George Albert Humphrey

George Albert was the son of Elijah and Elizabeth Humphrey (nee Tyrrell). Elijah Humphrey, the son of William and Dinah, was born in Helmdon, Northamptonshire, in 1854 and baptised in Helmdon on 24 December 1854. Elizabeth Tyrrell, the daughter of Susanna Tyrrell, was born in Northamptonshire and baptised in Guildsborough, Northamptonshire on 24 August 1854 (register marked 'illegitimate'). Elijah was 21 when he married Elizabeth (23) at Leeds St Peter on 13 September 1875. They were both then living on Castle Street, Leeds. Elijah and Elizabeth had at least seven children: John William b. 1877 (O/N/D Leeds) baptised 4 September 1878 Leeds St Paul, Edith Emily b. 1879 (J/A/S Leeds), Florence Annie b. 1881 (A/M/J Leeds, George Albert b. 18 December 1883 (baptised 22 July 1884 Leeds St Paul), Ernest Francis b. 1886 (O/N/D Nottingham), Kate Lilian b. 1890 A/M/J Nottingham) and Gertrude b. 1892 (A/M/J Nottingham). The four oldest children were born in Leeds and the three youngest in Nottingham. Elijah had had joined the Midland Railway at the age of 19 on 25 January 1873, and was based at Rotherham Station. In 1881 Elijah (26) a railway porter, and Elizabeth (28) were living at 26 Castle Street, Leeds, with their three children John (3), Edith (1) and Annie (3 months). The family had moved to Nottingham by 1891 and were living at 16 Queen's Square in the civil parish of St Mary. Elijah (36) was still working as a railway porter. He and Elizabeth (37) now had six children: John (13) a printer, Edith (11), Florence (10), George (7), Ernest (4) and Kate (1). Their youngest child, Gertrude, was born the following year. In 1901 Elijah (46), now a railway policeman, and Elizabeth (46) were living at 111 Kirkewhite Street, Meadows, Nottingham, with their children Edith (21) and Florence (20) both cap winders (yarn), George (17) who was in work, Ernest (14) an errand boy, and Kate (11) and Gertrude (9) who were both still at school. Also in the household was the eldest son, John (23) a labourer, and his wife Elizabeth Kitty (nee Humphreys) whom he had married in 1900 (A/M/J Nottingham). George joined the Royal Navy the following year. Florence Annie married John William Bainbridge in 1903 (J/F/M Salford) and in 1911 they were living at 13 Harry Terrace, Crocus Street, Meadows, Nottingham. John (29, b. Derby) was an engineer's labourer (machine tool). He and Florence (30) had three children; Emily May (6), Florence Myra (4) and Phyllis Elizabeth (2). By 1911 the eldest child, John (33), a pantographer, and his wife Elizabeth (32, b. Lenton) were living at 5 Maxwell Street, Lenton. They had been married for eight years and had had one child who had died. In 1911 George was still serving in the Navy (HMS Neptune) while his younger brother, Ernest, was serving with the 42nd Company Royal Engineers as a stone mason at Fort Monckton, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire. Elijah and Elizabeth and their other children have not yet been traced on the 1911 census. George married Sarah A Allsop in 1914 (J/A/S Nottingham). At the time of his death in 1919 they were living at 12 Harry Terrace, Crocus Street, Meadows, Nottingham, which was the same address as that of his sister Florence in 1911. George's mother died in 1918 (September Nottingham) age 64 and his father died in 1926 (March Nottingham) age 71. It is probable that George's widow never remarried as there is a record of a Sarah Ann Humphrey born 14 January 1886 (J/F/M Nottingham) who died in 1970 (March Nottingham). Of George's siblings: John William probably served in the 2nd Battalion Yorks and Lancs Regiment in the war (21337 Private) and qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He may have died in 1952 (December Sheffield) age 75. Ernest Francis married Myra F Allen in 1912 (J/F/M Nottingham) and died on 5 February 1920 in Nottingham General Hospital. He was employed for a time as an attendant at the Nottinghamshire County Asylum (Saxendale) and is commemorated on the hospital's memorial. According to hospital records he served in the war between 1914 and 1917 athough his grave in Nottingham General Cemetery is marked by a CWGC headstone, '17671 Corporal EF Humphrey Royal Engineers 5th February 1920 age 33'. (See T2T ROH, Saxondale Hospital memorial) Florence died in 1940 (March Nottingham) aged 59. Kate Lilian married John H Sykes in 1920 (A/M/J Nottingham) and died in 1944 (September Nottingham) age 54. Gertrude may have married in 1911 (A/M/J Nottingham).

He joined the Royal Navy on 10 January 1902 on a 12 year engagement and was discharged time expired, on 10 January 1914. He transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve in May the same year and was then mobilised on 2 August 1914.

George joined the Royal Navy on a 12 year engagement on 10 January 1902 when he was 18 years old (service number 299701). He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Duke of Wellington II, 10 January 1902-20 August 1902 (Stoker 2nd Class); HMS Trafalgar, 21 August 1902-29 August 1902; HMS Royal Sovereign, 30 August 1902-4 November 1903 (Stoker, 29 January 1903); HMS Firequeen, 5 November 1903-24 November 1903; continuous service to Sapphire II, 2 January 1906-17 January 1909 (Stoker 1st Class, 1 July 1906); continuous service to HMS Good Hope, 1 April 1913-10 January 1914. He was discharged shore, Continuous Service expired, on 10 January 1914 and transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve (Ports. B) on 2 May 1914. George was mobilised on 2 August 1914 and served in various ships and shore establishments, the last establishment being Victory II, 20 March 1918-16 May 1919, when he was ‘Invalided insane’. His service record was annotated, ‘MD 5504/19. Admitted to Yarmouth Hospital [RNH Great Yarmouth, Norfolk] (from Haslar Hospital) on 2 May 1919 as a dangerous lunatic.’ He died in the Royal Naval Hospital Great Yarmouth two months later on 16 July 1919 and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery. He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

George is not commemorated on the CWGC register. The Royal Naval Hospital at Great Yarmouth was completed in 1811 and commissioned by the Admiralty to care for the sick and wounded of the Royal Navy's North Sea Fleet during the Napoleonic wars. It was also used as barracks and hospital for the Army and treated casualties of the Battle of Waterloo and the Indian Mutiny. From 1863 the hospital treated Royal Navy servicemen suffering from mental illness. It became an NHS psychiatric hospital (St Nicholas Hospital) in 1958 and was closed in 1993. (www.rnhgy.org.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 21 July 1919: ‘Humphrey. On July 16th, Royal Naval Hospital, Great Yarmouth, George Albert Humphrey, 12 Harry-terrace, Crocus-street, 17 years Naval service, aged 35. Interment General Cemetery 2.30 Wednesday. On his sweet soul sweet Jesus have mercy. RIP. Sorrowing wife, mother and father and family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 16 July 1920: ‘Humphrey. In sacred memory of my beloved husband, George Albert Humphrey, RN, who died July 16th, 1919. Eternal rest give to him, O Lord; ever in my thoughts. RIP.Loving wife, mother and father-in-law.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 16 July 1920: ‘Humphrey. In loving memory of George A. who died July 16th 1919. Lovingly remembered by Father, brother, and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)