Cedric Alfred Humphries (1913-1944)

Second World War Roll of Honour

Cedric Alfred Humphries was born at Kidderminster on 26 December 1913, the second son of Henry Alfred John Humphries, a departmental manager, and Ethel Eliza (née Jenns) Humphries of "Willowdene", 18 Comberton Road, Kidderminster. He was educated at Kidderminster High School and Sebright School, Wolverley, where he was Senior Prefect, Captain of Cricket and Rugby and a Sergeant-Major in the Corps. He matriculated at Downing College in 1932, studying Part I French and Spanish before changing to Part II Geography in his final year, graduating in 1935. He was a member of the College Cricket XI throughout his time at Downing and was Secretary in 1933 and Captain in 1935. He was also a member of the Rugby XV and received Colours for both sports. He played thirteen matches for Worcestershire County Cricket Club between 1934 and 1935 and played for the Worcestershire Gentleman's side which toured Denmark in 1938. During that tour he scored 319 runs in just four innings and was only dismissed once. He held the record for the Birmingham League with a score of 158 not out at Chester Road. He played rugby for the combined Worcestershire and Herefordshire XV.

On leaving Cambridge, Cedric became an Assistant Master at the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, where he was the Housemaster of Whiteladies House until he was called up for war service in 1940. While at the school, he coached both the rugby and cricket teams. He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment on 28 December 1940. He was engaged in instructional work before embarking for overseas service in 1944, where he was attached to the 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.

On the morning of 18 November 1944, the 4^th Battalion was holding positions at the village of Pannenschopp, near the Dutch-German border. Captain Humphries was one of two officers killed when the slit trench they were sheltering in was hit by an enemy 105mm shell. He was 30 years old. He is buried at Brunssum War Cemetery and commemorated on the war memorial at Worcester Royal Grammar School and on the memorials at Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Kidderminster. He is also commemorated on a plaque on the old pavilion at the Royal Grammar School, Worcester which reads: "He will be forever remembered in the green setting where his heart once glowed with enthusiasm for the games he loved.”

Image

Photograph from the College student magazine, The Griffin, Easter 1935.