Sergeant - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves - 217 Squadron - Service No. 1189555
Leslie Frank Humphrey was born on 9th December 1913 in Tonbridge, Kent. His father was James Humphrey, his mother was Kate Maria (née Shelton). The first school that he attended was Dover Road School in Gravesend.
In 1927 Leslie Humphrey joined The County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. The Head Master at that time was the Reverend Samuel Lister. The County School for Boys was located in Darnley Road, Gravesend close to the Railway Station (now the Victoria Centre for Education). In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists Leslie’s address as Dalham, Park Avenue, Northfleet, Gravesend.
In 1929 Leslie left the School and started work as an apprentice at Amalgamated Press, Gravesend, then Messers Waterlow and Sons, London. In 1935 he married Vera Dangerfield and they went on to have 4 children. Leslie’s mother died in 1940.
Leslie signed up with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves, as a Sergeant, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Service No: 1189555. He joined 217 Squadron. On 8th March 1942, Leslie Humphrey was killed in an air accident at Auchonrie Lethnot, Scotland, age 28. He is remembered at Fettercairn Cemetery, Fettercairn, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Sec. D. Grave 21.
(Please note – there is some discrepancy with the spelling of Humphrey. The CWGC lists it as Humphrys, however the Headstone and School Records list him as Humphrey).
There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.
Below are links to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and a few other websites that might be of interest:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2927202/humphrys,-leslie-frank/
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=83237
http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/scottishwargraves-ftopic1372.html