Pte John Edward Humphreys

• Age: 34
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 13th KLR
• Died on Saturday 31st August 1918
• Commemorated at: H.a.c. Cemetery, Ecoust-st. Mein
  Panel Ref: I.C.35

John Edward “Jack” Humphreys was born in Toxteth on 23rd May 1884, the son of William Edward Humphreys and his wife Sarah Elizabeth (nee Thomas) who were married on the 09th May 1883 in St. Michael’s Church, Toxteth. William was a 24 year old carter of Beloe Street, father John a labourer, whilst Sarah was aged 24 of Ivanhoe Road, father David a labourer. Both parents were born in Kinnerley, Oswestry, Shropshire. 

Jack was baptised in St. Cleopas's Church, Toxteth on 25^th June 1884. His parents are living at 27 Tavistock Street, and his father is a labourer. His parents had 10 children, but sadly six died young. John was the eldest of the four surviving children: siblings Thomas, Robert, and Elsie.

At the time of the 1901 Census the family is at 8 Corn Street. His father is a 43 year old railway carter, his mother is 42 years of age. Robert is 8, he has three siblings in the household. His brother John is 16, and working as an errand boy for a spirits store, Thomas H. is 10 and Elsie L. is 4. The paternal grandmother, Martha Humphreys is also in the household, she is a widowed 71 year old, born in Kinnerley, Shropshire.

In 1911 the family is still at 8 Corn Street. Robert is an 18 year old shop assistant with a tailor and is living with his parents and two siblings Thomas Henry a 20 year old carter and Elsie Louisa a scholar aged 14. His father is a 52 year old railway drayman, his mother is 51 years of age. They advise that they have been married for 28 years and have had 10 children of whom four have survived. 

Jack is missing from the 1911 census; as a commercial traveller, he may have been on the road and overlooked.

Jack enlisted as Private 17355 in the 19^th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 03^rd September 1914, on the same day and in the same battalion as his brother Robert (17354), giving his age as 30 years and 87 days and his occupation as commercial traveller/salesman. He was described as being 5’ 6 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 113 lbs, 35" chest with brown eyes and black hair. He gave his next of kin as his father William Humphreys, of 8 Corn Street. 

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He went to France with his battalion on the 07th November 1915

Shortly afterwards, in December 1915, his father died, age 57.

A memoriam to his father was placed in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 17 December 1917: 

HUMPHREYS— In sad but loving memory of William Edward, beloved husband of Sarah E. Humphreys, who died December 15, 1915.  

Two years have gone since that sad day  

When our great sorrow fell;  

Yet in our hearts he liveth still,  

The one we loved so well.  

 - Ever remembered by his loving Wife and Children, 8, Corn-street, Toxteth; also Jack (in France). 

He was granted leave to the U.K. on 03/11/1916 and rejoined his battalion on the 15^th.

Granted Good Conduct Badge on 03/9/1916

Granted Class I Professional Pay on 01/7/1917

Granted 10 days leave to the U.K. on 30/10/1917, and rejoined the battalion on 12/11/1917

To Corps Transfer Depot on 13/6/1918

To Advanced Horse Transport Depot, Abbeville, on 14/6/1918

Posted to the 13^th Bn on 24/8/1918

He was initially reported as wounded in action on 31/8/1918 but on 18/9/1918 a report was received advising that he had been Killed in Action on 31/8/1918. Details of the action were recorded  in the Battalion diary as follows: 

August 30 – At night time the battalion moved up in preparation for an attack on Ecoust.

August 31 – the Battalion attacked and were successful in obtaining their objective as also did the 1^st Gordon Highlanders on their Left. The Battalion on the Right flank, however, did not get their objective and this necessitated a withdrawal temporarily and subsequently the Battalion re-took the objective though suffering heavy casualties. 

Estimated Casualties: 9 Officers, 200 Other Ranks Private 17355 John Edward Humphreys was one of those killed in action that day.   

He now rests at HAC Cemetery in France where his gravestone inscription reads;

“THE SUPREME SACRIFICE”

The enemy positions from Doignies to Henin-sur-Cojeul, including the village of Ecoust, were captured on 2 April 1917, by the 4th Australian and 7th Divisions. This cemetery was begun by the 7th Division after the battle, when 27 of the 2nd H.A.C., who fell (with one exception) on the 31st March or the 1st April, were buried in what is now Plot I, Row A. After the German counter-attack near Lagnicourt on the 15th April, twelve Australian gunners were buried in the same row. Rows B, C and part of D were made in August and September 1918, when the ground had been recaptured by the 3rd Division after five months enemy occupation. The 120 graves thus made were the original H.A.C. Cemetery; but after the Armistice graves were added from the battlefields of Bullecourt and Ecoust and from a number of smaller burial grounds.

There are now nearly 2,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over half are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 17 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 14 from Australia, known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 34 soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery covers an area of 5,801 square metres and is enclosed by a low red brick wall.

On 23^rd September 1918 his mother wrote to Headquarters, 3^rd Echelon:

“Sir, I have just had a letter returned from France marked “Wounded”, addressed to my son the above soldier. Naturally I am extremely anxious to know whether his wound is serious or not. I should feel grateful if you will kindly cause enquiries to be made thru’ your Echelon and please inform me of his present address and condition. Thanking you very much and apologising for my intrusion, Yours faithfully, S.E. Humphreys".

On 27^th September 1918 Major Pearson of Infantry Section No.8, G.H.Q. 3^rd Echelon wrote to Infantry Records Office, Preston, stating

“This man has been reported as K.I.A. 31/8/1918"

His mother signed for his effects on 8^th April 1919: 2 identity discs.

Jack's loss was not the only tragedy that the family had to endure as his brother Robert "Bob", who enlisted alongside Jack also fell in the war. He was serving as Private 17354 with the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, when he was killed in action on 30th August 1916, aged 23. 

Jack was due to receive a sum of money from the estate of his brother Robert who had been killed in action on 30/07/1916 with the 19th Battalion at Guillemont.

In June 1920 mother Sarah received the 1914-15 Star for each of her sons, John and Robert.

His mother died in 1926, age 66, living with married daughter Elsie in Farm Cottage, Cottage Homes, Fazakerley.

Jack and Bob are commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, in Liverpool Town Hall. Jack at Panel 56 and Bob at Panel 55 Left.

We currently have no further information on John (Jack) Edward Humphreys. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.