The Soldiers

2^nd Lieutenant T. Humphries

Born: Bradford, Yorkshire. 1897
Killed In Action: 1st July 1916

Thomas Humphries was the second son of Edward and Elizabeth Humphries of Percy Lund, Humphries & Co, Ltd, printers of Bradford. He was educated at Bradford Grammar School and St George’s Harpenden.
In October 1914, aged 17, he enlisted, as a Private in C Company, 1st / 6^th West Yorkshire Regiment, a territorial battalion, more commonly known as the Bradford rifles. He served with the 1st / 6^th Battalion at Marske, Ripon and France.

On the 15^th April 1915, Thomas along with all his own “Pals” of the 6^th Battalion boarded a ship bound for France. He served at the front with this battalion for 9 months until January 1916 when he was sent for Officer training and commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant with the 15^th.West Yorkshire Regiment, “Leeds Pals”.

He was only with the “Pals” for 3 weeks when on the 1^st July 1916 he was killed leading his men in the attack on Serre Village. (Battle of the Somme)
Thomas’s elder brother E.B. Humphries, also served with the 6^th West Yorks, as a Lieutenant and survived the war.

Thomas's body was never officially found and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Can you help?
Should you have any further information or photographs relating to 2^nd Lieutenant T. Humphries and would like to see them added to this page, please Contact Us.