Date of Birth :
11 April 1924
Place of Birth :
Adelaide, South Australia
Father :
Joseph Crompton
Mother :
Isabella (Belle) Camilla Liddon Crompton (nee Abernethy)
Religion :
C of E
Education :
Prince Alfred College, Adelaide
Age at Enlistment :
18
Address at Enlistment :
Tusmore, South Australia
Employment at Enlistment :
Crompton & Son Ltd, Adelaide, Apprentice
Service before Enlistment :
Prince Alfred College Cadet Corps, Company Sergeant-Major
Enlisted :
10 October 1942
Place Enlisted :
No. 5 Recruiting Centre RAAF, Adelaide
Service Number :
429929
Arrived in UK :
16 October 1943
Pilot Officer :
29 July 1943
Flying Officer :
29 January 1944
Flight Lieutenant :
29 July 1945
Assessment :
"A keen young officer ... Should develop into a good Sunderland captain."
(14 November 1944)
(14 November 1944)
Posted to NO. 4 (COASTAL) OTU :
14 November 1944
Duties :
Sunderland Pilot
R N A Hospital, Invergordon :
14 to 25 January 1945
Hairmyers E M Hospital, Kilbride :
25 January to 25 August 1945
Age when Discharged :
21
Disembarked Australia :
29 October 1945
Discharged :
12 December 1945
Flying Officer Crompton
circa 1944
The Telegram
21st Birthday
Recuperating in Yarm, Yorkshire, England
Letter to mates
Written after W6009's crash but dated 1944, Alan describes his injury and has an interesting take on how to decide who wins a race
In Alan's words
20 September 2002, extract from an email Alan sent to a friend
On January 14th 1945 I crashedFP a Sunderland into Dornoch Firth in Northern Scotland and arrived head first through the windscreen of the aircraft. This time it was a Mae West which saved my life. I had been in the Water some time kicking my legs to keep myself afloat when I remembered the little [CO2 cartridge] bottle. Using my good arm I pulled it and what a relief when I could stop kicking and still stay afloat. I don't know how long before we were picked up but with ice floating in the water it was bloody cold.
FP Flying Officer Crompton was trying to save the plane.
A daughter's recollections
From Philippa
The photo of Dad on his 21st birthday shows an amazing
contraption, which I guess helped his arm to heal. As far as I can remember, Dad had pretty much full mobility
of his arm, not so his hand. He had a compound fracture of his arm and nerve
damage. His hand had very little movement and was ‘stuck’ in a
fixed position but he learnt to manage. And he always tied the perfect Windsor knot! I was 10 or 12 before I saw a 300mm plus scar on the underside of his arm. I asked "What’s that Dad?" His response, "Oh that was the crash". I didn’t ask
more at the time… more's the pity. The nerve damage was significant, so much so that when he was
doing woodwork later in life, he cut off the tops of 3 fingers and didn’t
notice until he saw blood. His response, "where there’s no sense, there’s no feeling"!
A second cousin's recollections
From John
After the War, Alan ran Crompton & Sons, the family business, exporting sheep skins, tallow, yacca gum, etc. to Europe. He devoted over 30 years serviceFP to the
Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, where the Alan Crompton Board Room is named for him.
FP Member of the
board from 1958 to 1984, including eight years
as president. Made a Life Governor in 1976. Served on the
hospital's
Foundation from 1984 to 2001.
I chanced upon these final items while Googling
The Advertiser, Adelaide, 2 April 2011
Alan Woodhouse Crompton, AO
Business and charitable leader
Born: April 11, 1924; Adelaide
Died: September 27, 2010; Adelaide
FAMILIAR to generations of travellers on the South Australian Railways were yellow enamel signs proclaiming "Cromptons pay cash. Skins, almonds, wool, horse hair, beeswax, tallow. Rail to Mile End. Crompton and Sons, Adelaide." They are now a collector's item.
These signs promoted a great SA business which began in 1862. Apart from during war service, Alan Crompton served the company all his life, starting as yard boy and retiring as chairman. The company had been started by his great-grandfather.
The son of Joseph and Isabella Crompton, Alan grew up with his sister, Jean, in a comfortable home, one in which hard work and honesty were imbued and expected - qualities Alan carried through life and instilled in his children and grandchildren.
At Prince Alfred College Alan excelled in rowing and football, and was an under officer in the cadets. His pride in being an Old Red knew no bounds and his daughters were expected to barrack for Princes and know the war cry. He was president of the Old Collegians Association in 1962 and later delighted in having grandsons at the college.
In World War II Alan served in RAAF 461 Squadron piloting Sunderland flying boats and attained the rank of flight lieutenant.
He was stationed at Pembroke Dock, Wales, and sustained serious injury when he crash-landed his aircraft. Alan always participated in Anzac Day marches and attended his last one in 2010.
In 1948 Alan Crompton married Yvonne Burrows and for more than 50 years they supported every aspect of one another's lives. Alan was the builder of things and events and Von brought colour to his creations, whether it be their garden, a charity event or business.
Alan and Von had three daughters, whom they encouraged to aim high when dreaming of their futures, to have professions, and to speak freely.
For many decades the Crompton family enjoyed holidays on Kangaroo Island. Taught to fish at a young age by an aunt at Semaphore, Alan pursued his passion for fishing and shared his skill with his daughters, grandchildren and all their friends, who humoured his competitive nature by ensuring his catch was always the first into the boat.
Alan Crompton's sphere of business interests was large. He served on the board of Austrade, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and was president of the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry 1983-1985, and held directorships of several companies.
The combination of Alan's upbringing, Prince's education and war-time experiences laid the foundations of a lifetime of service for the benefit of others.
He was a member of the board of the Adelaide Children's Hospital from 1958-1984 including eight years as president, and was made a life governor in 1976. From 1984-2001 Alan served on the hospital's Foundation.
Alan's drive was instrumental in the success of the annual Children's Hospital fete. His participation in the Good Friday appeal required him to be present at Channel 7, much to the delight of his daughters who got to meet the stars.
His contribution to the business sector nationally and locally, and commitment to the community of SA, was recognised with the awarding of an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1985. His charitable works, which also included Legacy, the Rogerson Trust supporting Minda Inc and Apex, were honoured with his appointment as a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in 1992.
A sociable man with a tremendous sense of humour, Alan enjoyed lengthy membership of Kooyonga Golf Club, the Naval, Military and Air Force Club of SA, The Adelaide Club, and the Goldfish Club for aircrew who survived ditching their aircraft.
Alan Crompton is survived by daughters Judy Varcoe, Sue Priest and Philippa Denton, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Von Crompton predeceased Alan in 1998.
Business and charitable leader
Born: April 11, 1924; Adelaide
Died: September 27, 2010; Adelaide
FAMILIAR to generations of travellers on the South Australian Railways were yellow enamel signs proclaiming "Cromptons pay cash. Skins, almonds, wool, horse hair, beeswax, tallow. Rail to Mile End. Crompton and Sons, Adelaide." They are now a collector's item.
These signs promoted a great SA business which began in 1862. Apart from during war service, Alan Crompton served the company all his life, starting as yard boy and retiring as chairman. The company had been started by his great-grandfather.
The son of Joseph and Isabella Crompton, Alan grew up with his sister, Jean, in a comfortable home, one in which hard work and honesty were imbued and expected - qualities Alan carried through life and instilled in his children and grandchildren.
At Prince Alfred College Alan excelled in rowing and football, and was an under officer in the cadets. His pride in being an Old Red knew no bounds and his daughters were expected to barrack for Princes and know the war cry. He was president of the Old Collegians Association in 1962 and later delighted in having grandsons at the college.
In World War II Alan served in RAAF 461 Squadron piloting Sunderland flying boats and attained the rank of flight lieutenant.
He was stationed at Pembroke Dock, Wales, and sustained serious injury when he crash-landed his aircraft. Alan always participated in Anzac Day marches and attended his last one in 2010.
In 1948 Alan Crompton married Yvonne Burrows and for more than 50 years they supported every aspect of one another's lives. Alan was the builder of things and events and Von brought colour to his creations, whether it be their garden, a charity event or business.
Alan and Von had three daughters, whom they encouraged to aim high when dreaming of their futures, to have professions, and to speak freely.
For many decades the Crompton family enjoyed holidays on Kangaroo Island. Taught to fish at a young age by an aunt at Semaphore, Alan pursued his passion for fishing and shared his skill with his daughters, grandchildren and all their friends, who humoured his competitive nature by ensuring his catch was always the first into the boat.
Alan Crompton's sphere of business interests was large. He served on the board of Austrade, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and was president of the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry 1983-1985, and held directorships of several companies.
The combination of Alan's upbringing, Prince's education and war-time experiences laid the foundations of a lifetime of service for the benefit of others.
He was a member of the board of the Adelaide Children's Hospital from 1958-1984 including eight years as president, and was made a life governor in 1976. From 1984-2001 Alan served on the hospital's Foundation.
Alan's drive was instrumental in the success of the annual Children's Hospital fete. His participation in the Good Friday appeal required him to be present at Channel 7, much to the delight of his daughters who got to meet the stars.
His contribution to the business sector nationally and locally, and commitment to the community of SA, was recognised with the awarding of an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1985. His charitable works, which also included Legacy, the Rogerson Trust supporting Minda Inc and Apex, were honoured with his appointment as a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in 1992.
A sociable man with a tremendous sense of humour, Alan enjoyed lengthy membership of Kooyonga Golf Club, the Naval, Military and Air Force Club of SA, The Adelaide Club, and the Goldfish Club for aircrew who survived ditching their aircraft.
Alan Crompton is survived by daughters Judy Varcoe, Sue Priest and Philippa Denton, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Von Crompton predeceased Alan in 1998.