Lieutenant George Frederick Humphries Royal Garrison Artillery
1914-18 Britsh War Medal. Victory Medal.
The Man George Frederick (Fred) Humphries was born Thursday on 24th April 1884 at 13 Lansdowne Street, Royal Leamington Spa, son of William George a House Decorator and Clara nee Evans. He was one of four children, Willian junior born in 1883, Frank Ewart 1886 and Annie Evelyn ‘Cissie’ 1896, although Cissie does not appear on any of the censuses living with the family and is not acknowledged on the 1911 census as a daughter of Clara. Fred was Baptised on 21st May in St Paul’s Church, Leicester Street.
The 1891 and 1901 censuses show the family living at 13 Lansdowne Street and Fred aged 9 became a Choristor at Holy Trinity Church, Beauchamp Avenue. In 1901 aged 16 he is shown working as a Clerk in a Publishers Office and by 1911 the family are at 11 Newbold Street and he is now listed as a Reporter.
Fred became the Liberal Party agent for Warwick and Leamington Parliamentary Constituency, the seat having only swung from Liberal to Conservative a few years earlier in 1910 and was mentioned in this capacity numerous times in the local press. On Saturday 18th September 1914, aged 30 married Lillian Beatrice Whithead in Leamington Spa at Holy Trinity Church, the serviced conducted by Reverend L G Berrington. A reception was held at Lillian’s father’s House, ‘Bradfield’ 29 Campion Terrace and they honeymooned in Barmouth. Following their marriage, they lived initially at Bradfield and by 1916 were at 4 Brownlow Street and later No 6, having no children.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 George was aged 30 and in January 1916 the Military Service Act was introduced, rendering all single men and childless widowers between the ages of 18 and 41 liable to conscription, followed by the Military Service No 2 in June 1916, extending conscription to all men between these ages, it was now, aged 33 that Fred became liable for call up.
Fred enlisted into an Officer Cadet Unit and on 19th March 1917 was appointed as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery being posted to the Special Reserve of Officers. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 2nd September 1918 and saw service overseas, most likely on the Western Front.
On Wednesday 6th April 1919 he gave away his Sister Cissie, at her wedding to Captain Wilfred Womersley at Spencer Street Congregational Church in Leamington. On 22nd June 1919 he transferred to the Labour Corps and appointed as Adjutant to Labour Commandant No 1 Salvage District, Bethune, France. The Salvage Depot's purpose was to recycle unserviceable items to save money and reduce waste.
On 7th January 1920 he was released as Adjutant and on 1st April resigned his commission, returning to live in Leamington Spa with Lillian at 6 Brownlow Street. Fred was awarded his 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals sent to him at this address.
Fred later became a Commercial Traveller selling Medical supplies and by 1936 was living at 1 Arlington Avenue, Leamington and in 1939, aged 55 at 8 Arlington Avenue.
Lillian passed away in 1963 and Fred died suddenly eight years later, on 16th May 1971 aged 87. His funeral service was held at Canley Crematorium in June with Reverend Derrick Tooby, Curate at Holy Trinity Church conducting the service.
The 1891 and 1901 censuses show the family living at 13 Lansdowne Street and Fred aged 9 became a Choristor at Holy Trinity Church, Beauchamp Avenue. In 1901 aged 16 he is shown working as a Clerk in a Publishers Office and by 1911 the family are at 11 Newbold Street and he is now listed as a Reporter.
Fred became the Liberal Party agent for Warwick and Leamington Parliamentary Constituency, the seat having only swung from Liberal to Conservative a few years earlier in 1910 and was mentioned in this capacity numerous times in the local press. On Saturday 18th September 1914, aged 30 married Lillian Beatrice Whithead in Leamington Spa at Holy Trinity Church, the serviced conducted by Reverend L G Berrington. A reception was held at Lillian’s father’s House, ‘Bradfield’ 29 Campion Terrace and they honeymooned in Barmouth. Following their marriage, they lived initially at Bradfield and by 1916 were at 4 Brownlow Street and later No 6, having no children.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 George was aged 30 and in January 1916 the Military Service Act was introduced, rendering all single men and childless widowers between the ages of 18 and 41 liable to conscription, followed by the Military Service No 2 in June 1916, extending conscription to all men between these ages, it was now, aged 33 that Fred became liable for call up.
Fred enlisted into an Officer Cadet Unit and on 19th March 1917 was appointed as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery being posted to the Special Reserve of Officers. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 2nd September 1918 and saw service overseas, most likely on the Western Front.
On Wednesday 6th April 1919 he gave away his Sister Cissie, at her wedding to Captain Wilfred Womersley at Spencer Street Congregational Church in Leamington. On 22nd June 1919 he transferred to the Labour Corps and appointed as Adjutant to Labour Commandant No 1 Salvage District, Bethune, France. The Salvage Depot's purpose was to recycle unserviceable items to save money and reduce waste.
On 7th January 1920 he was released as Adjutant and on 1st April resigned his commission, returning to live in Leamington Spa with Lillian at 6 Brownlow Street. Fred was awarded his 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals sent to him at this address.
Fred later became a Commercial Traveller selling Medical supplies and by 1936 was living at 1 Arlington Avenue, Leamington and in 1939, aged 55 at 8 Arlington Avenue.
Lillian passed away in 1963 and Fred died suddenly eight years later, on 16th May 1971 aged 87. His funeral service was held at Canley Crematorium in June with Reverend Derrick Tooby, Curate at Holy Trinity Church conducting the service.
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FDred Humphries world war I Medal Index Card showing award of the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals.
The Story The medals awarded to George Frederick Humphries were acquired from Charlies Medals on 15th December 2024 and of interest as he was a born and bred Leamingtonian. However, what seemed a straightforward piece of research became extremely complicated and initially, confirming details proved difficult.
It seemed there may be two G F Humphries living in the same area of Leamington Spa, but after careful cross referencing of Ancestry records and the Newspaper archives, it was possible to confirm the correct man.
George Frederick was the son of William George and they lived at a number of addresses in the North-Eastern part of the town. The 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses show Clara his mother, as having only had three children, William junior, Frank Ewart and George. Ancestry also reflects George living at the same and other addresses in the area and the 1911 census has him working as a Reporter with later numerous newspaper cuttings describing him as the Liberal Party Agent in town. He married in 1914 to Lillian Beatrice Whitehead, although his part of the register on Ancestry cannot be located, only Lillians.
George’s WWI Medal index card shows him as a Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery and his medals were sent to 6 Brownlow Street, Leamington Spa following the war. This address is confirmed in a 1916, 1925 and 1926 Trade Directory, although frustratingly it only shows G F Humphries, no first names and the 1920 and 1924 directories only refer to a Mrs Humphries.
The 1916, 20,24 and 25 Directories also show a W G Humphries (George’s father?) living at The Holly Bush, 89 King Street, Leamington and once again a stone’s throw from Bronlow Street and the other addresses. The 1939 Register shows George and Lillian living at 8 Arlington Avenue and he a Commercial Traveler. Ancestry confirmed Lillian died in 1963 and George in 1971 still resident in Arlington Avenue.
Frustratingly there was still no link between Lieutenant G F Humphries at the Brownlow Street address and G F Humphries who had been a Liberal Agent and married Lillian living in Arlington Avenue.
Further research on the newspaper archives however, revealed three important cuttings, one dated 11th April 1919 from the Leamington Spa Courier, in which a Lieutenant F G Humphries RGA, had given away his sister Annie Evelyn ‘Cissie’ Humphries, daughter of W G Humphries of King Street, Leamington Spa at her wedding to Captain Wilfred Womersley at Spencer Street Congregational Church.
The trail appeared to be getting warmer, and it seemed that Cissie was William’s daughter and George’s sister, the King Street address being the link. Annie Evelyn was checked on Ancestry and whilst her wedding to Captain Womersley and later life uncovered, she was not on the 1911 census nor listed as one of William or Clara’s children. By luck a family tree had been completed by another member of Ancestry and Annie was shown as being the sister of George, although in the 1911 census she was listed just as ‘Cissie’ and living with relatives at an address in Hoarwithy, Herefordshire. Why she was not listed as William and Clara’s daughter or living with her family will probably never be known!
The second important cutting from the Courier dated 11th June 1971, gave details on George’s funeral and listed family mourners, William (his brother listed on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses), he also representing Mrs Womersley (Cissie, George’s sister (who was unable to attend)) and finally Mrs H M Humphries (sister-in-law). Further cross referencing revealed Hilda Mary Humphries nee Townsend to be the wife of Frank Ewart, Georges brother and therefore his sister-in-law.
The third was George’s wedding to Lillian in 1914 from the Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser and Leamington Gazette, showing his father George living at 89 King Street and his sister Cissie as a bridesmaid, it also confirmed he was the Liberal Agent for Warwick and Leamington. Lillian hailed from Campion Terrace, again within the same area of Leamington as George.
Thus, after several hours of trawling and cross referencing the links were all made and W G Humphries who had lived at Brownlow Street and been a Lieutenant in the RGA , was indeed the same as the son of William
One conundrum remains, a G F Humphries is shown in various 1914 newspaper reports a Soldier involved in various events organised locally before WWI! Unless George had been a pre-war Territorial.
It seemed there may be two G F Humphries living in the same area of Leamington Spa, but after careful cross referencing of Ancestry records and the Newspaper archives, it was possible to confirm the correct man.
George Frederick was the son of William George and they lived at a number of addresses in the North-Eastern part of the town. The 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses show Clara his mother, as having only had three children, William junior, Frank Ewart and George. Ancestry also reflects George living at the same and other addresses in the area and the 1911 census has him working as a Reporter with later numerous newspaper cuttings describing him as the Liberal Party Agent in town. He married in 1914 to Lillian Beatrice Whitehead, although his part of the register on Ancestry cannot be located, only Lillians.
George’s WWI Medal index card shows him as a Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery and his medals were sent to 6 Brownlow Street, Leamington Spa following the war. This address is confirmed in a 1916, 1925 and 1926 Trade Directory, although frustratingly it only shows G F Humphries, no first names and the 1920 and 1924 directories only refer to a Mrs Humphries.
The 1916, 20,24 and 25 Directories also show a W G Humphries (George’s father?) living at The Holly Bush, 89 King Street, Leamington and once again a stone’s throw from Bronlow Street and the other addresses. The 1939 Register shows George and Lillian living at 8 Arlington Avenue and he a Commercial Traveler. Ancestry confirmed Lillian died in 1963 and George in 1971 still resident in Arlington Avenue.
Frustratingly there was still no link between Lieutenant G F Humphries at the Brownlow Street address and G F Humphries who had been a Liberal Agent and married Lillian living in Arlington Avenue.
Further research on the newspaper archives however, revealed three important cuttings, one dated 11th April 1919 from the Leamington Spa Courier, in which a Lieutenant F G Humphries RGA, had given away his sister Annie Evelyn ‘Cissie’ Humphries, daughter of W G Humphries of King Street, Leamington Spa at her wedding to Captain Wilfred Womersley at Spencer Street Congregational Church.
The trail appeared to be getting warmer, and it seemed that Cissie was William’s daughter and George’s sister, the King Street address being the link. Annie Evelyn was checked on Ancestry and whilst her wedding to Captain Womersley and later life uncovered, she was not on the 1911 census nor listed as one of William or Clara’s children. By luck a family tree had been completed by another member of Ancestry and Annie was shown as being the sister of George, although in the 1911 census she was listed just as ‘Cissie’ and living with relatives at an address in Hoarwithy, Herefordshire. Why she was not listed as William and Clara’s daughter or living with her family will probably never be known!
The second important cutting from the Courier dated 11th June 1971, gave details on George’s funeral and listed family mourners, William (his brother listed on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses), he also representing Mrs Womersley (Cissie, George’s sister (who was unable to attend)) and finally Mrs H M Humphries (sister-in-law). Further cross referencing revealed Hilda Mary Humphries nee Townsend to be the wife of Frank Ewart, Georges brother and therefore his sister-in-law.
The third was George’s wedding to Lillian in 1914 from the Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser and Leamington Gazette, showing his father George living at 89 King Street and his sister Cissie as a bridesmaid, it also confirmed he was the Liberal Agent for Warwick and Leamington. Lillian hailed from Campion Terrace, again within the same area of Leamington as George.
Thus, after several hours of trawling and cross referencing the links were all made and W G Humphries who had lived at Brownlow Street and been a Lieutenant in the RGA , was indeed the same as the son of William
One conundrum remains, a G F Humphries is shown in various 1914 newspaper reports a Soldier involved in various events organised locally before WWI! Unless George had been a pre-war Territorial.
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St Paul's Church (where Fred was baptised) and Lansdowne Street, Leasmington Spa. Original No.13 at left forefront now demolished.
Medal Details
- 1914-18 British War Medal: LT. G.F.HUMPHRIES.
- Victory Medal: ance & Germany Star: LT. G.F.HUMPHRIES
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