1939-45 Star; France & Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45 - unnamed as awarded together with the award condolence slip and the original box of issue addressed to Mrs J.E. Humphreys, 170 Lower Clapton Road, Essex and a photograph of the recipient.
Arthur Oliver Humphreys was born in London in 1915. He enlisted with the Sherwood Foresters in 1940 and was commissioned a Lieutenant, attached to 4th Lincolns. He was KIA in Holland whilst leading his platoon into action with them on 20.11.1944.
Just over a month earlier he had written the following letter to his sister:
200299 Lt. A O Humphreys
4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
BLA
Monday 16/10/44
My dear Glad,
I am extremely sorry to have delayed so long in my reply to your welcome letter, but there just hasn’t been an opportunity.
To Mother and Eileen I try to make things appear as light as possible, but here I can say quite frankly that things have not been all ‘beer and skittles’ and I have seen real war, where a man’s life hangs on his ability to be just that little bit smarter than the other fellow.
No doubt you read the glowing account in the newspaper of how we battled our way into Le Havre. That was a good show, and I quite enjoyed the spot of fun. Then we chased the Boche [rascal] right across France and Belgium, having periods of fierce fighting whenever he tried to offer determined resistance, but all the time we continued forward. Gee! That’s a great feeling to be moving on always. I’m not going into any gory details, but believe me Glad, it’s the weirdest life you can imagine. Eileen and home seem to be in another world, which seems fantastically clean and decent compared with this. Still, I’m happy and having plenty of fun. Oh! Yes, it’s great fun to knife Boche, ‘cos they’re not human beings at all.
At present we are in a fairly quiet section, resting on our laurel’s and I had the luck to get a 24 hours leave back in Antwerp last week. Can you imagine what a stupendous luxury I appeared to have – a really magnificent room (with bathroom attachment) in a first class hotel after living in holes in the ground for weeks. I think I spent every possible minute eating ice-cream and fancy pastries – that certainly is the life. Still, I’m not too badly off at present, but am all for getting the war over soon.
It’s good to know you all are keeping well, and I hope you’re having no buzz bomb problems nowadays. No doubt you have heard that Eileen has gone to Birmingham for a while. I don’t know which she disliked most – the bombs or the old man.
Please give my regards to Frederick, and tell Brian and Doreen that I’m looking forward to some more fun with them soon. I hope John is still doing well. He must be a big chap now.
Well, I guess that’s all, so cheerio Glad, and all the very best.
With love, Arthur."
The medals are in good condition unless otherwise stipulated. Sold with some copied research.
