Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Henry Handley, a boot trade finisher, born 1875 in Finedon, Northamptonshire and his wife Annie Handley (nee Morris, married in the 2nd quarter of 1891 in the Northampton district)), born 1874 in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire. Herbert was born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Irthlingborough, his siblings were, Alfred Edward, born 1891, Arthur, born 1894, Horace, born 1898 and Walter, born 1899, the latter four siblings were all born in Irthlingborough and Percy Charles, born 1901 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in March 1901 the family home was at 26, Bell Street, Wellingborough. In April 1911 Herbert was employed as an iron trade fitter and was residing in the family home at 1, Mapperley Terrace, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, together with his father, now an iron trade box fitter, his mother and siblings, Arthur a wool factory worker, Horace an apprentice moulder, Walter, a schoolboy, Percy a schoolboy, Jack, a schoolboy, born 1902 in Wellingborough, Annie Lilian, a schoolgirl, born 1905, Harold, born 1907, Frank, born 1910 and Gladys, born 1911, the latter four siblings were all born in Melton Mowbray. Herbert first entered the theatre of war in France on the 12th August 1914, he was awarded the 1914 Star, British War and Victory medals.
On Friday October 2nd 1914 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – MORE LOCAL CASUALTIES.- Corpl. Herbert Handley, of the 2nd Coldstream Guards, arrived at Manchester Hospital on Monday morning suffering from wounds received whilst fighting in France on the 15th Sept., a bullet passing straight through the left knee and entering the right calf. He joined the Coldstream Guards two years ago, and was fighting under Major R. A. Markham. Corpl. Handley is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Handley, of 1, Mapperley Terrace, and his father is at present training with the forces stationed at Luton.
On Friday October 9th 1914 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – MELTON WOUNDED SOLDIER’S TRYING ORDEAL.- In our last issue we intimated that Corpl. Herbert Handley, of the 2nd Coldstream Guards (son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Handley, 1, Mapperley Terrace, Melton Mowbray), had been wounded in France, and had been conveyed to the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. In a letter to his mother, written from the hospital, he states: “We are kept here until our wounds are healed up, then sent home for a fortnights furlough before re-joining our depot. I am sure I am not over anxious to get well again to go to the front, for I have had quite sufficient of the Germans for a little while. I will tell you more about that when I get my furlough, as it is too awful for repeating. I received my wound about 7 o’clock on Tuesday morning, the 15th Sept., after being in the trenches two days without food. I had to stay all day in an old house until the ambulance came on Wednesday morning. Some of our chaps boiled some carrots, which was the first meal I had had for three days, and not very nice without salt. I was taken to a field hospital on Wednesday morning, in a stable. My Wednesday’s food was no breakfast, bully beef broth for dinner, and a biscuit and a drop of tea with no sugar or milk for tea. I was taken away about 5 o’clock on Thursday morning in a motor lorry to a place called Fere-nen-Tandenois, in a Catholic Church, where there were 500 of us. I managed to get a bit better food there, and the French people were very good. They brought us up fruit and cigarettes. Well I stayed there until Monday night, and was then conveyed to the station. I slept the night in a goods shed, and the train moved off at 5-45 on Tuesday morning. We had just 48 hours in the train, and it was the worst 48 hours of torture I have ever had. The French railways are awful – always on the jolt. We arrived at Saint Nazaire about six o’clock on Thursday morning. The French people were very good all along the line. At every station we passed they were waiting with food of every description and fruit, so I had a good feed coming down on the train. We stayed at an Australian Hospital in Saint Nazaire until Friday dinner, when we were taken in a motor ambulance to the boat. We left Saint Nazaire about five o’clock on Saturday morning, and arrived at Southampton at 12 noon yesterday. We left Southampton about two o’clock, and arrived in Manchester station at nine o’clock and were conveyed to this hospital, where I expect I shall remain for a month at least. We get good food here, but I have an appetite like an elephant, and it takes a lot to fill me. Ask dad if he has a spare razor, brush and shaving soap he could give me, for I had to leave all my kit at Landrecies when the Germans shelled us out of it. We had to run away and leave our kits and two days food. We had our rifles and ammunition with us. This was on the retirement from Mons, and another three days on two biscuits and fruit, which kept us on the go. Have you drawn any of my pay yet? I haven’t had a copper since we left Windsor, I have a nice German watch and a pair of boots. We get plenty of cigarettes now.
On Friday November 13th 1914 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “A SOLDIER’EXPLANATION.” – Corpl. H. Handley writes as follows from No.1, Mapperley Terrace, Melton Mowbray:- “Sir, - With regard to the letter written to my mother from me whilst I was in Manchester hospital, and published in your paper a few weeks ago, I am led to understand that there are comments being made by public house fireside warriors who know they will never be called upon, and are too faint hearted to volunteer their services for the front, to the effect that I am very chicken hearted for telling my mother that I am not over anxious to go to the front again. Of course it is one thing to sit at home and pull other people to pieces and quite a different thing to go out and do your bit. I know this much, that if a man speaks the truth he is sneered at, a man who can tell a few lies is a hero; but I again repeat that I am still not over anxious to go to the front again, but, if duty calls, I am more than willing to obey. I was one in a hospital of 500 wounded men, and there was not a single man there who wanted to get back in a hurry, but if duty called they would not funk. It is very nice for brave men to get the pat on the back by saying that they are anxious to get their own back, but I, with several other wounded men in Melton, have let the German off who fired the shrapnel which caught me. I have tasted Hell, and no one knows what it is like, only those who have been, and I will venture to say that the fellows who say they are anxious to get back and have their own back are lying. I don’t mind who calls me faint hearted for I don’t care to tell lies, and if there are any who think that I am faint hearted, I shall be very pleased to see them at No.1, Mapperley Terrace, and I will try my best to convince them that there is still a little pluck left in me yet. I hope this letter will not be a blockade to recruiting, but I wanted the critics to know that I would sooner be sneered at for telling the truth, than receive the ‘pat on the back’ for telling lies. – I remain, Sir, yours sincerely, H. Handley, Corpl., 2nd Coldstream Guards.”
On Friday October 13th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – FURTHER MELTON CASUALTIES. Corpl. H. Handley, of the Coldstream Guards, has been admitted to the Richmond Hospital suffering from a wound in the arm, received during the great attack by the Guards on Sept. 15th. It will be remembered that he was previously wounded during the retirement from Mons, and after being at home on sick leave for about six months, he returned to the headquarters of his regiment. Having done duty there for a time he went out to the front again with a big batch of original Coldstreamers who had been wounded in the Mons retirement, but still had a tube in his leg. Corpl. Handley is a son of Sergt. J. Handley, of the Leicester’s, who has been out three times, and is now discharged, and four of his brothers are serving with the colours, so that the family cannot be accused of not having done their duty. They are a musical and poetic family, and on the occasion of Lord Kitchener’s death, Sergt. Handley composed a poem of no mean order concerning that great soldier.
The War Diary records: 22 May-18 - In the Field. Front Line Trenches AYETTE. 2nd Lieutenant G. B. HEATH wounded. Casualties. 1 killed. 4 wounded. 2nd Lieutenant F. G. TAYLOR joined the Battalion. A raid was carried out by No. 1 Company on the night of the 22/23rd. An account of the operation is attached. (Appendix A)
APPENDIX. A.
ACCOUNT OF RAID carried out on the night of the 22/23rd May 1918 by No.1 Company, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards.
Map Ref: Sheet 57D. N.E.
A raid was carried out on the enemy lines at F.12.a.5.8. at 12.30am. The party consisted of 2nd Lieutenant G. C. L. ATKINSON and 35 O.R’s, all volunteers. The party formed up on a tape just outside the Orchard at F.11.b.8.8, after passing through gaps cut in our wire. They were in position at 12.25 am. At Zero, the barrage opened and the party immediately closed up to the barrage, and rushed into the enemy’s line as soon as the barrage lifted.
Two men were seen to leave the trench and are believed to have been shot. The Light Machine Gun in the post fired about 25 rounds which did no harm. The man firing the Light Machine Gun and the gun, were captured, the recall signal given, and the whole party were back in our trenches with the prisoner and the Light Machine Gun within 10 minutes from Zero. The artillery arrangements were excellent, and the barrage scheme worked without a hitch. 4 O.R’s were slightly wounded through keeping close to our barrage. No casualties were inflicted by the enemy’s fire.
Signed Lieut. Colonel, Commanding, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards. 1st June 1918.
On Friday May 31st 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – CORPL. H. HANDLEY KILLED. – News reached Mrs. John Handley, 1, Queen-street, Melton Mowbray, on Tuesday that her third son, Corpl. Herbert Handley, Coldstream Guards, was killed in action on May 24th. The letter was from his officer, Lieut. L. W. Hodges, who stated that a shell dropped in the trench and killed him instantly. He added that Corpl. Handley would be missed by all who knew him, and expressed deep sympathy with the bereaved parents. He was being buried that day by their chaplain in the British Military cemetery, and a cross would be placed on his grave. Deceased who was 23 years of age on the 14th of this month, was one of the Mons heroes. Having previously been employed at Holwell Works, he enlisted in the Coldstream Guards six years ago, so was a time serving soldier at the outbreak of the war. He went out to France with one of the first contingents of the British Expeditionary Force, and got severely wounded in the leg during the memorable retreat from Mons in September, 1914. His wounds proved very troublesome, and he was home on leave for a considerable time after quitting hospital. Eventually he recovered sufficiently to return to the front, only to be wounded again in 1916, this time in the left forearm. After this he did duty as drill instructor at a recruiting depot until last March, when he came home on draft leave prior to returning to France on Easter Monday. He only required another year to complete his service in the army. Two of his brothers are serving in France and one in Egypt, while another has been invalided home, and his father has again rejoined the colours after having been discharged some time ago.
On Friday June 7th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – DEATHS. – HANDLEY. – In loving memory of Corporal Herbert Handley (Coldstream Guards), of Melton Mowbray, who was killed in action on May 24th.
Oh Herbert our son twas hard to part.
With one so good and kind at heart;
When others return we’ll miss you more. The realisation will make our hearts sore.
From Mother and Father
Little we thought when we said good-bye.
We were parting forever and you were to die.
We know, dear Herbert, you did your best.
May God grant you eternal rest.
From Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers at home and abroad.
And in the same issue under the heading “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – THANKS. – Mr. and Mrs. Handley, 1, Queen St., desire to return thanks for all expressions of sympathy shown to them in their sad and sudden bereavement.
On Friday June 28th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” - LOCAL CASUALTIES. The following local names have appeared in the official casualty lists published during the past week: - From Tuesday’s list: Killed. Coldstream Guards. – Handley, 9611 Lce. Cpl. H. (Melton Mowbray).