The National Archives (TNA) holds no obvious service record from the officer (WO 339 and WO 374) or other ranks records. An officer’s file originally had three parts but two of these were destroyed by enemy action in September 1940. What remains was heavily weeded prior to 1940 and in many cases this means that nothing remains for many officers. Left: Harry CROMPTON in the uniform of a second lieutenant of the Royal Artillery taken after 10 March 1915 Courtesy: Sheila Mellstrom

The Army Lists plot Harry's time in the army. In June 1915, he was based at Wenlock Barracks, Anlaby Road, Hull. A year later, in July 1916, the Army Lists record Harry still in Hull but was gaining experience with the 2/Northumberland Ammunition Column.

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Right: Harry Crompton, Doncaster 1915 with three of his 2/Northumberland Ammunition Column comrades, possibly England, Watson and Filby Courtesy: Sheila Mellstrom

Harry's medal index card gives some basic information concerning his service.

Page one confirms his known name; that he served in the R[oyal]F[ield]A[rtillery] part of the T[erritorial]F[orce]; with the rank of Lieutenant and Captain. It does not distinguish between substantive and temporary rank. It confirms that Harry was entitled to the Victory and British [War Medal] together with the access reference in the medal book. Harry was not entitled to the 1914 Star or the 1914-15 Star because he entered the French theatre of war in June 1916. Source: TNA WO 372-5-9580 (Accessed 04 September 2010)

This second card confirms Harry's attachment to the 63rd D[ivisional] A[mmunition] C[olumn] of the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) (Territorial Force). It also mentions that he was M[entioned] I[n] D[ispatches] with the post dated 23 December 1918. It is suspect that this is in the units end of war report and was awarded for cumulative good work. Source: Ancestry (Accessed 25 March 2021)

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These chronological composite images of The London Gazette records Harry's promotions.

Above: Harry's official resignation dated two years after the end of the war on 10 November 1920, interestingly from his original battalion

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To France

The first page of the War Diary of the Headquarters 63rd (R[oyal] N[aval]) Division Ammunition Column (DAC), for 01 July 1916, records his arrival with the Division in Heytesbury, Wiltshire. This coincides with the first day of the Somme battle.

Above: 63/DAC War Diary 01 July 1916 showing Harry's transfer from 318th Bde RFA

Above: 63/DAC War Diary 03-04 July 1916 showing Harry's departure from Codford for Southampton on 03 July 1916 and his arrival at Le Havre the next day

The War Diaries, apart from dates and locations, contain little information other than the movement of men and animals.

63/Divisional Ammunition Column

The Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC) was a unit in its own right. Its efficiency supplying ammunition throughout the division. It efficiency would have been affected if it was used simply as a replacement pool of men. All ammunition columns were officered and manned by the RFA. They are not reserved exclusively to their own brigades, or divisions but were called upon to supply ammunition to any unit requiring it during an action. Based some miles to the rear the divisional and corps troops, they, on the one hand replenish the empty wagons of the columns in front, and on the other drew fresh supplies from the depots on the line of communication. Teams, wagons and materiel needed to move the ammunition were generally provided by liaising with the Army Service Corps (ASC). The ASC provided the skills, abilities and transport and were the foundation of support for the RFA. ²

The official war establishment for a New Armies Divisional Ammunition Column in 1915 lists a total of 12 officers, one Warrant Officer, ten Sergeants, 32 artificers and 473 Other Ranks (OR) making a total establishment of 528: with a Base detachment of 49. When the DACs absorbed the separate RFA brigade ammunition columns in May 1916, the establishment increased to 16 officers and about 800 men. In January 1917, when divisional artilleries were reduced to two brigades, the numbers in the DAC were reduced to 15 officers and about 700 OR, and later in 1917 to 15 officers and about 600 OR. By August 1918, they were further reduced to 15 officers and 569 OR.

As part of the 63rd (Royal Naval) DAC, Harry would be one of the fifteen or sixteen officers.

Some of the Royal Field Artillery units attached to 63/DAC and supplied by 63/DAC included 223 Brigade, 315 Brigade, 316 Brigade and 317 Brigade, all of which were attached to the Royal Naval Division.

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Somewhere in France 1916

At some point in 1916, Captain David Nelson VC of L Battery RFA, the hero of Néry 1 , circled white, visited 63/DAC. Harry is circled black. Right: Harry Crompton with officers of 63/DAC and Nelson VC. The legend reads D Nelson Capt RA VC Courtesy: Sheila Mellstrom

63/DAC's journeys in 1916 and on the Somme

Above: The journey of Harry and 63/DAC in 1916 from Le Havre to the Somme Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window

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63/DAC arrived on the Somme at Forceville on 23 October 1916 in preparation for the Royal Naval Division's attack at Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre: the last battle of the Somme campaign fought between 13-18 November 1916. Forceville was far enough behind the front line to hold an ammunition dump.

It is known that 63/Division's headquarters was based at Mesnil-Martinsart prior to the attack. Since this village had a railway station, on a spur from the Albert-Paris line in the Ancre valley to Mailly-Maillett, it is possible that Harry used this line to move ammunition: Mailly-Maillett being 5km from Forceville.

Above: A trench map locating Mesnil station and artillery positions 57D SE42B Oviller and surroundings Trenches correct 11 June 1916

Harry's first cousin, Charles Reginald Crompton (Reg) was mortally wounded on the Ancre on 23 April 1918 defending Mesnil-Martinsart.

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Above: A panoramic view within the flooded Ancre Valley, taken from near Hamel, looking towards Miraumont in October 1916 Source: IWM Q.1545

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63/Divisional Artillery at Beaucourt 13-18 November 1916

• 315 Brigade's War Diary is a basic list of sick horses, personnel and movements. On 6 October 1916 the unit arrived in Forceville for four days, followed by a period at Colincamps. On 18 October the unit moved back to Forceville and then alternated with a location at Mesnil, until the end of November 1916. On 1 December the unit left the area.
• 317 Brigade's War Diary movements is similar to those of 315/Brigade being based at Forceville before moving up to Mesnil on 1 November 1916, with one battery positioned near Mesnil station. The War Diary then details nightly firing operations, at 20 rounds per gun per night, before firing supporting barrages on the enemy lines from 13 November 1916. These appear to be irregularly timed barrages in preparation for the pending attack and were from dawn for about ten hours with pauses before a second barrage prior to the night shooting. Counter battery and counter attack firing is mentioned. The War Diary records assisting the attack of 112 Infantry Brigade on 23 November before withdrawing.
• 223 Brigade arrived Forceville on 7 October 1916 and followed the same pattern of location. Activities included wire cutting, supporting a raiding party of 189/Brigade. From 1 November 1916 batteries were based behind Mesnil station. During the month protective barrages were fired on the enemy front line for several hours, along with regular night shoots of ten round per hour. Towards the middle of the month the Battery was on standby before withdrawing to Forceville on 30 November 1916, when unused ammunition was removed to the dump.

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63/DAC's journeys in 1917 and to Passchendaele

Above: The journey of Harry and 63/DAC in 1917 from the Somme to Passchendaele and back Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window

According the 63/DAC War Diary the unit arrived in Poperinghe on 11 October 191. Poperinghe was the railway town 6.5miles/10.75km east of Ypres. It was in time for the final throws of the Third Battles of Ypres and Second Passchendaele. A week later the War Diary records a unit move to an unnamed location northeast of Poperinghe (Grid reference 28NW1 B.20.c), near Hospital Farm Camp. Although I do not have access to a trench map of that date, the map of 21 July 1918 would be little changed. Note the numerous railway lines emanating from the Poperinghe area in the direction of Ypres, able to feed troops and ammunition into the Salient. 63/DAC’s site have a marked railway siding and presumably storage and loading facilities for ammunition.

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Above: Trench map 28NW1 Elverdinge trenches correct 21 July 1918. 63/DAC was located in the red square. Poperinge is in the map's southwest corner. Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window

The report on operations for 63rd Royal Naval Division from 24 October to 05 November 1917 ³ is not available for download. However, the War Diaries of one component, 188/Brigade ², give a flavour of the Divisions action and the reason for Harry’s 63/DAC being there to supply ammunitions.

On 23 October 1917, 188/Brigade and two battalions of 189/Brigade, of 63/Royal Naval Division, moved to a forward area east of the Yser Canal, north of Ypres. Leather jerkins under Greatcoats were ordered. On 24 October 1/Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI) and Anson Battalion moved into the front line, Howe Battalion remainder in support at Chedder Villa (C.17.c.5.0) and 2/RMLI in reserve at Irish Farm (C.27.a.2.6).

The immediate Battle Narrative is limited. The attack at 5.40am on the 26/27 October, south-east of Poelcappelle, was preceded by a problematic 48 hours British bombardment, which contributed to the heavy state of the ground, particularly 300-400 yards from the start. This made it difficult to rush pillboxes and sniper posts when barrage lifted. Rifles, Lewis Guns, bombs and rifle grenades clogged with mud and were of little use. There were other problems with the artillery. The shrapnel barrage was too high so troops went under the barrage to where the high explosive British shells were falling on the advancing troops. The counter battery work, to destroy the German artillery, was ineffectual: indeed at Zero+3 minutes a German barrage fortunately fell behind the attacking troops; the pace of creeping barrage was too fast for the muddy conditions so the troops lost its protection; the barrage did not focus on the known German pillboxes and sniper ridden hedgerows. At this moment, no record of the achievements or the battle casualties have been found. ⁴

188/Brigade’s War Diary for November 1917 shows, along with daily weather reports, that it was resting, recuperating and training as it gradually moved back to Poperinghe.

Notes

• On 26/1/17 one OR died of exposure.
• 29/1/17 to 1/2/17 Harry was based at Ammo Dump 2 at Donnets Post - map reference 57dSE4 Ovillers W.12.d.8.2
• On 18/10/17 the unit were based at 28B.20.c in Belgium in the loction of Poperinge.
• It has not been possible to trace Antremetz - 22/3/17 or Holtje Farm - 5/12/17 though the spelling suggests Belgium.

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Harry on leave

Above: A composite image of 63/DAC War Diary 05 January 1917 showing Harry' going on leave to England

On this occasion Harry's leave is to England. It seems unusual to have two periods of one week's leave in a year. So far no leaves have been discovered for 1918.

Above: A composite image of 63/DAC War Diary 23 November and 9 December 1917 showing Harry' going on leave and returning a day late to Holtje Farm

1918

It is difficult to ascribe a particular set of 1918 battles to 63/DAC because of their limited War Diaries. It would be necessary to consult the War Diaries of 188/Brigade and 189/Brigade. Their 1918 journey to the Armistice and 1919 is shown on the map below.

Above: The journey of Harry and 63/DAC in 1918 to the Armistice and early 1919 Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window

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In 1918, 63 (Royal Naval) Division saw action at:

• The Battle of St Quentin - Operation Michael (21-23 March 1918)
• The Battle of Bapaume - Operation Michael (24-25 March 1918)
• The Battle of Albert - Second Somme (21-23 August 1918)
• The Battle of Drocourt-Queant - breaking the Hindenburg Line (2-3 September 1918)
• The Battle of the Canal du Nord (27 September-1 October 1918)
• The Battle of Cambrai 1918 (8-9 October 1918)
• The passage of the Grand Honelle - a river in Belgium following the Battle of Valenciennes (5-7 November 1918) ⁵

October 1918 have been taken as an example of Harry's hectic activities in a period of open warfare moving to the Armistice. War Diaries are only available for 223 and 317/Brigades, both of which operated southeast of Cambrai.

Above: Artillery movement of 223/Bde and 317/Bde RFA, part of Royal Naval Division's artillery October 1918 Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window

During the month of October 1918, 317/Brigade was at twelve locations supporting the Second Battle of Cambrai of 8-9 October 1918. In the rapid progress of open warfare the battery moved forward to maintain contact with attacks: on one occasions they were in three locations in three days. On several occasions, the battery moved twice in a day as the attack progressed. 317/Battery’s War Diary records the position of the wagon lines, which would contain the ammunition for the attacks and it is likely they would be supplied by 63/DAC. It is suggested that Harry would have been exceedingly busy at this time. Unfortunately, the author does not have access to the relevant trench maps, which, due to rapid forward movements, were not always kept up-to-date.

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Above: A trench map for October 1918 showing movement and disposition of 233 and 317 Brigade RFA in detail, together with examples of supply lines. Note the distance for a one day advance and the tasks associated with moving ammunition. Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window

By the end of October both Brigade were withdrawn to refit, recalibrate and for further training.

Although Harry appears to have served until 10 November 1920, the Royal Naval Division was demobilised by April 1919. There is no record of whether Harry served with the Army of Occupation in Germany.

Harry's medals

Right: Harry Crompton's medals: The British War Medal with Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) oak leaf and Victory Medal

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Above: A composite image of Harry Crompton gazetted MID on 23 December 1918, page 15031

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Right: Harry Crompton date and place unknown. The mature face suggests a person well experienced in war, so perhaps 1918 Courtesy: Sheila Mellstrom

End notes

1. Army Lists June 1915 to December 1918 National Library of Scotland (Accessed: 25 March 2021) Also Army Lists, The National Archives, which gave data for 1919 and 1920 (Accessed 04 February 2012). The rank of temporary captain had also been found but this isn't confirmed by the National Library of Scotland data.
2. Rob Thompson speaking at a WFA webinar 08 February 2021
3. The National Archives (TNA) ADM 137/3931
4. 188 Brigade War Diary October 1917 TNA WO 95/3108/3 p.110
5. The Long Long Trail (Accessed: 01 April 2021)

Sources:

• 63 Divisional Ammunition Column War Diary 01 July 1916-31 March 1919 TNA WO 95/3102/5
• 223 Brigade Royal Field Artillery War Diary 01 July 1916-31 March 1919 WO TNA WO 95/3102/1
• 315 Brigade Royal Field Artillery War Diary 01 July 1916-31 December 1916 TNA WO 95/3102/2
• 316 Brigade Royal Field Artillery War Diary 01 July 1916-30 September 1916 TNA WO 95/3102/3
• 317 Brigade Royal Field Artillery War Diary 01 July 1916-31 March 1919 WO TNA WO 95/3102/4

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The Affair of Néry The Affair of Néry was a skirmish fought on 1 September 1914 between the British Army and the German Army, part of the Great Retreat from Mons during the early stages of the First World War. Shortly after dawn, a British cavalry brigade preparing to leave their overnight bivouac were attacked by a German cavalry division of about twice their strength. Both sides fought dismounted; the British artillery was mostly put out of action in the first few minutes but a gun of L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, kept up a steady fire for two and a half hours, against a full battery of German artillery. British reinforcements arrived at around 8:00 a.m., counter-attacked the Germans and forced them to retreat; the German division was routed and did not return to combat for several days. Three men of L Battery were awarded the Victoria Cross, including Sergeant (later Major) David Nelson, for their part in the battle. The battery was later awarded the honour title of "Néry", the only British Army unit to have this as a battle honour. After the British and German armies first encountered each other at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914, the outnumbered British Expeditionary Force had begun an orderly and disciplined retreat. The two armies clashed again at the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August, after which the British again withdrew towards the River Marne. As a result of the leisurely German pursuit, the bulk of the British Expeditionary Force was able to withdraw with most engagements being skirmishes between rear guard units and cavalry patrols. On 31 August, in warm weather, the fatigued Expeditionary Force continued falling back to the south-west, crossing the River Aisne between Soissons and Compiègne, with a rear guard provided by the brigades of the Cavalry Division. They halted for the night just south of the Aisne leaving a gap of around five miles between the II and III Corps, which was filled by the 1st Cavalry Brigade of three regiments, stationed at the village of Néry. Right: The Néry gun in action Néry is set in a north-south oriented valley around a small river and is overlooked from the east and west by high bluffs. The main landmark was a sugar factory, just south of the village, where L Battery were billeted. At dawn on 1 September a heavy fog lay in the valley. which delayed the start of the retreat until 0600. The men stood down to rest, watered the horses and prepare breakfast. The teams for the artillery were left harnessed to their guns, but with the limbers lowered to take the weight off the horses. At 5.25 am, a patrol from the 11th Hussars encountered a strong force of enemy cavalry and escaped back to the village taking a dismounted defensive position along the eastern edge of the village. At 5.40 am, machine-guns and light artillery began firing from the high bluffs to the east. The advanced guard of the 4th Cavalry Division was surprised to encounter a British attack on the village. Three guns were moved into firing positions, facing twelve German field guns on the ridge to the east. Two were quickly knocked out, leaving only one gun, under the direction of Captain Bradbury assisted by Sergeant Nelson and three other men. It kept up a steady fire, drawing the attention of the German artillery away from the cavalry, until its ammunition was almost exhausted. Bradbury was hit by a shell whilst trying to fetch more ammunition, and fatally wounded. The gun continued firing under Nelson and Battery Sergeant-Major Dorrell, but finally fell silent sometime before 8am, when reinforcements of the 4th Cavalry Brigade arrived with I Battery RHA and two battalions of infantry from III Corps. In the clearing mist, I Battery began firing directly on the ...

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... German guns, as did the machine guns of the 1st Middlesex Regiment. The German horses took heavy casualties and when the artillery withdrew eight of the guns had to be abandoned for lack of horses to pull them. A squadron of the 11th Hussars pursued the retreating Germans for a mile, taking seventy-eight prisoners, from all six regiments of the German division. L Battery was almost destroyed as an operational unit, losing all five officers and a quarter of its men. It was withdrawn to England to reform and did not see active service again until April 1915 in Gallipoli. Three men of L Battery were awarded the Victoria Cross for their services at Néry; Captain Edward Bradbury, Battery Sergeant-Major George Dorrell, and Sergeant David Nelson. Major David Nelson was killed in action 8 April 1918. Source: Wikipedia See also: David Nelson VC a biography (Accessed: 01 April 2021)

63/RND action at Poelcappelle 63/DAC would have supplied ammunition for this limited action near Poelcappelle on 26 and 28 October 1917 1. The first objective had two companies Anson Battalion attacking on the right over a frontage of 600 yards. 1/Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI) had two and half companies in a line of over 900 yards. On the right the second objective was to be taken by two companies of Howe Battalion attacking over 800 yards. 2 On the left two companies 2/RMLI leap-frogged though 1/RMLI over 800 yards. Hawke Battalion were in reserve at Irish Farm. The left divisional boundary follows the line of the stream. Anson took Varlet Farm at bayonet point. On reaching the first objective, farms were to be converted into strong points against counter attack. Howe Battalion went beyond the Red Line outside the divisional boundary. However, the final positions recorded in the brigadier's report is confusing as the line achieved appears west of the first red dotted line. There are no obvious casualty figures. Above: Trench map 20SE3 Westeroosebeke Trenches correct 17 December 1917 Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window End notes: Text 188/Brigade Report on Operations of 26 and 27 October 1917 TNA WO 95/3108/3 p.54 There is an unaccountable gap between the divisional boundaries and the allotted frontage

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass		Version A9 Updated 03 May 2023