This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1.
Crampton, William Ernest
(1889-1968)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Gunner

Service Number 131056

Service Army

Battalion

Regiment Royal Field Artillery

Pre-war Occupation*/marital status**

Trade or Occupation pre-war: Auctioneer's clerk
Marital status: Married


* Taken from attestation papers or 1911 census
** Marital status on enlistment or at start of war
Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Lived in Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite immediately prewar or during the war
  • Named on war village memorials or Roll of Honour
  • Named as an Absent Voter due to Naval or Military Service on the 1918 or 1919 Absent Voter list for Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite

Biography

Family background

William Ernest Crampton was born in Leeds on the 11th November 1889, the son of William James Smith Crampton and his wife, Mary Jane Crampton. In 1911 the family were living in Northgates, Wetherby. William, aged 21, was living with his parents and was employed as an auctioneer's clerk. On the 29th October 1913, William married Florence Milner in Collingham parish church and five years later, in the electoral roll for Linton, he was living at Hawthorn Cottage, Linton.

Service record

William is shown on both the electoral rolls for 1918 and 1919 as being Absent due to Naval or Military Service. He served as Gunner WE Crampton in the Royal Field Artillery with a service number of 131056.

William attested for army service on the 24th November 1915 but was immediately placed in the army reserve. He was eventually mobilised in York on the 12th April 1916 and was posted as a driver in No. 1 (TF) Artillery Training School. After some training, William was posted to No. 1 Reserve Brigade RFA on the 14th August 1916. On the 5th October 1916, he was mustered as a gunner in the RFA and on the 30th November 1916 he started his service in France, first with 46th Divisional Artillery at 50th Base Depot, but later (on the 2nd December) being posted to 6th Divisional Artillery, and later again (on the 8th December) he joined 87/2 Brigade RFA.

He stayed with that unit throughout the war, but in May 1919 (on the 3rd), just prior to his return to the UK, William was posted as a driver to the Midland Divisional Ammunition Column.

On the 23rd June 1919 William left France and returned to the UK. He developed a hernia and was discharged as unfit for military service under King's Regulations on the 12th September 1919.

After the war

After the war, William returned to Linton and lived from 1918 to 1924 at Hawthorn Cottage, Linton. However he does not appear on the electoral roll for Linton in 1925. By 1939, William and Florence were living at The Paddock, Easingwold. He gave his occupation as an agricultural auctioneer and valuer.

William Ernest Crampton died in 1968 aged 78.

Biography last updated 25 November 2019 14:36:10.

Sources

1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 25944
First World War Medal Index Cards. The National Archives (WO372).
First World War Medal Index Rolls. The National Archives (WO329).

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info