Lieutenant Colonel W.J. Humphrey

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by PWG, Feb 25, 2019.

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  1. PWG

    PWG Member

    HI, does anyone know some biographical details about the following person: Lieutenant Colonel W.J. Humphrey. He trained the Liverpool Irish Men for the landing in Normandy. He landed on Juno Beach. I would like to know more about his life earlier and later. He seems to have worked for the CCG(BE) as a retired colonel.
    Thank you for helping me.
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  3. PWG

    PWG Member

    thank you for the picture. This is great.
     
  4. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    You may get more information from the First World War Great War Forum website
    The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts. to be temp. Lts. :—
    W.J.Humphrey. (Gaz. 16 Jan ) .. .. 2 Sept.18
    .........
    Temp. Lt. W. J. Humphrey to be actg. Capt. whilst coindg.a Co. (Gaz. !5 Jan.) .. .. 12 N0V. 16

    page 6236 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 24 DECEMBER, 1946
    The King's R. Maj. (War Subs. Lt -Col.) W. J. HUMPHREY, O.B E., M.C. (5314), retires on ret. pay, 22nd Dec. 1946, and is granted the hon. rank of Col.
    page 1558 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 22 MARCH, 1945
    The King's R. Col. (actg.) W. J. Humphrey, M.C. (5314).

    This may also be a brother...
    Flight Global p408 APRIL 11, 1918. Second Lieutenant ERNEST GRAHAM HUMPHREY, R.F.C., who died of wounds on March 29th, aged 21, was the son of the late Rev. W. J. Humphrey, formerly Principal of Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, and of Mrs. Humphrey, of 23, Hereford Road, Acton, W. He was educated at Bedford Modern School, where he gained both entrance and leaving exhibitions. In October, 1914, he entered the City and Guilds (Engineering) College, South Kensington, and passed the intermediate B.Sc. (Engineering) Examination of London University in the following year. He joined the O.T.C. at school, transferred to the Senior Division at Kensington, and in 1915 obtained a commission in the South Staffordshire Regiment. In July, 1916, he was sent to France, and subsequently, at his own request, was attached to the R.F.C. as an observer. He had been wounded on two previous occasions.
    HUMPHREY, ERNEST GRAHAM. Second Lieutenant. Died 29/03/1918. Aged 21
    48th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps
    Son of the late Rev. William John Humphrey, M.A., and of Mrs. Ellen Humphrey, of 23, Hereford Rd., Acton, London. Native of Northampton.
    Buried at DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION NO.1 Plot III. Row A. Grave 18.

    Not an answer to your question, but may guide you to the info you seek
     
    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  5. PWG

    PWG Member

    Hi,

    page 6236 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 24 DECEMBER, 1946
    The King's R. Maj. (War Subs. Lt -Col.) W. J. HUMPHREY, O.B E., M.C. (5314), retires on ret. pay, 22nd Dec. 1946, and is granted the hon. rank of Col.
    page 1558 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 22 MARCH, 1945
    The King's R. Col. (actg.) W. J. Humphrey, M.C. (5314).

    This is the W.J. Humphrey I am looking for. After his retirement he became the K.R.O. in the Kreis Detmold Germany Westfalia and stayed there up to 1950. Does anyone know where he was born, anything about his education and what he did after he had left Germany?
    thank you for all the information.
     
  6. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    No problem, just a quick Google turned up that and a link to a Rev W J Humphrey that may be his father.

    That may also be a link to his WW1 service
    The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts. to be temp. Lts. :—
    W.J.Humphrey. (Gaz. 16 Jan ) .. .. 2 Sept.18
    .........
    Temp. Lt. W. J. Humphrey to be actg. Capt. whilst comndg. a Co. (Gaz. !5 Jan.) .. .. 12 N0V. 16

    as he didn't just appear as a Colonel, so must have had prior service, most likely WW1, hence my referring you to the GWF who may provide his early years service details
     
  7. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    I can't find a link to Rev. William John Humphrey.

    1901 Census
    Kislingbury, Northamptonshire

    Ellen Humphrey - 45 [widow]
    Leonard W Humphrey - 4
    Ernest G Humphrey - 4
    Maud M E Osborne - 17


    1911 Census
    166 Foster Hill Road, Bedford

    Ellen Humphrey - 55 [widow]
    Leonard Walter Humphrey - 14
    Ernest Graham Humphrey - 14
    Amy Louisa Solesbury - 13
     
  8. PWG

    PWG Member

  9. PWG

    PWG Member

    Dear Sir, could I please give me the o.k. to use this picture of Humphrey and Montgomery in an article for an online historical magazine in Germany. The article is about Humphrey as Kreis Resident Officer in Germany and how he viewed the people in his region.
     
  10. Ben5314

    Ben5314 Member

    Hello, I am his grandson. I have a phisical copy of this picture but I am not sure who took it originally so although I wouldn't mind you using it i don't hold the copyright. I think it was a newspaper reporter at the time. I'm not sure which paper either unfortunately. Happy to supply any info I have although I would like to know more myself! Esp about his time in Germany. He was a beach comander for Juno hence the picture with Monty.
     
  11. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Hello Ben and welcome I have sent a message to the original poster

    regards
    Clive
     
  12. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Having another look at this, can't find anything extra immediately on Lt Col W J Humphrey, but a bit more about his brother, killed in WW1 from St Mary's Acton Roll of Honour. It doesn't mention that his father, the Rev William John Humphrey was the vicar at St Mary's but why else would he be commemorated there, if a resident of Northampton? Acton Parish -
    Ernest Graham Humphrey

    Ernest Graham Humphrey was born in Northampton, the son of The Revd William John Humphrey and Ellen, but was living at 23 Hereford Road in Acton. He was a member of 3rd Staffordshire Regiment before becoming a Second Lieutenant in the 48th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, arriving in France in 1917. He died of wounds on 29th March 1918 aged 21 and is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery in Northern France.

    Further details were given when his medals were auctioned:

    “A Great War Casualty Pair to Bristol F2b fighter pilot Second Lieutenant E.G. Humphrey, Royal Flying Corps, who on two separate occasions received Gun Shot Wounds to His Chest, He Finally Succumbed to His Wounds, 29.3.1918. British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. E.G. Humphrey.), nearly extremely fine, with named transmittal slip for campaign medals, dated 23.6.1922 Estimate £ 200-240 Second Lieutenant Ernest Graham Humphrey, born 1896, a native of Northampton; educated at Bedford Modern School, where he was a Corporal in the O.T.C., and at the City and Guilds (Engineering) College; he was a Cadet in the University of London O.T.C.; employed as a Temporary Clerk at the Ministry of Munitions, July 1915; commissioned into the South Staffordshire Regiment and attached to the Royal Flying Corps as Second Lieutenant (Pilot); he was in action, 22.7.1917, when he received gunshot wounds to the chest and a fractured humerus; he recuperated in the New Zealand Stationary Hospital, Hazebrouck and No. 8 General Hospital, Rouen; returned to service in January 1918 and was flying with 48 (Fighter) Squadron (Bristol F2b´s), Bertangles, France; he received gunshot wounds, 28.3.1918, whilst flying low and defending the road near Amiens, he was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, but died of his wounds the following day; Humphrey is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery, Somme, France.”

    March 1918 was the great German Offensive hoping to use troops released from the Russian Front after Russia capitulated, to smash through the British and french lines before the main US Army had time to get to fighting pitch.

    I also note from the Census information that Ernest seems to have had a twin, Leonard W Humphrey - 4; Ernest G Humphrey - 4 and 10 years later when 14 in 1911 living in Bedford. In both Census returns Ellen is shown as "widow" meaning her husband died between 1897 and 1901.

    Perhaps his widow and children returned to the UK after her husband's death in Sierra Leone?
     
  13. PWG

    PWG Member

    Hello Ben,
    I have written an essay about your grandfather for a regional historical magazine. He was the Kreis Resident Officer, i.e. the top official, in Detmold the town I am living in and as far as I found out did a good job. Unfortunately I could not use the picture for the essay as they only print such things if they can be sure there won't be any claims.

    If you are interested I can send you the essay. It is written in German but contains many English quotes taken from your grandfather's monthly reports.
    Regards
     
    CL1 likes this.
  14. PWG

    PWG Member

    Hello Ben,
    I am the original poster. I have written an essay for an online magazine about your grandfather. He was KRO in Detmold from 1947 to 195?. As the top British decider he had to write reports about the situation in the Kreis Detmold every single month. I analyzed his reports and found out that he did a pretty good job in getting Germany back on track.
    If you are intersted in my article about KRO W.J. Humphrey I will gladly send you my essay.
    Unfortunately I couldn't use the picture with Montgomery because I didn't get permission although I would have liked to add it to my essay so much.
    Regards
    PWG
     
  15. Ben5314

    Ben5314 Member

    Thank you Clive for forwarding the message.

    Hello PWG, I would love to see the essay if you would be so kind to send it to me (maybe you would be able to take a picture or scan it and email it over?) I did know he was keen for the owner of the house to stay with him whilst he was living in detmold as I believe that a lot of the owners where forced to move out. Do you know where he stayed whilst he was their? I'm always keen to find out more info on my grandfather esp on his involvement with the d day landings. I would also like to visit Detmold at some point. I'm sorry you didn't use the picture, I also have another that was taken with Monty on the beach which Monty signed. Looking forward to your response and thanks in advance.
     
  16. PWG

    PWG Member

    Hello Ben 5314, I will send you the essay via email - just give me an email adress I could send it to. The essay is is German but has a lot of English quotes from the monthly reports your grandfather has written.
    You should come and visit Detmold and I could certainly help with the organization.
    I am glad about your post as I am writing a book about Kreis Residents Officer in Westfalia and I am interested in all kind of biographical data about these outstanding men although they seem so hard to find.

    Regards
     
  17. Ben5314

    Ben5314 Member

    I have just found this footage of my grandfather with Monty (albeit for a couple of seconds!) on this newsreel. at 6.26.
     
  18. monxton

    monxton New Member

    Hello. I just stumbled across this discussion, and I am here to point out that this thread has confused your Lieutenant Colonel W.J. Humphrey with Leonard Walter Humphrey, a different person altogether.

    It was Leonard Walter Humphrey who was the brother (actually the twin) of Second Lieutenant Ernest Graham Humphrey, RFC, and they were the sons of Rev. William John Humphrey who was head of the theological college in Sierra Leone and was killed in the Hut Tax rising of 1896, and his wife Ellen, also a missionary.

    Leonard Walter did not see active service, and himself became a vicar after WWI.

    I don't think W.J. Humphrey had any connection to this family.

    I can give you a lot more about them if you want it, but as it is W. J Humphrey you are interested in it is probably irrelevant. It looks like his grandson Ben has a lot of information about him.
     
  19. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    mea culpa - although I did use "may" but you have certainly cleared up that they are NOT related - Thanks!
     

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