WILLIAM DAVID BAMPTON
One way or another William David Bampton didn't get to see a lot of his father, at least, not on the days that the censuses were taken. Presumably this was because the father was in the navy and regularly at sea. For this reason the name of his father is currently unknown. His mother was Emma Bampton who was listed as a laundress in 1891 with William and an older sister Annie in the household. They were living at 17, Norland Road, Southsea, just off Fawcett Road.
Ten years later, for the 1901 census, William was not only without his father but his mother was missing as well. Instead, as a 10 year old he was living with his aunt Elizabeth Bampton, a fruiterer at 203 Arundel Street. For the following Census in 1911, William was without family altogether and was living in lodgings at 11 Douro Street. He gave his trade as a cork cutter. At some point over the next few years William met and married his wife Gladys Jane and they set up home at 17 Stone Street, Southsea.
William David Bampton did not enlist at the outbreak of war, possibly because he had so recently got married, but the following year (1915) he signed on for the 14th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment and after training was sent to France in June 1916. He was killed at the Battle of the Somme but his body was not recovered.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list Private William David Bampton (20252), 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, died 23/10/1916, age 27. Husband of Gladys Jane Bampton, of 17, Stone St., Southsea, Portsmouth. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 7 C and 7 B.).
W. Bampton is remembered on the All Saints Church WW1 memorial and WD Bampton appears on the Cenotaph. There is a listing for WD Bampton in the 'National Roll of the Great War' Section X, is on page 11.
The CWGC actually lists two soldiers named William Bampton, both of whom served in the Hampshire Regiment. Of the two only William David Bampton is listed with a direct reference to Portsmouth and who died during the Battle of The Somme, which tallies with the date and place of death given in the National Roll.
The WW1 memorial at All Saint's Church includes the name of William Bampton which may, or may not, be William David Bampton. This doubt only arises from the CWGC record which suggests that William David was living with his wife in Southsea, some way away from the parish of All Saints.
Further confusion is supplied by the National Roll which states that WD Bampton won the Military Medal 'for conspicuous gallantry in action and devotion to duty in the field', whereas the CWGC site does not mention it.
Tim Backhouse
December 2013