Driver James William COMPTON MM
Army Service Corps 223914

The Compton family first appeared in Woodnewton, when James Compton from Nassington married Mary Elizabeth Hull in 1882.  The Hull family had been living in Woodnewton since the middle of the 1700’s and descendants are still living in the village today.  The couple lived in a cottage at the east end of the village, possibly tied to the Willowbrook Farm as James (senior) was listed as a Labourer during the 1881 census.

Mary went on to give birth to 13 children of which two died at birth.  James William was her first child, born in 1885.

On the 1911 Census, James William is described as being a ‘horse keeper on farm’, could his father and siblings all have been working together at a farm belonging to Apethorpe Estate.  In 1909, James William married Ellen Cooke from Cranfield, Bedfordshire. (Picture shows James and Ellen on their engagement day).

They had two sons, born 1909  and 1911, surely James would not have volunteered during 1914 to go into the Army?    When James had to enlist he joined the Army Service Corp as a driver.  We know from records that James was awarded the Military Medal, which was introduced by a Royal Warrant, dated 25 March 1916, and an appeal in June 1916 to leave the Army with a reason that he was needed to run the Estate farm was granted. We know from the 1921 census that James returned to work at Apethorpe Estate.

James died at the young age of 49 yrs in 1935, but his widow Ellen remained in St Mary’s Hill, Woodnewton, until she died in 1988 at the age of 97 years.  They are both buried in the churchyard.

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