William John Humphrey (1907 - 1938)

Born 1907 in Mount Margaret, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Died 4 Jun 1938 at about age 31 in Carnamah, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

Born 1907. Mt Margaret, WA. ^[1]

Died 4 Jun 1939. Carnamah, WA. ^{[2] [3]}

Buried 5 jun 1939. Three Springs, WA. ^[4]

Obituaries

Carnamah Historical Society

Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'William John Humphrey' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 3 May 2021 from http://www.carnamah.com.au/bio/william-john-humphrey

"Bill" William John HUMPHREY

Born 1907 [15]

Labourer, Farmhand and Shearer in Three Springs [P2]

Member of the Three Springs Football Club 1926-1937 [4: 28-Aug-1926, 25-May-1929] [5: 24-May-1935, 26-Jun-1936]

Captain in 1935 and 1937, and Committee Member in 1937 of the Three Springs Football Club [5: 24-May-1935, 16-Apr-1937, 18-Jun-1937]

. Won the Trophy for the Fairest and Best Player in the North Midlands Football Association in 1934 [4: 3-Nov-1934] [5: 28-Sep-1934]

. He and Vivian POPE tied for the Fairest & Best Player of the North Midlands Football Association in 1935 [5: 6 & 27-Sep-1935]

. At the end of the 1935 season also received the Medal for being the Three Springs Football Club's Fairest & Best Player [5: 27-Sep-1935]

. Attended the Three Springs Football Club's Victory Ball held in Three Springs on Tuesday 24 September 1935 [5: 27-Sep-1935]

On behalf of the Three Springs Football Club he accepted the Hunt Cup, which they received for winning the Premiership [5]

. Member of the Coorow Cricket Club in 1935-36 [4: 11-Jan-1936]

. Played for the "Railways" in their lost cricket match against the Three Springs Cricket Club on Sunday 21 February 1937 [5: 26-Feb-1937]

. He was fined £2 and costs by the Three Springs Police Court on Thursday 18 March 1937 for being drunk and disorderly [5: 19-Mar-1937]

. Delegate for the Three Springs Football Club at meetings of the North Midlands Football Association in 1937 [5: 9-Apr-1937]

. Member of the Coorow Football Club - was Captain in 1939 [5: 9-Jun-1939]

. At a football match in Carnamah he collapsed on the field and died shortly afterwards [5: 9-Jun-1939]

. Died 4 June 1939 in Carnamah; buried at the Three Springs Cemetery in Three Springs (Roman Catholic, Plot 26) [24]

. His funeral was paid for by the North Midlands Football Association [310: 5-Aug-1939]

From The North Midland Times newspaper, Friday 9 June 1939:

Football - Tragic End to Match - W. Humphry Collapses and Dies

"The large crowd who attended the match on the Carnamah ground last Sunday saw the most tragic end to a game in the history of the association. Near the end of the first quarter W. Humphry, the captain of the Coorow team, collapsed and died within a short time after he had been removed from the ground. The match was immediately postponed and those who had attended in the hope of seeing a good afternoon's sport were deeply affected by the passing of one who had been so popular in football circles. Vale Bill Humphry, a great player and a great hearted man."^[2]

Daily News (Perth) - 7 Jun 1939

Football Club Captain Drops Dead

Before the eyes of spectators and players, the captain of the Coorow football team dropped dead in the goalmouth on the Carnamah ground on Saturday.

Scores of people saw him sink to the ground, dead, during the closing stages of the hard-fought first quarter of the match between Coorow and Carnamah.

Thirty - two - year - old William John Humphrey was standing between the goalposts, some distance from any other player, when he collapsed.

An autopsy proved that his death was due to heart failure.

Humphrey's funeral, the largest in the district for years, was financed by his own and rival teams, who forsook their Foundation Day holiday to attend.

Humphrey, a farm labourer living near Coorow, had travelled to Carnamah with his team on Saturday and played well, until his death.

When he collapsed, a doctor rushed to him, but it was too late.

The funeral took place at Three Springs on Monday last, being attended by all members of the Three Springs, Arrino, Carnamah and Coorow teams.

One of the best footballers in the district, William Humphrey had for a number of years in succession won the trophy for the fairest and best player in the North Midland Football Association.

He had played football in the district for 16 years. He lived for some considerable time at Three Springs, then at Carnamah, and later at Coorow.

Police are endeavouring to locate Humphrey's mother, who was last heard of at Kalgoorlie. Anyone knowing her whereabouts is asked to communicate with Constable Power, at the Central Police Station.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ WA BDM Index, Surety: 3. Surname: Humphrey; Given Names: William J; Sex: Male; Registration District: Mt Margaret; Registration Number: 85; Registration Year: 1907.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Carnamah Historical Society & Museum. ID: www.carnamah.com.au, William John Humphrey. Cit. Date: 4 May 2021. Cit. ID: www.carnamah.com.au/bio/william-john-humphrey. Surety: 3.
3. ↑ WA BDM Index, Surety: 3. Surname: Humphreys; Given Names: William J; Sex: Male; Registration District: Irwin; Registration Number: 16; Registration Year: 1939.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "Footbal Club Captain Drops Dead", Daily News, 7 Jun 1939, p. 1; digital images.