Handley Dobbs

Handley Dobbs enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters on 18 February 1903. He is listed as 18 years 1 month and 5 feet 6 inches tall. He was also in the 4th Battalion (Militia) prior to enlistment. He was posted to the 1st Battalion based in Singapore on 4 December 1905 and moved to India with them on 12 December 1906. During his career he was promoted to Lance Corporal and then demoted to Private. He contracted dysentery on at least three occasions. He joined the Army Reserve on 1 April 1911 and was given permission to remain in India, possibly on the Indian Railway. He was mobilised and it is unlikely (although possible) he returned to England with 1st Battalion. Instead he was attached to the 1st Battalion Oxfordshires and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry who were in India. He entered theatre (Mesopotamia) on 25 August. On 29 April 1916 the 1st Battalion OBLI were captured at Kut Al Amara when the garrison was surrendered to the Turks by the garrison commander Sir Charles Townshend. On 15 October 1916, Handley was reported as POW and interred at Afion, Karahissar. On 10 November 1917 he was reported as 'died' at Ada Pazar.

John Morse

Handley is commemorated on the Ada Bazar Memorial . 185 Bagdad (North Gate) War Cemetery.