Charles Arthur Crompton
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton RE, was a rugby union international who played for England
in the first rugby international against Scotland in 1871. His Irish birth made him also the first Irish-born player to play in a rugby international and he was additionally, along with Lieutenant Charles Sherrard
RE, the first member of the armed forces to represent their national side.
, in the Lower Heath area and moved to the London area after leaving school. He entered military service in January 1869, and having gained a place at the School of Military Engineering
in Chatham (Brompton Barracks), he played rugby for Blackheath F.C.
, which by the time Crompton was playing was dominated by old boys from Rugby School
. Crompton was not one of these Old Rugbeians, but his talent was such that he was a member of the first team in short order. He was selected for the very first international in 1871, alongside his club captain Frederick Stokes
. Crompton was not selected for the 1872 return match, in common with the majority of players from the first match. However, his absence may have laid more with the demands of his profession rather than his ability.
, entered service January 1869. Whilst doing duty with the Bengal Sappers and Miners, at Roorkee
, he died on 5 July 1875, at Cherat
, Punjaub. The cause was an abyss on the liver. His grave is at Peshawar
and his memorial read "Charles Arthur Crompton. Lieutenant Royal Engineers. Died Cherat 6th July 1875. Aged 26 years. Strong, brave and straight-forward, faithful, honourable & true."
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in the first rugby international against Scotland in 1871. His Irish birth made him also the first Irish-born player to play in a rugby international and he was additionally, along with Lieutenant Charles Sherrard
Charles Sherrard
Charles Sherrard RE was a rugby union international who represented England from 1871 to 1872. Additionally, along with Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton RE, he was the first member of the armed forces to represent their national side.-Early life:...
RE, the first member of the armed forces to represent their national side.
Early life
Charles Arthur Crompton was born in Cork, Ireland on 21 October 1848. By the age of 13 he was boarding in CongletonCongleton
Congleton is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.-History:The first settlements in...
, in the Lower Heath area and moved to the London area after leaving school. He entered military service in January 1869, and having gained a place at the School of Military Engineering
School of Military Engineering
School of Military Engineering may refer to a training institution for military engineering such as:*Royal School of Military Engineering of the British Army*College of Military Engineering, Pune of the Indian Army...
in Chatham (Brompton Barracks), he played rugby for Blackheath F.C.
Rugby career
Crompton played for Blackheath F.C., an open membership club originally set up for the old boys of Blackheath Proprietary SchoolBlackheath Proprietary School
The Blackheath Proprietary School was an educational establishment founded in 1830 that was noted in the contemporary press as an extremely successful school in terms of its education but is perhaps most notable for its profound influence on the game of football, in both Association and Rugby codes...
, which by the time Crompton was playing was dominated by old boys from Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
. Crompton was not one of these Old Rugbeians, but his talent was such that he was a member of the first team in short order. He was selected for the very first international in 1871, alongside his club captain Frederick Stokes
Frederick Stokes
Frederick Stokes may refer to:*Frederick Stokes , the first captain of the England national rugby union team*Sir Frederick Wilfred Scott Stokes, KBE , inventor and civil engineer...
. Crompton was not selected for the 1872 return match, in common with the majority of players from the first match. However, his absence may have laid more with the demands of his profession rather than his ability.
Army service and death
Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton, of the Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, entered service January 1869. Whilst doing duty with the Bengal Sappers and Miners, at Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, he died on 5 July 1875, at Cherat
Cherat
Cherat is a hill station, immediately above the village of Salehkhana or Saleh Khana in the Nowshera District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan...
, Punjaub. The cause was an abyss on the liver. His grave is at Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
and his memorial read "Charles Arthur Crompton. Lieutenant Royal Engineers. Died Cherat 6th July 1875. Aged 26 years. Strong, brave and straight-forward, faithful, honourable & true."