Edwin was born on 1 August 1887 at East Preston, Worthing, Sussex to Edwin Jesse and Mary (née Attewell) Compton. In the 1891 Census they were living in Wokingham, Berkshire. In 1893 the family had returned to East Preston, where sadly in the Autumn of 1893 Mum, Mary, aged 27, died. Edwin Jesse Compton, the father, met and married a local 17 year old girl Rebeca Dyer and in 1895 they had a daughter, registered at birth as Jessie Elizabeth Compton.

Edwin entered the Royal Navy on the 11 September 1903 when he walked over the gangway and was rated Boy Second Class on board the three masted, 5 deck, 121 gun front-line sailing ship HMS St VINCENT, launched in 1815, and now a “Boys Training Ship” moored in Haslar Creek, Gosport. On 24 May 1904 he was advanced to Boy First Class and on 15 December 1904 had a move to HMS BOSCAWEN III (ex HMS AGINCOURT 1904-1905) a “Boy Training Ship” moored in Portland harbour.

He returned to St VINCENT on 6 January 1905, and was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 1 August. On 6 August he had his first visit to HMS VICTORY I, then a draft to the battleship  HMS DUNCAN where he was rated up to Able Seaman on 25 November 1906. With another visit to VICTORY I on 18 August 1908, to HMS VERNON  30 August, to HMS MERCURY from 7 November 1909 to 30 June 1911 and finally accepted into the submarine service with a draft to HMS ARROGANT, the submarine depot ship moored in Portsmouth Harbour.

On 2 February 1912, Edwin was serving in HMS A3 that was involved in a mock training exercise off the coast of the Isle of Wight when she was in collision with the destroyer HMS HAZARD. There were no survivors from the 14 man crew. The submarine was salvaged and 13 of the crew were buried in RNH HASLAR cemetery.

Able Seaman Edwin Frederick COMPTON, Age 24, Svc No. 228021 had “Crossed the Bar” with the 13 of his fellow crew members.

While serving in HMS MERCURY, Edwin had married Pamela Martha Perry in the first quarter of 1910. There is no record of any children from the marriage. Pamela as Widow is named as “Next of Kin” on Edwin’s death register.