George Henry Humphreys was born in Oswestry in 1886. He was the eldest of the 6 children of George and Ann Humphreys, who lived on 4 Boot Street in Whittington. His younger siblings were Mary, William, Norah, Charles and Gertrude. His father worked on the railway as a porter and goods checker. After leaving school George worked for a time as a newspaper seller and later as a nursery gardener. In March 1913 he married Margaret Fox at Holy Trinity Church. They moved to live at 9 Castle Cottages, Gobowen and then later at 11 Whittington Road. They would have 2 children: George born in 1914 and Hugh born in 1916.

George enlisted under Derby Scheme – he registered on 12 December 1915, 5 days before the deadline for eligibility under the Scheme.. He was mobilised in June 1916 joining the 3 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers, training and reserves. In October he was posted to 5 Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and then to 7 Bn RWF. George had problems with his feet; he had corns and, in January 1917, he was designated as Medical Category B making him ineligible for combat. He was transferred into No 2 Coy Labour Battalion Liverpool Regiment and went over to France 9 February 1917. In April 1917 a new Labour Corp was established of personnel who were medically of a lower grade or older than infantrymen at the front; in May 1917 George was transferred to 67 Labour Coy, attached to Australian Imperial Forces. He was wounded when his unit was shelled near to Roisel during the advance westward across the Somme. He died of his wounds on 23 September 1918 and was buried at Tincourt New Cemetery. His personal effects, forwarded to his widow Margaret, included his ID disc, letters and cards, a notebook, watch guard and strap, 2 wallets, a broken ring, a religious book, photos and a gold 10 mark coin. George is also commemorated on Whittington War Memorial.

Acknowledgements.

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