Person:Florence Tompkins (1)

Florence Jessie Tompkins was born in 1897 at Frome Vauchurch, Dorset, England the daughter of farm labourer Frederick William Tompkins and his wife Annie Linda Eyers and spent her early years at Wynford Eagle and West Compton. Like many country girls of the time she entered domestic service, first with the local rector and at the time of the Great War as a cook at 14 Victoria Terrace in the seaside town of Weymouth, Dorset.

It was in Weymouth the she met Private Francis Stephen Clark of the 4th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces who was stationed just outside of Weymouth at The Hutment, Camp Littlemoor, Preston. Frank was christened Francis Curtin Clark, Curtin being his mother’s maiden name. But for some reason he didn’t like it and changed his middle name to Stephen. It was under this name that he enlisted in 1916 at the age of 18 (giving his age as 22). One wonders, now, how he was ever accepted for active war duty abroad, as he was born with only a thumb and little finger on his left hand (congenital amputation). He embarked, however, for England the same year, served in France before arriving in Weymouth.

Loved blossomed and 12 November 12, 1918 Francis Stephen Clark and Florence Jessie Tompkins were married at St. Augustine’s Chapel, Dorchester Rd, Melcombe Regis, Dorset. A month later Frank was discharged from the army and the couple lived at 46 Lennox St. Melcombe Regis were Frank made a living as a Master Bootmaker. It was here on March 23, 1919 that a daughter Linda Olive Clark was born.

Although Florence was known by her family as Florrie, Frank usually called her by her second name Jess. Whilst they could still get free passage Frank and Jess decided to go to Australia and left England on March l2, 1920 aboard the R.M.S Ceramic. Baby Linda had her first birthday on board ship before arriving in Sydney on April 29. After spending some weeks in quarantine they moved to Paddington, a very old suburb close to the city.

They rented a 3 storey house with a million dollar view of Sydney Harbour. The kitchen in this house was quite large and had a fuel stove which seemed to be always alight. Florrie was quite used to a fuel stove, having cooked on one when in her late teens she cooked for the local rector at Wynford Eagle. Some great meals were prepared and eaten in this kitchen during the 22 years Florrie lived there.

Three more children were born at Paddington, Beatrice (Betty) May on 23 May, 1921, Paul Francis on 27 September, 1923 and Margaret Fay on 12 March, 1934. Frank’s father, William, came to live with them during the latter part of his life. Florrie, of course, looked after him and attended to his many wants. William Clark died in 1935 aged 89. Florrie was a devoted Anglican and all the family worshipped at St. George’s Paddington, which was only a few minutes from where they lived.

In 1938 Linda married Scotsman Daniel Ramsay Smith (1913-1973) who from 1939 to 1947 served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Air Force.

The family were still living at Paddington at the outbreak of war in 1939. Work in the building trades became scarce and Frank again joined the army, although this time he never left Autralia, serving from June 17, 1941 to February 18, 1948 reaching the rank of Sergeant.

In 1941 Betty married the Rev. Kenneth Nixon Shelley (1913-1974).

In 1942, after spending 22 years in the Paddington house, the family moved to Sans Souci, a seaside suburb near Botany Bay. They attended St.Andrew’s Church where Betty’s husband, Ken Shelley was the Rector.

After some years, Betty, Ken and their family moved to another parish. Linda’s husband, Dan returned from overseas and they moved on to various air force bases. Paul married Jean Marion Jones in 1946 and Margaret married Louis Harwin in 1955

After more than 20 years at Sans Souci, Florrie and Frank decided to build a house near Margaret at Miranda in the Sutherland Shire which is across the George’s River from Sans Souci – further south again. They live here for many years. Tragically, in March, 1974 Frank was killed by a car quite close to their home. He was 76.

Florrie stayed in their home for a short time, but was unable to properly care for herself and went to a nursing home in 1976. She kept reasonably good health for a number of years and was able to be taken on outings by the family. Her health deteriorated and she died peacefully in the nursing home in December, 1981.

Census Returns

1901 United Kingdom

1. ↑ General Register Office, England and Wales, Civil Registration Indexes, Dorchester Registration District, Quarter 3, 1897, Volume 5a, Page 315.