Charles Roderick Blackburn Crompton

Rank:

Captain

Unit at enlistment:

Canadian Army Medical Corps, No. 4 General Hospital

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Commemorated at:

Victoria Public School Honour Roll

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

92 Dufferin Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Physician

Religious denominations:

Methodist

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX June 10, 1915

Sighted No Submarines – Mr. E.B. Crompton Has Received a Letter From His Son, Dr. Charles R.B. Crompton, with the Toronto Base Hospital, Telling of the Trip Across the Atlantic, in a Transport. Devoid of Personal Matters, the Letter Follows:

May 26, 1915
On board S.S Corinthian

We have had a wonderful trip across, but no escort at all until today at 12.50 p.m., when to our great relief, out of the slight fog that was hanging over the smooth sea, two destroyers came suddenly into sight. At first we did not know whether they were British or German vessels, as they were disguised so as to exactly imitate the German type. Then we saw the stern of one of them with the ensign flag flying, and believe me a mighty cheer went up from our boat; then they signaled for quite a long time, using some of our signallers as they did not want to use the wireless, as it might be picked up. After a while when the captain had received his orders, one of them dropped astern and disappeared, going to escort the Carpathian, another transport, not so very far behind us.

You can quite realize that the nervous strain has been considerable, especially since getting into dangerous waters. Many of the nurses for the last three or four days have been going all over the ship with their life belts on and usually rather fidgety and nervous.

In Charge of Hospital

Right from the day we started we were on the look-out for our escort and it is now 11 days since we left. It may seem a long time, and it did, to look forward to, but I have been very busy as I was given charge of the hospital on board. We have had quite an epidemic of sore throats and sea sickness, of course has been in evidence.

We have on board with us the divisional ammunition column and the cycle corps (one division from Toronto, and one from Montreal)

We expect if all goes well and we do not strike a fog to land tomorrow at about 10 or 12 o’clock when I shall cable you as promptly as possible.

The quarters for the men have not been any too rosy, and the food fair – however, there is not much complaining. The doctors have had meals and berths the same as the officers of the contingent, so we have nothing to complain of.

We have two sick parades a day, one at 8.30 a.m. and one at 5 p.m. and we have had quite a bit to do with 1300 men on board. The colonel says we shall likely have a few days’ time off after we arrive, so I am going to take the first opportunity to go and see our own friends in London.

Escorted By Linnet

The destroyer that met us is from Davenport, close to Plymouth, so I expect we are going to land at Plymouth. She was called the “Linnet” and is one of the most modern types; able to make 34 knots an hour, has four torpedo tubes and three four inch guns, one aft one at the bow and one abeam. She is set very low in the water, and I can assure you she was a fine sight for sore eyes, like ours were – sore from looking at them.

We left Montreal about 4 p.m. on Sunday the 16th and came out south of Newfoundland. Any time we saw any sort of a ship in the offing we changed our course. At the moment we are about 180 miles off Land’s End, and be sure we cannot get there too soon to suit me, as I am quite anxious to get my feet on dry land again (leaving the briny deep) on board a tram car, or motor bus, or some form of terra firma locomotion.

Life on the Briny Deep

I do not know, of course, for certain, but we expect to be under canvas for a short time, but just keep the address I left you, and use it until otherwise instructed.

During the voyage we had physical drill twice a day, two sick parades, three meals, and any amount of time for sleeping and reading in the interspace.

I have felt fine all the way over, but we have had some sick men with us, and it almost made you sorry to see them render tribute to Neptune, the way some of them did. The bugle has gone for parade, so I shall have to go for the moment, but will add a few lines at the last minute.

PLYMOUTH, May 27 – 7.40 a.m. The sight coming into harbor has been extremely delightful. My chum and I have been up all night. We passed torpedo boats, torpedo destroyers armed trawlers and little fishing smacks. We came in sight of land at 4.30 this morning, and I can assure you they had about 20 look-outs on the destroyer and on this transport; besides the military and not a periscope or submarines did we see. At 11.30 last night we were going 13 miles an hour, and the Linnet hard by, first alongside and then astern. When two blasts sounded from our whistle (as a signal of some alarm), she just raced like a greyhound, shot past us, back and forth like a spectre ship, and then gradually came back alongside. It felt queer to see our comparatively large ship, and that little greyhound and to think of the comfort she provided us with, on the most dangerous and perilous part of our journey. When she left us this morning at Plymouth bar, three mighty cheers went up from our boat, and be sure, we all meant it.

I am not going on shore until high tide, which will be about 9 o’clock. Thankful that we have been protected from danger during all the journey.

About two days ago our captain had a wireless to the effect that the submarines had been very active off the south coast of Ireland, evidently we have avoided them, and as it is now 8 o’clock and the breakfast gong has sounded, and us we disembark at 9 a.m. with kindest regards, I will close.

Charles. R.B. Crompton

BX December 6, 1915

Hospital is Within The Sound of the Guns – Capt. Crompton Tells of Life With Hospital Corps at Saloniki, Greece

Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Crompton have received a letter from Capt. (Dr.) Charles Crompton, dated Saloniki, Greece, in his letter he says:

November 15, 1915

We are having bright, sunny days and cold nights. The climate is dry so far. We have a good view of the sea and are surrounded by snowcapped mountains. The scenery is simply wonderful, and the sunsets gorgeous. We have a beautiful site for camp; high ground with a gentle slope, and good sanitary conditions. All water is boiled. We have been working night and day, officers as well as men, handling baggage and putting up buildings for stores, officers, nursing sisters and patients. We have only been here a couple of days, but have made great progress; everybody working with whole hearted enthusiasm. We have already room for 90 patients, and it keeps us busy. We have plenty of company in the shape of thousands of pretty little green lizards, which are quite harmless, but I see some fun when the nurses come, which will be soon. We are about six miles from town, and have troops, pack trains, artillery, transports and despatch-riders passing up, and aeroplanes above. We are not far from the front, as we heard the guns last night. I expect we shall soon be very busy, but at present there are only about 5 percent wounded and 95 percent sick.

BX March 30, 1915

Another Brantford Boy Is Going to the Front – Will Care for the Wounded – Charles Crompton to be Assistant Surgeon in Toronto Base Hospital – One of Three Five Year Men Having Best Record at the University

Charles Crompton, son of E.B. Crompton of this city has received a signal honor being chosen as one of three students to act as assistant surgeon in the general base hospital of 1,000 beds, being established by the Toronto General Hospital authorities in France. Mr. Crompton will be assistant to Dr. Primrose, and he expects to be sworn in on Monday next and will leave for the continent at an early date. The selection was made from among the five year men at the university, the three having the best records being chosen. Mr. Crompton has now passed all his examinations except his council, which he will take immediately upon his return from the front.

BX November 27, 1916

Two Brantford Men Returning – Major Frank Elsworth Hicks and Captain Dr. Charles Roderick Blackburn Crompton Were on S.S. Corsican

A Canadian Press dispatch received shortly before noon today stated that the Allan liner Corsican had discharged her passengers at St. John. The passengers included a military party numbering 175 of all ranks, a large civilian passenger list and a heavy consignment of mails.

In addition to Major Hicks the list includes Captain Charles Crompton of the 4th General Hospital, Saloniki, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Crompton of this city, who is returning on furlough.

BX November 29, 1916

Capt. Dr. Charles Crompton Returns Home on Furlough From Saloniki – Has Been with No. 4 General Hospital Since its Organization – The Work There

After over a year spent in the care of the allied sick and wounded in the 4th General Hospital, at Saloniki, Greece, Capt. Charles Crompton, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Crompton, 92 Dufferin Avenue, arrived home at noon today for a well earned furlough. Capt. Crompton returned on the Allan liner Corsican which docked at St. John, N.B., on Monday.

With an equipment of 1040 beds the 4th General Hospital at Saloniki, during the past three or four months has handled upwards of 1500 cases, according to Capt. Crompton, when in conversation with The Expositor this afternoon. The hospital has now been at Saloniki for about a year and for the first nine months nearly all the cases were for sickness only; it was just during the past few months that they had wounded to deal with.

The hospital, which is a University of Toronto unit, was for some months at St. Martin’s Plains, Shorncliffe, before going to Greece. When they were transported to Greece they had 640 tons of equipment. Capt. Crompton describes the hospital as the best equipped at Saloniki. For six months it was on the west side of the town in tents but for the past six months has been in huts on the opposite side of the town.

A picture of many hardships in getting the hospital settled was given by Capt. Crompton. When the hospital arrived at Saloniki a year ago the means of transportation consisted only of donkeys and bullocks and the roads were mere trails. They had only been there three days before the patients started to arrive. Night and day for three days they worked to get the hospital in shape, and even then the patients had to be placed on the ground after their arrival to allow of quarters being prepared for them. Another hardship was the scarcity of water. Barely enough was to be had for drinking, without any for the washing of faces or hands.

Most of the cases handles by the hospital were those of malaria and dysentery. Lately the wounded had been numerous but most of the cases at first were medical.

Nine huts were used for isolation cases, 13 or 14 for medical cases, 21 were surgical huts, 2 operating huts, and one a dental hut and administration, stores, and bath houses occupied by others.

Originally the hospital had 40 officers (about 35 of these being medical men) and 76 nurses, all from Toronto. There were also 205 N.C.O.’s and men. Just about 50 percent of the original officers are now left, but they are recruited to strength all the time. This hospital was the first general hospital at Saloniki.

Capt. Crompton describes the town of Saloniki as a very picturesque one, despite its dirtiness. Quaint buildings are to be found all over. Coming in the harbor the picture is a very pretty one, the town appearing to creep up the mountain side. Old walls and an acropolis are to be seen on the east side. The country he describes as a great tobacco growing one with much fruit grown on the islands. Troops of every nationality are to be found in the town.
Part of his return journey to England Capt. Crompton made on the ill-fated hospital ship the Britannic. He travelled from Mudros, a port on Lemons Island, to Southampton on it. His return journey was made to Canada on the Corsican.

In London Capt. Crompton met Major P. James and Major H. McLean and their wives, and Lieut. Harold Preston and Lieut. Reg. Waterous, all of the 125th Battalion.

BX December 29, 1917

Captain (Dr.) Charles Crompton, who left here last August on duty with the British medical service, returned home yesterday. He went to Japan and China for the examination of Coolie laborers dispatched to France for various grades of work. Capt. Crompton was confined to his home this morning as a result of his long rail trip from Vancouver, from which port he made the trip.