Name
Harry Cecil Humphrey
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/03/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
21470
East Surrey Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS
Plot II, Row H, Grave 23.
France
Headstone Inscription
GONE, BUT LIVING EVER IN OUR MEMORY
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Chipperfield Village Memorial, St Paul's Church Memorial, Chipperfield, Sarratt Village Memorial, Holy Cross Church Memorial, Sarratt, We are not aware of any memorial in Commonwood(*1)
Pre War
Harry Cecil Humphrey was born in 1894, in New Southgate, Middx, [some documents say, Common Wood, Herts(*1)], son of George Leopold Humphrey, a Stone Mason and Isabella Matilda (nee Pritchard) Humphrey.
His parents married 27 December 1886 at St James the Great, Friern Barnet, Herts. Isabella died 1924 in the Barnet district aged 65, and was buried 27 December at Holy Cross, Sarratt; George died 1933 in the Watford district aged 77 and was buried 14 March at Holy Cross Church, Sarratt, Herts.
1901 Census records Harry as “Cecil” aged 6, living with his parents and sister Barbara 12, in Common Wood, Watford Rural, Herts.
No 1911 Census record was found for Harry and his parents. Sister Barbara had left home and was working as a Bakers Shop Assistant in Watford and boarding with her employers family.
Wartime Service
Harry enlisted at Bedford, Bedfordshire, and posted to the East Surry Regiment with the service number 21470.
He was with his Battalion in the Arras area when he was killed on 17th March 1917. It is believed he was killed when a shell fell into a working party, working on dugouts in the line, killing 6, and wounding 14.
He is buried in the CWGC Faubourg D ’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.
Additional Information
His effects of £3-8s-1d, Pay Owing and a War Gratuity of £3, went to his father George Humphrey. Unfortunately, Harry’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
