 1917.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £9 10s and arrears of £8 17s 7d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
