Description
1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, with France and Germany Clasp, Defence, War Medal, Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, Lt Cdr Douglas Bonnell “Duggie” Humphreys RD, R.N.R.
RD officially dated 1973 and engraved to reverse: “Lt. Cdr. D.B. Humphreys R.D. R.N.R.”
With a large original photograph of him wearing the first 4 medals a a young man in uniform before earning his decoration and copied research.
The awards of his RNR Decoration was announced in the Supplement to the London Gazette, 18th February 1975.
The London Flotilla Bulletin No 3 Winter 1985 contains the following detailed obituary:
“Lt Cdr D.B. Humphreys RD RNR, 29th August 1985 – Chairman, Chatham Naval Officers Association.
With great regret we record the sudden death of Lieut Commander D.B. (Duggie) Humphreys RD RNR, while he was on holiday with his wife, Marian, on a Nile cruise in August. He was 65.
Duggie had been a member of the London Flotilla and of the Chatham Naval Officer’s Association (formerly the Chatham Unit R.N.V.S.R.) for many years.
A popular colleague, he will be remembered for his lively sense of humour, his unassuming personality and for his dedication to the Royal Navy.
His long connections with the Service began in 1938 when he joined the London Division R.N.V.R. as an Ordinary Seaman. On the outbreak of war he was drafted to the depot ship H.M.S. Tyne at Scapa and then served in C-Class cruisers until an accident sent him for a spell of shore duties at Yarmouth. Commissioned in 1942, he served for a time at the Admiralty and then at Milford Haven where he met his wife-to-be who was based there in the W.R.N.S. They were married in 1944.
The invasion of Europe saw him on duty with A/A balloon vessels and later, as a diving officer, he was involved in mine disposal work in Belgium.
After demobilisation he became a member of the R.N.V.S.R. and was initially with a Unit at Manchester. He joined the London Flotilla after moving south in 1958 to work with the Reed Paper Group and at the same time became a member of the Chatham Unit as it was then known. He served as Chairman at Chatham from 1963 until 1971.
In the meantime he rejoined the R.N.R. and was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander in 1965. Three years later he joined H.M.S. Northwood as an N.C.S. officer where he served until 1975. Throughout the post war years he had taken part regularly in Naval exercises and training.
ashore and afloat and he was a keen supporter of voluntary activities connected with the Navy and the sea. One of his last ‘voluntary jobs’ was as a liaison officer for the Tall Ships Race when competing vessels visited Chatham last July.
Duggie will be greatly missed and our deepest sympathy is extended to Marian in her bereavement.”
