The Bridgend-born outside half became a British & Irish Lion in 1910 became the youngest Welshman to play for the Lions on that tour, making his debut in a 17-0 win over Pretoria on 5 July while still a teenager. He lost his life on another foreign field, dying of wounds received in battle in northern France in 1917, aged 27.
Although born in Wales, Humphreys learned his rugby at Denstone College and then Durham School when his father, a Vicar, moved to Cheshire and then the North East. But while serving as the Rector of Llangan, and then the Vicar of St Mary Hill, Cowbridge, the Rev Henry James Humphreys and his wife, Sydney, had seven children.
Four of their five sons served in WW1 and a fifth was on his way back to England to enlist when he lost his life during the sinking of the Cunard ocean liner, HMS Lusitania. He had emigrated to Canada as a teenager to work as a farmer and gradually worked his way down through North America to Los Angeles, where he was planning to become an American citizen just as war broke out.
He became the first of three of the Humphreys’ boys to lose their lives in a story of family sacrifice and national patriotism that resonated around the world after being commented upon in the columns of The Times.
EXTRACT FROM THE HOROWHENUA CHRONICLE, NEW ZEALAND – 2 May, 1918
Magnificent Record of Clergyman Boys
To ‘The Times’ a correspondent contributes the magnificent record of the five sons of the Rev. H. J. Humphreys, vicar of Thornley, Tow Law, Durham: —Captain Noel Forbes Humphreys, M.C., joined, in August, 1914, as a despatch rider, was transferred to M.G.C. in January, 1915, went to France in May, and is now section commander of tanks in France. He has been mentioned in despatches, and has won the M.C. He was severely wounded on Easter Monday 1917.
Captain Herbert Philip Wynne Humphreys was in the far north of Canada on a Government survey when war broke out, but returned to England as soon as possible, and in November, 1914, joined the Inns of Court 0.T.C., from which he obtained a commission in the R.F.A., proceeding to France in July, 1915. He was awarded the M.C. in August, 1917.
Henry St. Giles Humphreys was in Los Angeles in August, 1914, and as soon as he could settle his affairs started for home to enlist, but met his death in the Lusitania, on the way.
John Theodore Gordon Humphreys went to Sandhurst straight from school in 1915, and obtained a commission in the Indian draft in January, 1917, and was killed in action at Narumgombe in July, 1917.
A. Owen Humphreys came from Canada with the C.F.C., and is now serving as a private.
Noel was one of seven Welshman on the 1910 Lions tour to South Africa and he played in five matches. He was in the 1st XV and 1st X1 at Durham School with England international Barry Cumberlege and he played club rugby for Tynedale, a team who in the decade up to the outbreak of WW1 won no fewer than 15 trophies, including the Northumberland Senior Cup on three occasions and the Senior Shield four times in a row between 1909 and 1912.
An articled clerk with a firm of solicitors near Thornley, Tow Law, in Durham, where his father was based, he lost no time in signing up for war, enlisting on 7 October, 1914. He started as a despatch rider before receiving a commission two months later.
He was made Temp 2nd Lt in the Motor Machine Gun Services and later became a Captain in the 10th Battalion of the Tanks Corp. Not only was he Mentioned in Despatches, but also received the Military Cross.
Wounded once again in northern France on 24 March, 1918, he died of his wounds three days later and was buried in the Etaples Cemetery. He was the third of the Humphreys’ boys to lose their lives and first to be awarded a Military Cross.
DIED IN WWI
HENRY GILES HUMPHREYS – lost on the ‘Lusitania’ 7 May, 1915, aged 29
JOHN THEODORE GORDON HUMPHREYS – KIA in Battle of Mgergeri, 19 July, 1917, aged 21
NOEL FORBES HUMPHREYS – died of wounds in France, 27 March, 1918, aged 27
HONOURED IN WWI
NOEL FORBES HUMPHREYS – Awarded Military Cross (Gazetted 18 June, 1917)
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His tank becoming stranded, he commenced to dig it out, and though wounded, he completed his task and continued in action the whole day, finally bringing his tank out of action to the rallying point.”
Herbert Philip Wynne Humphreys – Awarded Military Cross (Gazetted 26 September, 1917)
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when acting as Forward Observation Officer under most trying circumstances. In spite of exceptional heavy gun fire he succeeded in laying and maintaining a telephone line for a distance of 5,000 yards, and although it was constantly cut during two days and a night, it was immediately repaired in every case and most valuable information was sent back. For a long time this line was the only means by which the infantry could get any information back to the rear. The success of the operation was very greatly due to the magnificent example set by this officer and his complete disregard of personal danger.”
The other casualty in the family was the 21-year-old John, a Lieutenant with the 40th Pathans, Indian Infantry. He was killed in action at the Battle of Mgergeri, 19 July, 1917, having led his men out of a ‘nullah’ (a stream), where they were exposed to machine-gun fire, he was returning to help his Commanding Officer.
His Colonel wrote to his family and said: “He was considered a brave officer and a good comrade, and that was the best that could be said of a soldier.” He is buried at the Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery.
It represented a huge loss to one family, who bore their grief with amazing stoicism and bravery. All three Humphreys’ boys are commemorated on the Thornley War Memorial Cross that was dedicated on Friday, 4 November, 1921. Poignantly, their mother carried out the unveiling in a ceremony that was conducted by the Archdeacon of Auckland.
THE WELSH RUGBY INTERNATIONALS’ ROLL OF HONOUR FOR WWI
(In order of death)
Eng Cpt. Charles Taylor, Royal Navy (HMS Tiger)
Died: 24/01/1915, Dogger Bank
Age: 51
Caps: 9
Clubs: London Welsh
2nd Lt. Billy Geen, Kings Royal Rifle Corps
Died: 31/07/1915, Hooge
Age: 24
Caps: 3
Clubs: Newport
Sgt.Louis Phillips, Royal Fusiliers
Died: 14/03/1916, Cuinchy
Age: 38
Caps: 4
Clubs: Newport
Sgt. Major Dick Thomas, South Wales Borderers
Died: 07/07/1916, Mametz Wood
Age: 32
Caps: 4
Clubs: Mountain Ash
Cpt Johnnie Williams, Welsh Regiment
Died: 12/07/1916, Corbie
Age: 34
Caps: 17
Clubs: Cardiff
Sgt. David Watts, Kings, Shropshire Light Infantry
Died: 14/07/1916, Bazentein Ridge
Age: 30
Caps: 4
Clubs: Maesteg
Cpt. Charlie Pritchard, South Wales Borderers
Died: 14/08/1916, Chocques
Age: 33
Caps: 14
Clubs: Newport
2nd Lt. Horace Thomas, Rifle Brigade
Died: 03/09/1916, Ancle
Age: 26
Caps: 2
Clubs: Swansea
Lt Col. Richard Garnons-Williams, Royal Fusiliers
Died: 27/09/1916, Loos
Age: 59
Caps: 1
Clubs: Newport
Lt. Brinley Lewis, Royal Field Artillery
Died: 02/04/1917, Boesingle
Age: 26
Caps: 2
Clubs: Swansea
Pte. Dai Westacott, Gloucestershire Regiment
Died: 28/08/1917, Wieltje
Age: 35
Caps: 1
Clubs: Cardiff
Lt. Phil Waller, Royal Garrison Artillery
Died: 14/12/1917, Beaumetz-Les-Cabine
Age: 28
Caps: 6
Clubs: Newport
Lt. Fred Perrett, Welsh Guards
Died: 01/12/1918, Bolounge
Age: 27
Caps: 5
Clubs: Neath
THE WELSH RUGBY INTERNATIONALS’ ROLL OF HONOUR FOR WWII
(In order of death)
Sq Ldr. Cecil Evans, RAF
Died: 24/12/1941, northern France
Age: 32
Caps: 1
Clubs: Cardiff
Lt. John Evans, The Parachute Regiment
Died: 08/03/1943, Tunisia
Age: 32
Caps: 1
Clubs: Newport
Mjr. Maurice Turnbull, Welsh Guards
Died: 05/08/1944, near Montchamp
Age: 38
Caps: 5
Clubs: Cardiff
