Pte 17354 Robert Albert Humphreys

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Robert “Bob” Albert Humphreys was born 30^th August 1892 and baptised in St. Cleopas, Toxteth on 30^th October 1892. His parents were then living at 10 Corn Street, and his father’s occupation is carter. William Edward Humphreys and Sarah Elizabeth Thomas were married on 09^th May 1883 in St. Michael’s Church, Toxteth; William was a 24 year old carter of Beloe Street, father John a labourer, whilst Sarah was aged 24 of Ivanhoe Road, father David a labourer. Both parents were born in Kinnerley, Oswestry, Shropshire.   

His parents had 10 children, but sadly six died young. Robert was the third and youngest son of four surviving children: brothers John Edward, born in 1884 and Thomas Henry, 1890, and sister Elsie Louisa, 1896.

The family had lived in Corn Street since at least 1891.

He was known as Bob by family and friends.

At the time of the 1901 Census the family is at 8 Corn Street. His father is a  43 year old railway carter, his mother is 42 years of age. Robert is 8, he has three siblings in the household. His brother John E. is 16, and working as an errand boy for a spirits store, Thomas H. is 10 and Elsie L. is 4. The paternal grandmother, Martha Humphreys is also in the household, she is a widowed 71 year old, born in Kinnerley, Shropshire.

In 1911 the family is still at 8 Corn Street. Bob is an 18 year old shop assistant with a tailor and is living with his parents and two siblings Thomas Henry a 20 year old carter and Elsie Louisa a scholar aged 14. His father is a 52 year old railway drayman, his mother is 51 years of age. They advise that they have been married for 28 years and have had 10 children of whom four have survived. His elder brother Jack is not in the household. 

Robert enlisted on 03^rd September 1914, the same day and in the same battalion (as his brother John Pte 17355), joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment at St George's Hall in Liverpool. He gave his age as 22 years and three days and his occupation as salesman. He was described as being five feet six and half inches tall, weighed 118 lbs, 36" chest with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and auburn hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. He gives his Next of Kin as his parents William and Sarah of  8 Corn Street.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His service records show:

16.6.15: At Belton Park, Grantham: He was confined to barracks for seven days for “irregularity on parade”

7.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion.

His father died on the 15th December 1915, aged 57.

A memoriam to his father was placed in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 17 December 1917: 

HUMPHREYS— In sad but loving memory of William Edward, beloved husband of Sarah E. Humphreys, who died December 15, 1915.  

Two years have gone since that sad day  

When our great sorrow fell;  

Yet in our hearts he liveth still,  

The one we loved so well.  

 - Ever remembered by his loving Wife and Children, 8, Corn-street, Toxteth; also Jack (in France). 

19.2.16: He was admitted to 98^th Field Ambulance, sick, and rejoined his battalion on 25^th.

01.3.16: He was admitted with myalgia, foot, and sent to 30^th D.R.S. on 14^th diagnosed with I.C.T. feet.

13.3.16: Diagnosed with I.C.T. feet, admitted to 22 Field Ambulance. 

14.3.16:  Sent to 30th D.R.S.(Divisional Recovery Station). 

14.4.16: discharged to duty with his unit. 

05.5.16: He was granted leave to the U.K  and rejoined his unit in the field on 17.5.16.

Bob was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 23, during the ill fated attack on the German held village of Guillemont.

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.    

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 23^rd August 1916:

July 30, killed in action, Robert (Bob) Humphreys (Pals). The happy hours we once enjoyed, how sweet the memory still, No morning dawns, no night returns, but what we think of him. Sadly missed by his sweetheart Josie and all at 16 Mortimer Street.

July 30, killed in action, Robert (our Bob), (Pals), the dearly loved youngest son of S. E. and the late W. E. Humphreys, 8 Corn Street, Toxteth. God knows how much we miss him, He sees the tears we shed, And whispers “Hush, he only sleeps, Your loved one is not dead.” Sadly missed by his mother, Jack and Elsie.

July 30, killed in action, Robert Humphreys (our Bob) (Pals). Sleep on, dear brother, in a soldier’s grave, Your life for your country you nobly gave. – Sadly missed by [brother] Tom, Sally, and Little Jack.

Bob's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

He earned his three medals.

His mother received a War Gratuity of £8-10s. Pension cards exist in the name of his mother, but the amount awarded is not specified.

Soldiers’ Effects show amount to be shared between mother and brother Thomas, with a share to brother John.

Bob was remebered by his family in the Liverpool Evening Express on the first anniversary of his death on Monday 30 July 1917: 

HUMPHREYS - In loving memory of Robert A. (our Bob) “Pals,” killed in action in France, July 30, 1916.  

On the river’s shining brink  

Christ will clasp each broken link. 

(Mother, Elsie, Tom, and Jack, in France. 8 Corn Street, Toxteth)  

HUMPHREYS - In loving memory of Bob “Pals”, killed in action, July 30, 1916.  

Sweet are the memories you have left, dear,  

To one who knew your worth. (Josie.) 

Bob was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving memory of Bob (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. - Fondly remembered by Josie."

"In loving memory of Robert A. (our Bob), (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916.
   In life we loved him very dear,
   In death we do the same.
Mother, Elsie, Sally, Tom, and Jack (in France). - 8 Corn Street."

In June 1920 mother Sarah received the 1914-15 Star for each of her sons, John and Robert.

His mother died in 1926, age 66, living with married daughter Elsie in Farm Cottage, Cottage Homes, Fazakerley.

Bob and Jack are commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Bob at Panel 55 left and Jack at Panel 56 .

We currently have no further information on Robert Albert Humphreys. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.