247070 2nd.Lt. Ernest Graham Humphrey Royal Flying Corps 48 Squadron (d.29th March 1918) Ernest Humphrey was born 27th October 1896 in Northampton, son of Rev William John and Ellen Humphrey. The 1911 census shows him living with his widowed mother in Bedford and he attended Bedford Modern school, where he was a Corporal with the Officer Training Corps. In October 1914 he entered the City and Guilds (Engineering) College, South Kensington and passed the intermediate B.Sc (Engineering) Examination of London University in 1915. He was a Cadet in the Officer Training Corps whilst at College transferring to the Senior Division at Kensington. He was employed as a Temporary Clerk at the Ministry of Munitions.
In July 1915 he obtained a commission with the 3rd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment serving in France. At his own request he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps as Second Lieutenant (Pilot) he was in action on 22nd July 1917, when he received gunshot wounds to the chest and a fractured humorous, he recuperated in the New Zealand Stationary Hospital, Hazebrouck and No. 8 General Hospital, Rouen.
He returned to service in January 1918 and was flying Bristol F2b's with 48 (Fighter) Squadron, Royal Flying Corp, Bertangles, France. On 28 March 1918 whilst flying low and defending the road near Amiens, he received gunshot wounds and was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Doullens but died of his wounds the following day on 29 March 1918, aged 21 years. He is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery, Somme, France. He is remembered on the War Memorial, St Mary's Church, Acton, London.
A pupil of Bedford Modern School 1907-14, he is commemorated on the SchoolWar Memorial, which was unveiled in 1923 and in the Roll of Honour, published in The Eagle, December 1923.Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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