Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Bampton, an inn keeper, born 1866 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Bampton (nee Burton, married on the 14th February 1887 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel), born 1868 in Mountsorrel. Gerald was born on the 30th July 1895 in Mountsorrel, his siblings were Frederick W. Burton Bampton, a quarry trade stone sett maker, born 18th July 1884, Alice Irene, born 2nd May 1888, Ada, born 28th October 1893 and Hilda, born 5th May 1899, all his siblings were born in Mountsorrel, in March 1901 the family home was at the Prince of Wales Inn, Main Street, Mountsorrel. In April 1911 Gerald was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at The Green, Mountsorrel, together with his father, a market gardener, his mother and siblings, Alice, a machinist, Ada, a hosiery trade mender, Hilda, a schoolgirl, Sidney, a schoolboy, born 29th March 1903 and Roy, a schoolboy, born 5th September 1904, the latter two siblings were both born in Mountsorrel.
Gerald enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 9th June 1914 in Mountsorrel, and was allotted the service number 1941. He gave his place of birth as Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and age as 18 years 11 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand employed by Messrs. Durglon and Garner. He gave his present address as The Green, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire.
His medical examination took place in Mountsorrel on the 5th June 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 18 years 11 months, that he was 5 feet 5 inches in height, weighed 126 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31¾ and 33½ inches, his vision was described as good and his physical development was described as fair.
He gave his next of kin as his father, James Bampton, The Green, Mountsorrel.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Posted. 5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 9/6/14.
Embodied Service commenced. Pte. 5/8/14.
Died of pneumonia. Pte. 8/2/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 9/6/14 – 8/2/15. 245 days.
Total Service. 245 days.
On Friday February 19th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – MOUNTSORREL. – MILITARY FUNERAL. – The interment of General (sic) Bampton, son of Mrs. James Bampton, of Mountsorrel, took place at the cemetery on Thursday. The deceased belonged to the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and died in hospital of pneumonia. Rev. W. J. Lewis conducted the funeral service, which was attended by a number of Territorial’s, under the command of Major R. C. Martin, and also the Boy Scouts, of which corps the deceased was at one time a member. At the conclusion of the service three volleys were fired over the grave, and the “Last Post” was sounded on the bugle. A large concourse of people were present to show their sympathy with the parents of the deceased.