Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Jesse Walter Humphryis

Selecting, in June 1882, 640 acres at Tamleugh, a rural district in north-east Victoria, generally 15 km north-west of Violet Town, Margaret and William Humphryis set about raising their family, however did not trouble the Registrar of Births with particulars of their offspring. It is, however, considered a son, William Thomas was born, in the mostly grazing plain, with slight undulations, land crossed south-easterly by the Honeysuckle Creek.

Marrying, in 1890, Melton, Victoria born, Mary Elizabeth Missen [1868-1922], William Thomas Humphryis fathered, in 1891, twin sons, Joseph Douglas Missen, together with Robert David Gourlay both registered at Heathcote, Victoria.[1] Tragically, Joseph died, at Heathcote on 30 December 1891, followed by Robert, on 6 January 1892, at Ascot Vale.[2]

Arriving at Heathcote in 1892, third son, William Thomas junior was followed by Elizabeth Adelaide in 1894.[3]

Originally a Rockbank, Victoria landowner, Joseph Missen, in the 1880s, sold his farm to retire at Ascot Vale hence daughter, Mary Humphryis perhaps returned to her parental home for the birth of fourth son and fifth child, Jesse Walter, in 1896.[4]  

Two years later, in 1898, William Humphryis was stationed at Rutherglen whilst in the year following, sixth child, Mary Eliza, was born at Ascot Vale.[5]

By 1909 the Humphryis family had moved to Numurkah with 14 years of age Jesse, in 1910, qualifying, on 1 October 1910, by Commonwealth Public Service examination, for appointment as a telegraph messenger. Being employed by the Postal Department at Kyabram, followed by Nagambie, Jesse Humphryis continued his army activities at the drill hall in Ascot Vale, Melbourne.

Transferring, in 1911, to Shepparton, remaining there until January 1914, his father, William Humphryis was promoted to take charge of the Yackandandah police station.

At the outbreak of the war, in August 1914, the Australian Government decided to raise the all-volunteer Australian Imperial Force [AIF] consisting of 20,000 troops, comprising an infantry division as well as a light horse brigade of three regiments. Being raised at Roseberry Park, Sydney, New South Wales in August 1914, the 1st Light Horse obviously appealed to Jesse Humphryis.

Enlisting in the AIF at Sydney, New South Wales, on 19 August 1914, 20 years of age blacksmith, Walter Jesse Humhryis nominated his father, William Humphryis, of Shepparton police station, his next-of-kin. Walter, recording his previous service as a trainee with 44th Infantry [militia], was assigned to 1st Field Engineers.

Described as being 5’ 7½” [171cm] tall and 11st 8lb [73.5kg] in weight, Walter Jesse Humphryies declared he was a follower of the Church of England. His eyes were described as ‘sufficient’; he reportedly had dark hair with a dark complexion.

Implying either the applicant was indeed the 18 years of age Jesse Walter Humphryis, or another with a similar name, however the nominated next-of-kin details perhaps partially corroborates the first mentioned implication.

Walter Jesse Humphryies was declared, in August 1914, to be medically unfit for AIF service, at Sydney, New South Wales, being permanently excused from active service.

Raising, at the beginning of October 1914, as part of the 3rd Contingent, the 3rd Light Horse Brigade was headquartered in Melbourne in early November. 

An undated, unsigned Attestation Paper held at National Archives Australia, in the particulars of 19 years of age, telegraph operator, Jesse Walter Humhryis nominated his brother, William Thomas Humphryis, of 42 Bent Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, as his next-of-kin. Jesse Walter Humphryis, not recording any previous service, was assigned to 1st Reinforcement, 3rd Signal Troop of the Light horse.

Described as being 5’ 4¾” [165cm] tall and 11st 3lb [71.21kg] in weight, Jesse Walter Humphryis, on a third Attestation Paper, on 6 January 1915, 18 years 10 months of age, clerk and telegraph operator, nominated his brother, William Thomas Humphryis of 42 Bent Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, as his next-of-kin.

Declaring 10 months service in the Citizens’ Forces, New South Wales, Jesse Walter Humphryis, despite the August 1914, Sydney, New South Wales determination, together with a 14 October 1914, Ascot Vale, Melbourne declaration, of being medically unfit for AIF service, Jesse Humphryis was duly assigned to 3rd Signal Troop, 1st Reinforcement of the Light horse.

Interestingly his friend W. Skidmore, on an Attestation Paper dated 7 January 1915, gave consent for Jesse to serve overseas with the AIF. The reverse of this Paper, signed by Lieutenant Charles A. Dalton, incorrectly spells the family name Humphrys.

Embarking, from Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A54 Runic, on 19 February 1915, with the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, 3rd Signal Troop, Reinforcement 1, Sapper Jesse Walter Humphryis met with Rutherglen, Victoria born William Llewellyn Cottingham, a 19 years of age clerk, enlisted on 10 December 1914 to be assigned to 8th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement. The pair, together with 39 years of age farmer, John Meehan, of Lilliput, near Rutherglen, as well as 38 years of age, Rutherglen born and bred, farmer Walter Shaw, of 14th Battalion 3rd Reinforcement, steamed towards Egypt.

Writing, on 9 April 1915, a letter from Abbassia, Egypt, Willie Cottingham communicated –

“Dear Mother, I now take the opportunity of telling you about the only sadness that happened [to] us on our journey.

“Well Mother I met him on the boat, we laughed and joked together about our school and boyhood days, then poor Jess took bad and went to ship hospital.

“I visited him very often while in the hospital. He got better & was allowed out again. We used to meet & knock about together. “We last saw each other about ‘Aden’ then I found out he was in hospital again. I visited him and found out that he was very bad with pneumonia & pleurisy. He only lasted about two days & his heart gave way & early on Good Friday morning he passed away.

“It set a doom over the ship and everyone seemed sad and talking about him. Well Mother the worst time of it all was when he was being buried. The burial was held at the stern of the ship, the Union Jack was half masted both our ship and our companion ship the ‘Star of Victoria’.

“We all fell in & J. Meehan, W. Shore, & myself, was well to the front to see the last of poor Jess. The pastor of the ship read the burial service & it was a solemn one, at that the body was thrown overboard while everyone was quiet. The firing party fired 3 volleys over where he was thrown. Then the bugler played the last post. He had a good military funeral for the day was so clear & bright. He was buried a few miles from Port Suez.

“I remain your loving son Willie

“P.S. The Union Jack was wrapped round Jess”

Private John Meehan 1580 was killed in action on 3 July 1916 to rest in the Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, France. Although he returned to Australia in June 1917, Private Walter Shaw 1706 died in 1919 to rest in the Carlyle cemetery, Victoria.

Upon the 15 May 1915 decoding of the Willie Cottingham letter, the AIF officially learnt of Jesse Humphryis’ demise however on 18 April 1915, Mary Eliza Humphryis, of Yackandandah, had written to the Minister of Defence, Mr Pearce –

“I would respectfully ask if my son Walter Jesse Humphryis that went away with the third contingent from Melbourne if he died on the way to Egypt from Pneumonia. I was led to believe from a friend last that he died on the 2nd April near Port Suez. But I received no Communication from the Defence Department. I am his Mother & reside with my husband at Yackandandah Police Station. If he is dead I would like to know what became of his property & belongings. Please find attached envelope of the last letter I received from him after leaving Columbia an early reply would oblige. Yours obedient, M E Humphryis”

Addressing her son as Walter Jesse Humphryis suggests an awareness of the August 1914 Sydney, New South Wales attempted enlistment deception.

An AIF notation of – “Brother called & said would let mother know” is recorded on Mary Humphryis’ letter. The date of 29 May 1915 was gleaned from NAA file.

Eight days following the learning of the demise of Jesse Humphryis, on 23 May 1915 an ‘urgent’ telegram was sent to Reverend Cannon Hancock of St Thomas Vicarage, Moonee Ponds, requesting him to inform the soldier’s recorded next of kin W T Humphryis of 42 Bent Street, Moonee Ponds. The 29 May 1915 visitation of next of kin William Thomas Humphryis perhaps corroborates a notification of death.

Frantically searching for particulars of Jesse’s demise, on 31 May 1915 from Yackandandah, Mary Humphryis, for the second time, wrote to the Minister of Defence.

Replying, on 12 June 1915, Defence Base Records, Melbourne, wrote to the Secretary of the Minister of Defence, advised it knew nothing of the death until next-of-kin, William Thomas Humphryis called at the Melbourne office producing ‘Willie’s letter’.  Facts to hand were explained to William Thomas Humphryis who undertook to inform his parents.

Passing away, in November 1922, at the Yackandandah police station, 54 years of age, Mary Eliza Humphryis, was buried at Violet Town. Remaining at Yackandandah until at least 1925, Senior Constable William Humphryis, on retirement, returned to Tamleugh before passing away, on 15 June 1938, being described as a retired farmer, at Violet Town.[6]

[1] Births Deaths Marriages Victoria event registration number 13442/1891 and 13443/1891 respectively
[2] Births Deaths Marriages Victoria event registration number 15709/1891 and135/1892 respectively

[3] Births Deaths Marriages Victoria event registration number 33400/1892 and 4111/1894 respectively
[4] Births Deaths Marriages Victoria event registration number 294/1896
[5] Births Deaths Marriages Victoria event registration number 223/1899
[6] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12486284 15 September 1938