Photo: Dorothy Hall
1351041 Aircraftman 1st Cl.
J.T. Humphrey
Royal Air Force
6th August 1941 age 31
He bravely answered
Duty's call
His life he gave
For one and all
William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Joseph was born on 24 May 1910. His birth was registered at Chester-le-Street. His parents were Joseph Taylor Humphrey (1880-1938) and Mary Jane (nee Shields) (1885-1967) who married in the Chester-le-Street area in the summer of 1906. They went on to have 10/12 children in 20 years although the 1911 census shows them only as having 5. Several of their children died in infancy.
The 1911 census shows the family as Joseph father, Mary Jane mother and siblings John (born 1904), Robert (born 1909) and Joseph T aged only 10 months. Also Dorothy Shields who although entered as a servant was Margaret’s sister. Their home was a 4 bedroomed accommodation at 5 Birtley Lane, Birtley.
However other siblings followed after the 1911 census including Stella and Irene and 2 other sons who died in infancy.
Father Joseph began his working life at the age of 11 years as a core maker. He later became a coal miner/hewer then by 1911 went on to be a Club Steward.
On March 13th 1918 Joseph senior was initiated into the Freemasons Moseley Lodge at Birtley. His lodge number was 3105 and he gave his profession as hotel keeper.
The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 14/02/1930 reported:-
At Stockton Bankruptcy Court.
It appears Joseph (senior) was the tenant of the Crown Hotel Birtley. He was doing so well he decided to buy it for £9700 by laying down a deposit. However due to the coal trade dispute his takings halved so he was unable to continue payments. The mortgagees foreclosed and the hotel was sold for £6200 so leaving a deficiency £2391. The article stated that Proceedings were to follow.”
Joseph senior died on the 1st March 1938 and the Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette 05/03/1938 reports:-
Shotton Funeral
Representatives of many organisations attended the funeral of Mr Joseph Taylor Humphrey, licensee of the Albert Inn, Shotton Colliery, today. A Service was held at St Saviours Parish Church, before the internment at Birtley cemetery.Also the Hartlepool Northen Daily Mail 05/03/1938 :
Funeral of Mr J T Humphrey.
There was a large attendance yesterday at the funeral of Mr J T Humphrey (57) licensee of the Albert Inn, Shotton Colliery. He had attended without a break for the past 43 years the annual Houghton Feast foot races. Chief mourners were Mrs M J Humphrey (widow), Robert, Joseph, Dick, Tom, George, William, Stanley (sons) : Miss Irene Humphrey, Mr & Mrs J Foster (daughters and son in law): Mr H Shields (father in law), Mr & Mrs J Humphrey, Birtley (brother and sister in law): Mrs E Cummings, Birtley (sister): Mr & Mrs G Stoneley (brother in law & sister): Mrs D Richardson (sister in law): Mr & Mrs R Humphrey, R Cummings, R Cummings (nephews and Nieces).
1939 Register shows Joseph (junior) alongside his widowed mother Mary Jane who was the manageress at the Albert Inn. He was a barman as well as his brother Richard. Another brother Thomas worked as a colliery stoneman below ground (heavy worker). Also working at domestic duties was their married sister Irene (now Nord).
NB Albert Inn is now closed and was used as a care home although this might now be different.
Joseph (jnr) married his sweetheart Margaret Park (1911-1996) at Halifax on 5th April 1941 which is only a few months before his death.
He died as the result of an accident near Staverton Aerodrome, Gloucester on August 6th 1941. The only details that might have caused the death of Joseph is that on August 6th 1941 N2402, Hurricane 1, 9FTS stalled on landing at Babdown Farm.
His Commonwealth War Grave is situated within the family burial site with his father. Grave reference: Section C Grave 136.
His widow, Margaret married George Cornforth Park at Durham East on October 25th 1950.
Joseph Taylor Humphrey is remembered at Shotton Colliery S125.01
