Cecil F G Humphries

[liverpool annie]

Mack ! .... this soldier has been around hasn't he ?

HUMPHRIES, Cecil F G, Lance-Corporal (Acting Sergeant), 1st Manchester Regt, Indian Expeditionary Force

ex Christchurch, son of Mrs A R Rowse, Mataura. Well known in Christchurch in football & golfing circles. So far he seems to be the first New Zealander who has gained this coveted distinction which was awarded for gallantry at the battle of Givenchy on Dec 20 & 21, when the Indian force was hard pressed.

The War Office record is: 'For conspicuous gallantry and coolness at Givenchy in the attack of Dec 20 & 21 and for endeavouring to bring into cover the body of his company commander, who had been killed.'

Sgt Humphries was wounded at the recent battle of Neuve Chapelle and is now in hospital at Sevenoaks.
AWN 29.04.1915

Medal card of Humphries, C F G

Manchester Regiment recently Army Service Corps Lance Corporal Acting Serjeant
Date
1914-1920

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=6318597&queryType=1&resultcount=4

Medal card of Humphries, C F G

Army Service Corps SR/207 Private
Army Service Corps SR/207 Corporal
Date
1914-1920

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=3757391&queryType=1&resultcount=4

Actually there is another one too !! but it can't be him can it ?

Medal card of Humphries, C F G

Highland Light Infantry Temporary Captain
Date
1914-1920

[liverpool annie]

This is interesting ! Do you know this soldier Mack ?

In Memory of
Lieutenant Colonel CECIL FREDERICK GEORGE HUMPHRIES
D S O, M C and Bar, D C M

1st Bn., Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
attd. 1st Bn., Norfolk Regiment
who died age 31
on 22 August 1918
Son of Mrs. A. R. Rowse (formerly Humphries), of "Aloha," Hinemoa St., Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand, and the late Charles Humphries. Born at Mataura, Southland, New Zealand.

Remembered with honour
FONCQUEVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY

[mack]

those are all his medal cards
pte ss/207 cecil,frederick,george humphries
enl 7-8-14
aged 26
occupation clerk
then pte 14000 1st manchesters
son of mrs ada,rebecca rowse,hotel madrid,cromwell rd,kensington
permanent address,excelsior hotel,christchurch,NZ
shot in the left forearm on 20/21-12-14
admitted to british gen hospital,bolougne on 14-3-15 and VAD wildeness hospital,sevenoaks the same day
posted to 12th HLI at stirling on 10-6-15 as a 2/Lt

[mack]

his MCs were both gazetted in september 1917
the first one was for helping to move eight burning railway wagon that were loaded with shells,he and his sgt/major,uncoupled the last wagon themselves.
his second award was for his actions when his battalion was attacked in overwhelming numbers,the company next to his,was overrun,so he formed a defensive flank and drove the enemy back.
his DSO was gazetted on 2-12-1918,but he had died of wounds on 22nd aug 1918,he was also mentioned in despatches
at the time of his death,he was act/Lt colonel of the 1st norfolk regt

quite a man,rose from a private to Lt/col in less than four years

[timberman]

Hi Mack

He's in the snippets. A newspaper article from New Zealand.

Mr. Humphries offered his services to the War Office, and was drafted to the Army Service Corps, with, which he went to Orleans about the middle of August. After a while, being anxious to get to the scene of action, he was able to obtain a transfer to the Ist Manchesters (Indian Expeditionary Force), though to make the change meant sacrificing the stripes he had earned in the A.S.C. However, promotion soon came, and he was made lance-corporal on Christmas Eve ect

Still a very brave man and willing to give up his stripes just to get to the fighting.

Timberman

[liverpool annie]

Thanks Gentlemen very much ! 

He really was quite a man wasn't he ?

[JC]

Humphries, Cecil Frederick George of 147 Cromwell Road, Kensington, Middlesex. D.S.O.M.C.D.C.M. died 22 August 1918 in France. Probate London 6 March to Ada Rebecca Rowse (wife of Henry James Rowse).
Effects £348 7s 7d

[Tim Bell]

Cecil Humphries captured my imagination, so I did a bit of research. https://1stbattalionmanchesterregiment.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/c-f-g-humphries.pdf