Humphrey Kaye Bonney Nevinson

Posted on November 11, 2018 by Ant Stewart

1^st December 1891 – 5^th June 1915. Manchester Regiment (10^th Battalion)

Humphrey Kaye Bonney Nevinson was a former Manchester FC player who was killed in Gallipoli during the First World War. Humphrey’s parents, Thomas and Ethel Nevinson, lived in Lyndon Rectory, Rutland, and Humphrey was born there, during Thomas’ twenty-year stint as rector. Humphrey then went on to Oakham School, before moving to Lancashire in 1909 to work at Oldham Brewery.

Nevinson lived in Bury until the war broke out. Almost immediately after hostilities commenced, he left England with the 10^th Manchesters and set sail for Alexandria for the defence of Suez. The following year, in Gallipoli, he was wounded during the Third Battle of Krithia. He died the next day, aboard the Somali, a hospital ship, which was evacuating him back to Egypt.

As discovered by Rutland Remembers, the day before the battle, Nevinson had written a letter to his mother.

My dear mother, just a line to let you know I am very fit. I know you will always be anxious for news. That is why I just send a scrap. I really have no time for more, as we are frightfully busy now, digging day and night…

Stricken by his wound, Nevinson passed the note to Lance Corporal William Parker, who sent it to Thomas and Ethel Nevinson along with a description of Krithia and the circumstances of his death.

Nevinson was buried at sea.

Nevinson is remembered at Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Panels 159-171.

SOURCES
Imperial War Museum 
Rutland Remembers
Leicestershire War Memorials
World Rugby Museum