Name
William David Humphries
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/10/1918
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
128953
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
21st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Oddfellows Memorial, Rickmansworth
Pre War
William was born in Rickmansworth in 1883 and baptised there on the 26th of August, the son of David and Eliza Ann (nee Atkins) Humphries.
His parents married 4 December 1881 at All Saints, St John’s Wood, London. Eliza died 1 June 1927 in Rickmansworth, Herts, aged 67.
On the 1891 Census, aged 7 he lived in Rickmansworth, with his mother and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, a railway clerk aged 17, he still lived in Rickmansworth, with his mother and two siblings.
William’s father was not named on either census and is believed to have been a patient in the Three Counties Asylum, Stotfold, Buckinghamshire, and to have died there in 1913.
On the 1911 Census, William was a chimney sweep aged 27, he lived in Watford, with his wife and no children.
On the 17th of October 1908 William married Rosina Martha Jenkinson at St Mary’s, Watford and on the 1911 census they were living 15 Tucker Street, William being a Chimney Sweep. No children have been traced.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Rosina never remarried, she died 4 June 1973 in Watford aged 88, and was buried 13 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Wartime Service
The Battalion was formed on the 24th of February 1918 from the Machine Gun Companies of 21st Division.
William was probably killed during the Battle of the Selle 17th to 25th of October 1918. On the 17th Fourth Army attacked on a ten mile front south of Le Cateau. On the morning of the 20th the front was widened as First and Third Armies attacked north of Le Cateau. Early on the 23rd a night attack was launched by all three armies. On the 23rd the 21st Battalion was supporting 62nd, 64th and 110th Brigades in an action which resulted in the capture of Vendegies au Bois. From there on the 24th the Battalion was involved in an attack on a sunken road south of Louvignes. Casualties that day were two killed (one presumably William), thirty four wounded, one missing.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Son of David and Eliza Annie (nee ATKINS) HUMPHRIES; husband of Rosina Martha (nee JENKINSON) HUMPHRIES of Watford.
Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Mike Collins, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
