Noel Forbes Humphreys
Encyclopedia
Noel Forbes Humphreys was a Welsh rugby union
international who was part of the first official British and Irish Lions
team that toured South Africa in 1910
. He was killed in action in the First World War.
, Wales
. He was the son of Henry James Humphreys and Sydney (née Williams) and one of at least six children. His family moved from Wales to northern England as his father's profession within the Church dictated. By the time Humphreys began playing rugby at club level the family had passed through Cheshire and had settled at Thornley Vicarage, Tow Law
, Co. Durham. He attended St Chad's College, Denstone
and went on to Durham School
.
in what has been termed their Golden Years. During the decade up to the outbreak of the First World War Tynedale won no fewer than 15 trophies, including the Senior Cup on three occasions and the Senior Shield four times in a row between 1909 and 1912. It was a run of success which, during this period, saw a score of Tynedale players being honoured by selection for their respective counties. Humphreys was part of the side in that period, playing in the stand-off (or fly-half) position It was during this period that Humphreys was selected for the 1910 British
tour to South Africa
, the first official tour of the British Isles team (in that it was sanctioned and selected by the four Home Nations official governing bodies). Despite playing for the British team, he was never selected for his national side.
(10th Battalion). He was Mentioned in Despatches and was also awarded the Military Cross
. He was killed in action on 27 March 1918 and is commemorated at Etaples Military Cemetery
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international who was part of the first official British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team that toured South Africa in 1910
1910 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1910 British Isles tour to South Africa was the eighth tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to South Africa. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950. As well as South Africa, the tour included a game in...
. He was killed in action in the First World War.
Early life
Noel Forbes Humphreys was born in 1891 in Llangan Rectory, BridgendBridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He was the son of Henry James Humphreys and Sydney (née Williams) and one of at least six children. His family moved from Wales to northern England as his father's profession within the Church dictated. By the time Humphreys began playing rugby at club level the family had passed through Cheshire and had settled at Thornley Vicarage, Tow Law
Tow Law
Tow Law is a town and civil parish in County Durham, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,952. It is situated a few miles to the south of Consett. Tow Law Town football team are based in the town. The town constituted an urban district from 1894 until 1974...
, Co. Durham. He attended St Chad's College, Denstone
Denstone College
Denstone College is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Denstone,Staffordshire, England and a member school of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It is also a Woodard school and as such has a strong Anglo-Catholic tradition. It has continued to show impressive academic...
and went on to Durham School
Durham School
Durham School, headmaster Martin George , is an independent British day and boarding school for boys and girls in Durham....
.
Rugby career
Humphreys played for Tynedale R.F.C.Tynedale R.F.C.
Tynedale R.F.C. is a rugby union team that is situated in the North East of England and currently playing in National League 1. It was founded in 1876. Their first match was against Elswick at Hexham on 30 December 1876...
in what has been termed their Golden Years. During the decade up to the outbreak of the First World War Tynedale won no fewer than 15 trophies, including the Senior Cup on three occasions and the Senior Shield four times in a row between 1909 and 1912. It was a run of success which, during this period, saw a score of Tynedale players being honoured by selection for their respective counties. Humphreys was part of the side in that period, playing in the stand-off (or fly-half) position It was during this period that Humphreys was selected for the 1910 British
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tour to South Africa
1910 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1910 British Isles tour to South Africa was the eighth tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to South Africa. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950. As well as South Africa, the tour included a game in...
, the first official tour of the British Isles team (in that it was sanctioned and selected by the four Home Nations official governing bodies). Despite playing for the British team, he was never selected for his national side.
First World War
Humphreys fought in the First World War as a Captain in the Tank CorpsRoyal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
(10th Battalion). He was Mentioned in Despatches and was also awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. He was killed in action on 27 March 1918 and is commemorated at Etaples Military Cemetery
Etaples Military Cemetery
Étaples Military Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Étaples, near Boulogne on the north-west coast of France. The cemetery holds over 11,500 dead from both World War I and World War II.-History:...
.