Frank HUMPHREY

Frank HUMPHREY

Per his military service record (regimental no. 1887), Frank Humphrey was born at Hull, Yorkshire, England. He gave his age as 33 years and 3 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as bricklayer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 4 inches tall, weight 136 lbs., with a dark complexion, greenish eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that his previous military service consisted of seven months with Roystons Horse in South Africa during the Zulu rebellion. He completed his medical on the 9^th October 1915 at Gilgandra, and was attested by Captain Nicholas at Gilgandra on the same day.

His address on his initial application to enlist paper was C/o Mrs McCrossen, Albert Street, Hornsby via Sydney, N.S.W.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion, however on the 4^th January 1916 he was discharged with his services being no longer required, after a second period of being absent without leave.

Frank Humphrey attempted to enlist again on the 11^th February 1916 at Wangaratta in Victoria. He was successful and allocated to the 3^rd reinforcements for the 60^th Infantry Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address as time of enrolment was Railway Hotel, Wangaratta, and his next of kin is listed as mother, Mrs Matilda Johnstone, 31 Thorsley Street, Princess Avenue, Hull, England.

He embarked for Egypt aboard the HMAT A17 Port Lincoln at Melbourne on the 1^st May 1916, arriving at Port Suez on the 10^th June 1916. He was taken on strength at Tel-el-Kebir on 9^th July 1916. He was admitted to No. 2 Australian General Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir on 23^rd July 1916 with Adentitis. He was discharged back to duty on 28^th July 1916.

On the 2^nd August 1916 Private Humphrey left Alexandria aboard the Transport Francovia bound for France.

After arrival in France Private Humphrey was admitted to the No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Le Harve with Bacillary Dysentry on 19^th August 1916. He died of his illness on the 23^rd August 1916, and is buried at the Ste Marie Cemetery at Le Harve, France.

Frank Humphrey’s headstone at Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 2/9/2014)

His name is also remembered on the Cooee March Memorial Park Gateway (Gilgandra).