Name
James Humphrey Allen Payne
10 Jun 1873
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/07/1917
44
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
South African Infantry
8th Regt.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery
1. AB. 7.
Tanzania
Headstone Inscription
FORTI NIHIL DIFFICILIUS (Nothing is too difficult for the brave)
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Harpenden memorials, Roll of Honour, Jeppe High School for Boys, Johannesburg South Africa
Pre War
James Humphrey Allen was born in Cogges, Witney, Oxfordshire to Rev James Payne, clergyman, and Elizabeth (nee Lang).
James was educated at Crauford College, Maidenhead, St Pauls, Stony Stratford also in France and Germany. He attended Trinity Hall Cambridge 1896 to 1900 and graduated with Honours in modern Languages.
James was an assistant master at South Eastern College, Ramsgate and following a Vice chancellor’s recommendation was gazetted on 26 May 1900 as 2nd Lieutenant in 2nd Battalion King’s (Shropshire light Infantry). He served in South Africa gaining Queen’s Medal with Clasps and King’s Medal with 2 Clasps.
James resigned his commission in 1902 to become an assistant master in Johannesburg and in 1905 became Headmaster at Jeppe High School, also Johannesburg. He married on 6 Jan 1905 to Fanny E Sharp in Durban, South Africa. They had 3 children – Cecil Humphrey born 1905, Margaret, born 1908 and Beatrice Maud, born 1911.
His widow returned to live in Harpenden.
Wartime Service
He was gazetted as Lieutenant and Quartermaster for 8th Battalion South African Infantry in Mar 1915 serving in German East Africa and wounded at Rusthuis.
After recovery James was appointed as Senior Staff Officer (Rank Captain) of 8 Battalion South African Infantry. James died aboard Hospital ship ‘Neuralia’ on 28 Jun 1917 from Malarial Fever contracted on campaign.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs. F. E. Payne, of Tren Crom, The Crossway, Mauland Avenue, Harpenden, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "FORTI NIHIL DIFFICILIUS" - Nothing is too difficult for the brave.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
