Pension Card
In Memoriam
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Lumley Humble, one of 14 children of whom only 5 survived to adulthood, was the 3rd eldest of 4 brothers and had 1 elder sister. His father John Humble was born at Seaham Harbour, County Durham, circa 1852 and married in 1874, district of Easington, County Durham, to Mary Ann Lidster born circa 1853 at Thornley. A daughter Margaret Jane Humble was born prior to their marriage in 1873 at Seaham Harbour, son Walker 1876 at Easington and William in the district of Houghton-le-Spring, April 16th 1878. In 1881 they were living at John Street, New Town Houghton-le-Spring, John supported his family employed as a coal miner. They had moved to Seaham Colliery by the time John Lumley was born in 1884 and George in 1891 whilst they were living at 36, Mt. Pleasant, in the village of New Seaham. John Humble had now been joined as a colliery worker by Walker (15), William (12) was a scholar, Margaret Jane (18) assisted her mother with domestic duties and looking after her two young siblings. John, by 1911, had transferred his family to Northumberland where they lived in 3 rooms at 8, Nine House Row, North Walbottle. John Snr was employed as a coal hewer, John Jnr (26) a stonemason, George (19) a breaker, all working underground, Walker (37) is listed as, “does not work,” this was due to him suffering from fits. He was looked after at home by his mother and sister Margaret Jane (40), also in the household was granddaughter, Isabella Halliday (12).
John Lumley Humble married in 1912 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, to Mary Ann Johnson born March 22nd 1891, who had an illegitimate daughter Mary Ann Rendle Reay Johnson born May 3rd 1910. Mary also gave birth to John, June 13th 1913 and Margaret, February 3rd 1915, just prior her husband’s departure with the M.E.F.
John enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, and posted as Private 4741 to the newly formed 8th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers raised as part of Kitchener’s New Army, at Newcastle, as of August 9th 1914. The battalion was assigned to the 34th Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division at Belton Park near Grantham. Private Humble departed with the M.E.F. to the Balkans with the 11th Division, July 10th 1915, as reinforcements for the garrison on Gallipoli, landing at Sulva Bay August 7th. The division served on Gallipoli, sustaining heavy losses, until being evacuated during December 1915 when it was sent to Egypt as part of the Suez Canal defences before being recalled and sent to France as reinforcements during the Battles of the Somme. As part of the 11th Division the 8th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers joined the closing battles on the Somme at Flers-Coucelette, September 15-22nd and Thiepval September 26th-28th 1916.
Private John Lumley Humble was killed in action, September 26th 1916 during the Battle of Thiepval and buried on the battlefield at map reference 52D in the Beaumont-Hamel sector. Post war at the request of the French and Belgium authorities these isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into larger cemeteries for reburial. The remains of Private 4741 John Lumley Humble Northumberland Fusiliers, map 52D R 28, was exhumed with that of 2nd Lieut. F. Umney 7th Dorsets, found same spot, by a Canadian burial party, April 9th 1919, brought into Regina Trench Military Cemetery, and laid to rest, grave VIII. E. 3, flanked either side by 2 unknown British soldiers. He had initially been reported as missing presumed dead, although sadly this was now confirmed, it must have been some comfort to his family that he received a Christian burial. Private Humble was 32 years of age.
His widow received all monies owed to him by the Army, a pension of 26 shillings 3 pence a week as of June 18th 1917 until each child reached the age of 16 years and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 111, Farndale Road, Benwell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Mary Ann Humble married for a second time at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1920 to Richard Docherty, born July 22nd 1895, possibly ex-Army Service Corps, of Hugh Street, Benwell, with whom she had a son George Sydney Docherty, March 4th 1924. In 1939 they were living at 288, Condercum Road, Benwell. Richard was a stevedore at the docks, George Docherty an office boy, John Humble was employed at the ordinance factory as a gun rifler, also in the household was Mary Johnson-Humble now married, surname Taylor, a grocer’s assistant, Margaret Humble assisted her mother at home.
Mary Ann Docherty-Humble nee Johnson died aged 73 years in 1964, Richard Docherty in 1979 aged 83 years, both registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Their son George Sydney Docherty married in 1949 to Margaret J. Dougall. George Docherty of 30, Hadrian Court, Darras Hall, Ponteland, near Newcastle, died May 15th 1992, probate March 29th not exceeding £125000.
Details as regards John and Mary Ann’s children;-
Margaret Humble married Percy Taylor in 1939 at Newcastle, Mary Rendle Reay Taylor nee (Johnson) Humble died in 1989 aged 88 years, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
John Humble died aged 71 years in 1985, Gateshead, County Durham.
Margaret Humble married Thomas Eastwood of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, born September 15th 1916. He died April 16th 1989, aged 72 years, Margaret Eastwood nee Humble in 2001, aged 86 years, both registered at Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
It should be noted that George Scorer was Mary Ann Humble nee Johnson’s step father, he and her widowed mother Mary Johnson were married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1901, living at 112, Farndale Road, Benwell, Newcastle in 1911.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Lumley Humble is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
