John Thomas Compton

Story:
John Thomas Compton was born in Alvediston, Wiltshire, on 30th May 1895 and baptised at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 7th July 1895, the son of George Digby Compton and Jane Elizabeth Compton (née Isgar). He lived most of his life in and around Alvediston where his father was licensee of The Crown Inn. He enlisted on 1st October 1915 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 32075) and later transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (Service No. 2090).  He served in both Salonika from Sep 1916 and France & Flanders from 11 Aug 1917.  He was wounded on at least three occasions and spent much time in various hospitals.  The last wound was a gunshot wound in the neck for which he was transferred to the Graylingwell Military Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, and later to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Wokingham, Berkshire, until 31st December 1918.  On discharge from hospital he was transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers (Service No. 33428).  He was demobilized shortly after on 26th February 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals.  He married Mary Elizabeth West at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 18 May 1921 and the 1921 Census shows they set up home in Elcombe Lane, Alvediston. John was then described as a Smallholder. Mary and he went on to have at least five children.  By the 1939 Register he was living adjacent to Billingham House, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer and Rabbit Catcher.  His death at the age of 90 years was registered in the Warminster, Wiltshire, district in 1986.