TOMPKINS, George

George Tompkins lived at 11 South Road, Stourbridge, with his parents and attended Enville Street Council School. He worked for Mr W. Young, a builder of South Road and was one of four brothers who enlisted for war service. He joined the Worcesters in December 1914 and was posted to the 4th Battalion in the Spring of 1915. The 4th was a regular battalion which had been in India in 1914 and was sent in early 1915 to take part in the attack on Gallipoli. The landings of the 25th April at Cape Helles were difficult but not costly for the Worcesters but they were in the front line three days later at the village of Krithia, where they suffered heavily. A second landing took place at Suvla Bay some miles to the north on 6th August and the 4th were asked to attack again at Krithia in order to offer a diversion. However, while the Suvla Bay landings were virtually unopposed, the Turkish resistance at Krithia was so determined that the battalion lost half its complement in casualties. The remnants were shipped round to Suvla Bay and were soon in the front line near Chocolate Hill. On the 27th August an advance was made but Private George Tompkins in W Company was among the casualties. He is buried at Azmak cemetery (II A 18) and commemorated on the Stourbridge, Oldswinford church, Methodist Church and former Enville Street School Memorials. His oldest brother, Edward, was killed on the Somme on 12th July 1916 and his nephew, Frank, near Arnhem in 1944.