John Humphreys

Aled Humphreys

Herbert Humphreys

Noel Humphreys

Robert Howe

John Theodore Gordon Humphreys was born at Llangan Rectory, Bridgend, Glamorgan, on the 10th July 1896, at Llangan Rectory, Bridgend, Glamorgan the son of Reverend Henry James Humphreys (born Bangor 1846 died 1935) and his wife Sydney (nee Williams born Llandenny 1855, died 1932). After 20 years at Llangan Rev. Humphreys moved to Hyde.

The couple had 9 children included Sydney Arthur (died), Mary Grace, (married Richard Howe), Edith (died), Henry St. Giles, Aled Owain, Noel Forbes, Herbert Philip Gwynn, John Theodore Gordon and Sydney Alfreda (1898-1989). In 1891 the family vicarage accommodated the whole family including a governess, general servant and a housemaid.

In 1901 census only 4 children remained at home. By this time the Rev. Humphreys was working at Hyde, Cheshire. Henry Giles, Aled Owain, Noel Forbes and Herbert were all boarders at Denstone College. In 1903 Rev. Humphreys went to Thornley between Tow Law and Wolsingham.

1911 census shows all the children had left home by this time including Noel who was now a solicitor's articled clerk and staying with his brother in law Richard Howe a Colliery Manager at Sunnybrow, Willington.

John was educated at Corchester School Corbridge and then Durham School, 1910 to 1916, and Wellington College. From there he attended Sandhurst, as an Indian Cadet.

He was gazetted a Lieutenant on the 26th May 1917, (as from 18th April 1917). He took part in operations in East Africa, and was killed in action at the battle of Mgergeri on the 19th July 1917.

Prior to this he was leading his men out of a nullah where they were exposed to machine-gun fire. And was returning to help his Commanding Officer.

He was unmarried.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

His Colonel later wrote:-He was considered a brave officer and a good comrade, and that was the best that could be said of a soldier.

Captain Wadeson: Your son was regarded in the regiment as a brave and promising officer, and his loss is keenly felt by all. He was always cheery and willing, however trying the circumstances, and did very good work in the action at Rombo, on 18th April last, when Major Macpherson was killed. On that occasion he moved very coolly under heavy fire.

Four of Rev. Humphreys' sons and his son in law all served in the army during the Great War.

His other sons:-Noel Forbes awarded the M.C. died March 1918
Herbert P.W. won the M.C. and survived the War.
John T.G. fought with the Indian Infantry. He was killed in July 1917.
Aled Owain served with Canadian Forestry Corps as a private.
Son in Law Richard Algeo Howe 2nd Lieutenant served with 6th Durham Light Infantry, was wounded and survived the war.
His fifth son Henry St. Giles lost his life aboard RMS Lusitania when it was torpedoed by the German u boat U20 on 7 May 1915 with the loss of many lives. Henry was on his way home from America to enlist.

John Theodore Gordon Humphreys is remembered at Tow Law on T57.01, T57.10 at Thornley on T55.01 and T55.02 at Corbridge on C52.12 and at Durham on D47.020 D47.043 D47.057 and D47.091

Durham School
Roll of Honour
Pwllheli War Memorial
40th Pathan Infantry Regiment
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Humphreys