Nellie, the fourth child of Whyrill, was born 03 March 1912 (GRO ref: Stockport  8a 40)

Above: Nellie's baptism in the Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Chapel register. Source: Manchester City Archives: Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Baptism Record - 1909-1953 Ref: Box C22/5 C22/24 (Accessed: 29 February 2020)

In the 1939 Register Nellie was a single woman looking after her two brothers at 113 Knott Lane.

1939 England and Wales Register 29 September 1939
ED Area code:     LFC
ED District code: C
Sched no:         102
Dwelling:         113 Knott Lane
Borough,UD,RD:    Hyde, Cheshire

Names              Sex   D of B   Status  Personal Occupation            Others
Crompton Nellie     F   03mar1912    S    Unpaid domestic duties
Crompton Charles H  M   11mar1916    S    Draughtsman (Elec. switchgear)    
Crompton Frances    M   21sep1915    M    Fancy Leather Worker

The National Identity Number devised from this Registration would have been: Enumeration Area code+Emuneration District code+Schedule number+position in house

On 22 December 1945, at the age of 38, 36387 Leading Wren Nellie CROMPTON married Petty Officer, Storekeeper Aleck SHAW of 'Silverdale', Cleethorpes Road, Sholing, Southampton. Nellie married from 113 Knott Lane, Hyde, the home of her late father, which she had inherited. (GRO ref: Hyde 8a 295) Right: 113 Knott Lane, Hyde in 2009. This house and the rest of Knott Lane, was built by Crompton Brothers.

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Above: Nellie CROMPTON and Aleck SHAW in the Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Chapel's marriage register. Source: Manchester City Archives: Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Marriage Record - 1909-1953 Ref: Box C22/5 C22/24 (Accessed: 29 February 2020)

Right: The GRO marriage record for the fourth quarter 1945

Aleck SHAW, born in the fourth quarter of 1920, was a native of Stockport.

Although Nellie had inherited the family home of 113 Knott Lane, Hyde, she and her brother Charlie made an arrangement that allowed Charlie and Frances to remain in 113 Knott Lane until they moved to Leeds. Nellie and Aleck moved to a pre-fabricated bungalow in Bitterne, Southampton where Aleck was in the Merchant Navy.

Aleck's merchant navy career

The New York Passenger lists 1820-1957 (Ancestry.com) suggests that Aleck's merchant navy career on passenger liners began in 1922 at the age of 16 and 5ft 9 inches (1.75m). It continued, with an interruption for Royal Navy war service, believed to be on the Russian convoys, until the age of 48 in May 1954. His career always seemed to be on the trans-Atlantic crossings, predominantly on newish high quality ships of the Belgium Red Star Line. Although this served the Antwerp-New York route, Southampton was a port en-route. His seaman's ticket number was 1069049. The information, given below, may not be a comprehensive list.

Aleck's merchant navy career may have started on the Red Star Line's luxury liner Belganland (Ship number 140517) on the Antwerp-Southampton- New York run. He seems to have been a youth of about 5'8" (1.47) and 130 pounds (59kg). It is possible that Aleck sailed on the Belgenland's maiden voyage, which was on 04 April 1923. He was certainly employed as a bell boy on the voyage of 27 July 1923. The standard of luxury, described below, explains the necessity for a young bell boy. Right: Red Star Line's Belgenland

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In all these sailings he appears to have signed on in Antwerp and made the round trip.

Originally, the ship was intended to be the world's largest liner, with a length of 1000 foot (305m) and a gross tonnage of about 80,000 tons, named Ceric. However, during construction she was modified as a troopship the dimensions were reduced and she was renamed Belgic. In April 1921, she was laid up at Liverpool until March 1922 when Harland & Wolff, Belfast rebuilt her with a four deck superstructure and a third smokestack. Her tonnage was increased to over 27,000 gross tons. The Belgenland became the world's ninth largest ocean liner, being 697ft. (212.5m) long and 78.5ft. (24m) beam.

She was given to the Red Star Line of Antwerp and renamed Belgenland, making her Red Star’s largest and most luxurious ship. She could accommodate 2700 passengers — 454 in first class being designed to provide the greatest possible degree of comfort for every passenger. She was the largest steamship plying to the port of Antwerp.

The Belgenland remained on her Antwerp, Southampton and New York route for a decade. Occasionally she spent time on extensive world and winter cruises. On 4 December 1924 she embarked on a 133-day world cruise — one of the longest attempted by a luxury liner at the time - advertised as "The Largest Ship to Circle the Globe".

In April 1927 her accommodation was altered to 1st, 2nd, tourist and 3rd class, and in May 1929 to 1st, tourist and 3rd class.

In the arrangement of her decks, and also in her living quarters for passengers in all three classes, the Belgenland possessed a number of striking features. Her staterooms and private suites in first class met the demands of a fashionable and luxury-loving travelling public, while her rooms in second and third class set a standard that was not excelled. The first class sleeping apartments were distinguished by their varied and luxurious character. In the suites, both large and small, were found double beds of metal with hair mattresses, quite as large and luxurious as the finest beds on shore. Wash basins provided hot and cold running water.

Buffets in the dining saloon had electric devices keeping dishes warm during a meal. Small tables predominated in the ultra modern restaurant. Out of a total of 370 seats in the main dining hall, 180 were at two-seated tables. The remainder were at four-seated and six-seated tables.

The reception hall, or palm court was the full width of the ship and of generous length. This area was designed to be the social centre of the ship for those who loved conversation, a cigarette, or after-dinner coffee. Here, too, the orchestra — with a superb grand piano as one of the instruments — gave concerts and played for dancing. The general atmosphere was that of a fashionable club at a Continental pleasure resort.

Her last Antwerp - New York voyage started on 17th June1932 after which there were many New York-West Indies cruises. On 18th March1933, she commenced her last crossing from New York to Southampton, Havre and Antwerp and was then laid up.

Source: The GG Archives (Accessed 29 February 2020)

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Aleck sailed in the SS Minnewaska (Ship number 145433) from 1925 to 1926 promoted first from bell boy to assistant steward and then as engineering steward.

SS Minnewaska (IV) was a 21,716-ton ocean liner of the Atlantic Transport Line and the Red Star Line from 1923–1933. Minnewaska was laid down at the Harland & Wolff Ltd, shipyard, Belfast, in 1923 at a cost of £1,175,000. In 1923, it had accommodation for 369 first class passengers, but was, at 21,716 tons, primarily the largest cargo carrier afloat. From 1924, her captain was Commander Frank H. Claret, OBE, RNR, who made 52 voyages in command of this ship. Right: SS Minnewaska

She began her maiden voyage from London to New York on 1 September 1923. As well as carrying more passengers the ship offered additional facilities for them including a lounge and a reception room the full width of the ship, designed for dancing. Another improvement was the glazing of the fore portion of the promenade deck to provide a measure of shelter.

Minnewaska made her first Red Star voyage, from Antwerp-New York, on 13 May 1932. By the autumn of 1933, she was no longer needed by Red Star. Her last Atlantic crossing was in September 1933, and she was sold for scrap.

The Dining Room was large enough to accommodate all passengers at one sitting, most of them assigned to small and intimate tables. The largest table — the captain's table — occupied pride of place, but the surgeon, chief engineer, and purser also presided over smaller tables nearby.

The reception room at the foot of the main staircase filled the entire width of the ship. One corner housed a grand piano and the opposite corner an organ. The parquet floor was designed for dancing to professional musicians.

Source: The Atlantic Transport Line, 1881-1931 and The Atlantic Transport Line: cabins where there were online extensive plans and photographs of the passenger accommodation where Aleck would have worked.

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Left: Minnewaska brochure 1924 Right: Minnewaska poster 1924

Between mid-1926 and mid-1927 Aleck continued his service with the Red Star Line, transferring to the SS Lapland (Ship number 137398). His role, on the crew list, which gives his seaman's ticket number as 1069049, is described as 2nd class waiter. Aleck has put on weight and is now recorded as 150lbs.

SS Lapland was a passenger ship built by the Harland & Wolff for the Red Star Line of Antwerp and launched 27 June 1908. She was a 17,540 gross ton ship, length 605.8ft (185m) x beam 70.4ft (21.5m), two funnels, four masts, twin screw and a speed of 17 knots. She sailed from Antwerp on her maiden voyage to Dover and New York on 10 April 1909 under the Belgian flag. There was accommodation for 450-1st, 400-2nd 1,500-3rd class passengers. Right: Red Star Line's Lapland

After being a troopship, Lapland was refitted to 18,565 gross tons with passenger accommodation for 389-1st, 448-2nd and 1,200-3rd class passengers.  Lapland resumed service for the Red Star Line, but under the British flag, on 03 January1920 when she sailed from Antwerp for Southampton and New York. In April 1927 she was altered to carry cabin, tourist and 3rd class passengers.

On 29 April 1932 Lapland started her last voyage between Antwerp, Southampton, Havre, New York, Cobh and Antwerp. She was scrapped at Osaka in 1934.

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According to records on 27 August 1927 was Aleck only voyage on the RMS Tuscania (Ship number 146307).

Anchor Line's Tuscania was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering of Glasgow. Launched in 1921, she made her maiden voyage from Glasgow to New York on 16 September 1922. She served on that route and on Anchor's New York-Mediterranean service until 1926, when she was chartered to Cunard and repainted in Cunard colours. She returned to Anchor in 1931, and was used on a variety of services, including one Southampton-New York voyage for Cunard in 1931. She was scrapped in Japan in 1961. Right: RMS Tuscania in Cunard colours

Aleck was a third class waiter for Cunard, on the RMS Tuscania sailings from London and Southampton to New York until 1930, when she was laid up for several months. I suspect Aleck left the ship when it returned to Anchor Lines and left the trans-Atlantic run he favoured.

On 16 March 1931, Aleck was on the Pennland (Ship number 145933), back to the Antwerp-New York run with the Red Star Line but as an assistant store keeper.

The Pennland was a 16,322 gross ton ship, built as the Pittsburgh by Harland & Wolff, Belfast for the American Line. Her length was 574.4ft (170m) and beam 67.8ft. (20.5m). She had two funnels, two masts, triple screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was accommodation for 600- cabin and 1,500-3rd class passengers. Laid down in November 1913, her building was delayed by the war and she was not launched until 11 November1920.

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On 20 January 1925  Pittsburg was chartered to Red Star Line and commenced Antwerp - Southampton - Halifax - New York sailings. Renamed Pennland, she started her first voyage under this name on the same route on 02 April 1926 and in January1930 was refitted to carry tourist and 3rd class passengers. Her last Antwerp - Havre - Southampton - New York - Havre - London - Antwerp voyage started on 16 November 1934 and she then went to Bernstein Red Star Line of Hamburg. Taken over by the British Ministry of War Transport, she served as a troopship until 25 April 1941 when she was bombed and sunk by German aircraft in the Gulf of Athens. Source: The Ships List Right: Red Star Line's Pennland (Accessed 29 February 2020)

Aleck's last recorded pre-war ship was the Red Star Line's Westernland (Ship number 140596) on which he made at least three voyages in 1932, still as an assistant store keeper.

The Westernland was built as the Regina by Harland & Wolff, Glasgow in 1917 and was a 16,313 gross ton ship, length 574.4ft x beam 67.8ft, completed as a cargo steamer with one funnel and one mast, triple screw and a speed of 15 knots. She was launched on 19 April 1917 for the Dominion Line, but went to Harland & Wolff, Belfast in August 1920 for conversion to a passenger vessel. Here she was fitted with two funnels, two masts, an upper promenade deck, and accommodation for 600-cabin and 1,700-3rd class passengers.

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In 1929 she was sold to Red Star Line of Antwerp, renamed Westernland and commenced Antwerp-Southampton-Cherbourg-New York voyages on 10 January 1930 with tourist and 3rd class passengers. On 30 November 1934 she started her last Antwerp-Havre- Southampton- New York-Havre-London-Antwerp voyage and in 1935 went to Bernstein Red Star Line of Hamburg. In November 1942, she was bought by the British Admiralty and used as a repair ship, being scrapped at Blyth in 1947. Right: Red Star's Westernland

After his war service and perhaps thinking more of his family Aleck transferred to Cunard White Star and the Mauretania (Ship number 166267), sailing out of Southampton. His recorded sailings are from August 1950 to May 1954, but this may have begun after his demobilisation. Now in his mid-late forties Aleck's weight had crept up to 160lbs, but with maturity and experience he rose to being a first class waiter.

RMS Mauretania was launched on 28 July 1938 at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, England and was completed on 27 May 1939, and was the largest ship built in England at that time. The Mauretania was the first ship built for the newly formed Cunard White Star company following the merger in April 1934 of the Cunard and White Star lines. The new liner had a tonnage of 35,739 gross, an overall length of 772 feet (235m) and a beam of 89 feet (27m) and a maximum speed of 26 knots. Right: Cunard White Star's Mauretania

The ship was designed for the London to New York service with accommodation for 563 1st class, 464 2nd class, 1,138 3rd class passengers.

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After a complete post-war overhaul and refurbishment of the interior, Mauretania made her first post-war trans-Atlantic crossing to New York, departing on 26 April 1947 After using Liverpool as her home port for the first two voyages she was thereafter based at Southampton. Here she acted as the relief ship for Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, standing in on the trans-Atlantic service when one of them was undergoing maintenance. For the next ten years she served on the Southampton to New York route during the summer months and operated on cruises from New York during the winter months.

On the second trip Aleck was given 'shore leave whilst vessel in port, not to exceed 29 days'.

Their children

Their three sons were born in Southampton.

Ian in the fourth quarter of 1946 and
Derek in the second quarter of 1950

Their second child, Aleck, was born in the second quarter of 1948
but died in the September quarter of 1948 of intussusception in which part of the intestine has folded into another section of intestine, similar to the way in which the parts of a collapsible telescope slide into one another. This can often result in an obstruction. Source: Wendy EVANS

Derek's GRO birth entry records his birth on the Isle of Wight, which is in the Registration District of Southampton.

He was married in the third quarter of 1972 to Gay WHIFFEN in Romsey, north of Southampton
who was born in the third quarter of 1951

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Nellie and Aleck's death

Aleck died on 29 April 1971 (Probate and GRO ref: Southampton 6b 1695)  at 330 Spring Road, Sholing, Southampton leaving an estate of £875.

Nellie died in the third quarter of 1998 (GRO ref: Southampton D56A 500LD 10). Left: Nellie, Frank and Charlie CROMPTON taken before Charlie's death in 1990 Source: Wendy EVANS

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass			Version A7 Updated 10 June 2023