Name
PERCIVAL ROBERT HUMPHREYS
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/03/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
250408
Essex Regiment
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
JERUSALEM MEMORIAL
Panels 32 to 38.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Not on the Waltham Cross Memorial
Pre War
Percival Robert Humphreys was born in Little Baddow, Essex, in 1890, son of Frederick George Humphreys an, Agricultural Worker and Helen Ramsey Humphreys (nee Shortt). One of six children.
He was Baptised in the Parish of Little Baddow, Essex, on the 4th May 1894.
1891 Census records Percival aged 10 months, living with his parents, sisters, Edith (7), Helen (3) and brother William (5) in, Bloomfield Cottages, Little Baddow, Essex.
1901 Census, Percival (11), his parents, sister Helen (13), Brothers William (15) and Henry/Harry (8) are now living at, 1 Hill Cottages, Little Baddow, Essex.
1911 Census, the family are still living in Little Baddow, Essex. Percival now 18, is work on a Farm.
Percival married Edith Baynes at St. Mary the Virgin, Little Baddow, Essex, on 30th April 1913, they went on to have two children John Robert Harry Humphreys born in December 1914 and Gwendoline Lucy Humphreys born in May 1917.
Wartime Service
Percival enlisted in late August 1914 at Chelmsford, Essex, posted to the 1st/5th Battalion, Essex Regiment with the service number 2288 (in 1917 the service numbers were standardised, he was issued with the new number 250408).
The 1st/5th Battalion was stationed in England until July 1915, when they were mobilized for war and sailed from Plymouth for Gallipoli. Landing at Suvla Bay on the 10th August 1915.
The Battalion saw heavy fighting and sustained a high casualty rate they were withdrawn from ANZAC Cove on the 4th December 1915. Following their withdrawal from Gallipoli the 1st/5th Battalion, Essex Regiment sailed for Egypt, landing at Alexandrea on the 17th December 1915, were it formed part of the Western Frontier Force.
By early 1917 the Turkish Forces had been pushed back to the Palestinian Town of Gaza. The 1st/5th Battalion was part of the attacking force that attacked the town of Gaza on the 26th March 1917, (known as the First Battle Of Gaza, 26th March 1917). It was during this battle that Sergeant Percival Robert Humphreys was Killed in Action, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial to the missing in Israel and Palestine (including Gaza).
Additional Information
Edith received a widow’s pension of 25/- a week from 12th November 1917, and his effects of £7-3s-8d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £15.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
