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Lance-Sergeant John Humphreys
Unit : "B" Troop, 1st Parachute Squadron
Army No. : 1877368
Awards : Mentioned in Despatches
Joint citation with Corporal Charles Weir, 1st Parachute Squadron. The two officers mentioned in the citation are Captain Eric Mackay and Lieutenant Denis Simpson.
Humphreys and Weir were captured on 20th September 1944 after fighting for three days at Arnhem. They were taken to a transit camp at Emmerich (Germany) together with officers of their unit, one of whom succeeded in concealing a hacksaw from his captors. Under his instructions Humphreys and Weir filed through the bars of the cookhouse and through this aperture the party, accompanied by a second officer, escaped the same evening. Walking through the town they gained the open fields and proceeded west to cross the frontier into Holland near Elten. The Rhine was reached near Tolkamer. After keeping the river under observation throughout the day they stole food and a small boat; in this they travelled down the Rhine to Nijmegen, where they encountered British troops.