The Somme Remembered – 3 July 1916

Humphrey Robertson Barkworth the son of Harold Arthur Sandbach Barkworth and  Mary Alma nee Gadesden, was born on 16 October 1891 (registered in Paddington) and baptised on 25 November 1891 in Christ Church, Epsom, Surrey.

Home for a 9 year old Humphrey, according to the 1901 census was 11 Cargate Avenue, Aldershot, one many fine looking semi-detached and detached villa’s.  Humphrey’s father was a Major in the Infantry and at one time served in the Border Regiment.  Humphrey was one of two children looked after by Miriam Thompson, the 21 year old children’s nurse.  The household also had a cook named Lottie Redman and a parlourmaid called Martha Gregg.

Nash Court

Ten years later, there are still only two children to Harold and Mary – Humphrey and Godfrey Egremont Boulderson Barkworth who is three years younger than his brother.  Harold, born in Beverley, is now retired and pension from the army and living with his family at Nash Court, Marnhull, Dorset- a rather nice looking country residence.

Humphrey via Hazelwood School War Memorial

Humphrey attended Hazelwood School, leaving in 1905 for Wellington College.  He left in 1909 for Sandhurst Military College and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 25th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers.  Being promoted to Lieutenant in August of 1914. Humphrey’s entry in the Sandhurst Register is available to download from the Sandhurst Collection for a small charge.

When war was declared Humphrey was in India with his regiment.  After sailing from Karachi to Plymouth he was the following month in France.  During February of 1915 Humphrey and many others from his regiment suffered from frostbite.  He was returned to England was hospitalised.   He was shortly back in France, and it was while stationed near Kemmel that he was wounded in the chest while lying in one of the front trenches. After being evacuated to Boulogne he was again sent back to England.

Northumberland Fusiliers

Humphrey was soon back in the thick of war again and on the 1st of July 1916 his battalion as part of the 103rd Brigade was near La Boiselle.  At 7.30 in the morning a British mine exploded telling the allies that the advance was to start.  And start it certainly did.  Humphrey and his men advanced slightly behind the main advance due to the congestion of such large numbers moving forward.  Humphrey’s men for some time during their advance were sheltered by a higher ground.  As they started to move towards the enemy they became visible to the German machine gunners and riflemen. The Northumberland Fusiliers were mown down as the machinegun worked from left to right over and over again.  Humphrey was wounded but would not allow himself to be attended to until his men had had their wounds attended to and dressed.  He was eventually carried to 92nd Field Ambulance where he died two days later.

During that fateful day, the 1st of July 1916, the 25th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers sent into battle 20 officers and 730 other ranks.  By the end of that day 16 officers and 610 other ranks were either killed, wounded or missing.

Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension via CWGC

Humphrey rests in Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension Plot I Row B Grave 8 along with over 120 other casualties of war.

Humphrey’s brother, Godfrey Egremont Boulderson Barkworth, also served in WW1, serving in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.  He survived the war and in 1922 was granted the Freedom of the City of London and was a member of the Guild of Grocers.  He moved to Kenya and died in 1955