213625 Pte. Fred Cumpstey British Army 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade from:Blackburn My Grandfather, Fred Cumpstey, was born on 7 September 1883 in Blackburn, Lancashire. He married Clara Heyes in Blackburn on 27 September 1902.
At the outbreak of the Great War he volunteered to join Kitchener’s 2nd Army and at the time of his Enlistment on 4 September 1914 he was 31 years of age and at that time had 4 young children, ages 8 years, 7 years, 4 years and 12 months old.
He joined the 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own), which was formed in Winchester in September 1914 subsequently moving to Blackdown in February 1915, to Witley and then in April 1915 to Larkhill. On 21 July 1915, the Battalion arrived at Southampton Docks and in the evening embarked on SS Viper to sail to Havre, France. The following day they arrived in St Omer before marching into billets at Tatinghem.
My Grandfather was severely wounded in the fierce fighting which occurred on 25 September 1915 at Pietre in a battle which was associated with the Battle of Loos. He survived, and was subsequently discharged on 16 May 1917 as a consequence of his wounds. Although disabled, his right leg was pinned at the knee and he suffered other injuries as a result of mortar fire and shrapnel, he lived an active and fulfilling life until his death in March 1963 in his 80th year. He was a remarkable man and my hero.
|