William Handley
In 1901 he was an apprentice engine builder.
He enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters on 25 May 1904. He gave his occupation as barman and in answer to a standard question on the Attestation papers, declared that he had not been an apprentice. He probably transferred to the Reserve on 24 May 1907 and mobilized 4 August 1914.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William was the son of John and Annie Handley (née Pierrepont, alternative spellings on registration documents).
John and Annie were married in 1872 (reg. AMJ Basford) and had 11 children, three of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their eldest child, John, was born in 1870 before their marriage and retained his mother's maiden name and although he was baptised in 1874 (Gedling All Hallows) on the same day as his eldest sister Sarah (b. 1873) his surname is given as Pierpont (sic) and only his mother's name, Ann Pierpont (sic), is on the baptismal register.
Their eight surviving children were: John (1870), Sarah Ann (1873), Mary Ellen (reg. 1876 JFM), Jane (1878), Mary (1880), William (1885), George Arthur (1888) and Edith (1890). There are also baptismal records for Mary (Gedling All Hallows December 1880), George (Sneinton St Matthias 1888) and Edith (St Matthias 1890).
Two of their three children who died young were: Ada b.1883 (bap. All Hallows May 1883)
d.1884 aged one year, and Ernest b.1892, d.1892.
John, a labourer, his wife and their four daughters, Sarah, Mary E [Ellen], Jane and Mary were living on Loach Lane, Carlton, in 1881. Their son John was recorded in the household of his maternal grandparents, John and Sarah Pierrepont (sic) on Netherfield Lane, Carlton.
The family was living at the Patent Brickworks, Sneinton, in 1891 where John was employed as an engine 'tenter'. In the home on the night of the census were seven of their children, Sarah and Ellen who were lace menders, Jane, a lace clipper, Mary, William, Arthur [George], and Edith. The eldest son John had married Sarah Ann Aslin in August 1890 (Carlton St Paul) and he and his wife and daughter were living with his widowed mother-in-law in Carlton.
By 1901 John snr was working as an 'engine driver 'stationary' at the Steam Brick Yard, Carlton Hill, with his wife and children Ellen [Mary Ellen], Jane and Mary, who were hosiery machinists, William an engine builder's apprentice, and Arthur and Edith who were school age. The eldest daughter, Sarah Ann, had married John William Comery in 1894.
Four more of their children were married by the time of the 1911 Census: Mary Ellen to Matthew William Summers in 1902, Mary to John Edward Chollerton in 1905, Jane to William Arthur Hudson in 1906 and their brother George Arthur to Daisy Jesson in 1909.
By 1911 when John, a brickmaker, and Annie, were living at 31 Burgess Road, Thorneywood, only the youngest child, Edith, a blouse maker, was still living at home.
William, who had probably transferred to the Reserve List on 24 May 1907 after completing three years with the Colours, has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census.
John snr. died in 1918.
When his widow Annie completed a form for the Army in April 1919 listing her son William's surviving blood relatives she was living at 277 Denman Road, Old Radford. (See 'Extra information') However, by 1921 Annie was living in Nottingham with her married daughter Mary Ellen Summers, her invalid husband and their son. Annie died later that year (reg. OND).
William Handley served in the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). He was serving with A Company when he was killed.
He enlisted on a Short Service Engagement, 3 years with the Colours and 8 years Reserve, on 25 May 1904 aged 18y 8m. He was working as a barman and still living at home at 41 Burgess Road, Thorneywood. He nominated his parents of 41 Burgess Road and siblings John and Sarah, also of 41 Burgess Road, as his next of kin although both his brother and sister were married and had left home.
William was posted to the Depot on 26 May 1904 and then to the 2nd Battalion (Private) on 5 September the same year. The Battalion had served in the UK from May 1902 having returned from Malta where it had been stationed since 1900 following service in India and then Aden.
There is a record that William transferred on 24 May 1907 and this probably refers to his transfer to the Reserve List after completing his three year engagement with the Colours as there are then no other details of service in his record until he was mobilised at Derby on 5 August 1914.
The 2nd Battalion was in Sheffield on the outbreak of war but moved to Edinburgh on mobilization. The Battalion then moved to Cambridge on 14 August 1914 where it came under orders of 18th Brigade, 6th Division. On 11 September the Battalion disembarked at St Nazaire. However, William's army record shows that he served with the BEF France from 8 September 1914, three days before the Battalion landed in France.
William was killed on 20 October 1914 but was initially reported missing in action, possibly a prisoner of war. The War Office confirmed in a letter of 23 December 1915 that: 'The Army Council has decided that this soldier is to be regarded for official purposes as having died on or since 20 October 1914. The next of kin should be informed accordingly …’
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium (Panel 7).
Service: Home 25 May 1904-7 September 1914 (10y 106d). BEF France 8 September 1914-20 October 1914 (43d). Total 10y 149d.
William qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC History of the Ploegsteert Memorial (extract): the Memorial stands in Berks Cemetery Extension, 12.5km from the town of Ieper (Ypres) and 'commemorates more than 11,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in this sector during the First World War and have no known grave. The memorial serves the area from the line Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton, in Belgium, to the north, to Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes, in France, to the south, including the towns of Hazebrouck, Merville, Bailleul and Armentieres, the Forest of Nieppe, and Ploegsteert Wood. The original intention had been to erect the memorial in Lille. Most of those commemorated by the memorial did not die in major offensives, such as those which took place around Ypres to the north, or Loos to the south. Most were killed in the course of the day-to-day trench warfare which characterised this part of the line, or in small scale set engagements, usually carried out in support of the major attacks taking place elsewhere.' (www.cwgc.org)
Record updated RF (Aug 2025)
British Red Cross & Order of St John Enquiry Lists Wounded & Missing 1914-1919: Enquiries dated 17 and 24 July 1915 and 2 August 1915. 9380 W Handley, A Coy 2nd Bn SF (N&D). Date reported missing or wounded, 20 October 1914. Missing or wounded details. M. Oct 20, 1914 and unoff. Rep. PW [Prisoner of War]
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 20 October 1916: ‘Handley. In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private William Handley, killed in action October 20th, 1914, aged 29. We often sit and think of you, and think of how you died; we grieve you ould not say good-bye before you closed your eyes. He bravely answered duty’s call. From mother, father, sisters, brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 20 October 1917: notice from parents, sisters and brothers.
William's mother Annie completed a form for the Army on 15 April 1919 listing William's surviving blood relatives:
Father: dead
Mother: Annie Handley, 277 Denman Street, Radford, Nottingham
Brothers (full blood): John Pierrepont (47), 68 Chandos Street, Netherfield. George Arthur Handley (31), 277 Denman Street, Radford.
Sisters (full blood): Sarah Comery (41) 31 Burgess Road, Thorneywood. Nelly [Mary Ellen] Summers (43) 1 (-) Court, Coalpit Lane, Nottingham. Jennie [Jane] Hudson (41) 9 Lodge Road, Rugley. Polly [Mary] Chollerton (38) 1 (-) Street, Huddersfield. Edith Heard (28) 13 Long Road Newark.
Niece: Gladys Handley (9) 277 Denman Street, Old Radford. [daughter of George Arthur and Daisy Handley]
Note: George Arthur Handley, his wife Doris and daughter Gladys were recorded on both the 1911 and 1921 Census living on Windmill Lane, Sneinton.
There is correspondence dated 1923 in William's service documents referring to letters from William's married sister, Sarah Comery, to the Infantry Record Office about the disposal of William's medals which were sent to their father in August 1919 and the Memorial Plaque and Scroll which were sent to their mother in October 1919:
Letter from OIC Infantry Records, Litchfield date 9 July 1923 to Mrs Comery, 43 Burgess Road, Thorneywood, Nottingham. Madam, The late No. 9380 Pte W Handley, The Sherwood Foresters. With reference to your letter undated, the Memorial Plaque and Scroll of the above named man have been duly issued to the next of kin of the late soldier. Will you please return to this office, in the enclosed registered envelope, the 1914 Star, and British War & Victory Medals, which were forwarded to Mr J Handley at the above address on 1/8/19 and 7/3/22 respectively, as according to instructions received from War Office these decorations are to be issued to the mother of the deceased soldier. Any inconvenience caused in the matter is much regretted, Yours faithfully ... for OIC Infantry Records.'
Letter from OIC Infantry Records, Litchfield, dated 14 July 1923 to Mrs S Comery, 43 Burgass Road, Thorneywood. ‘Madam, The late No. 9380 Pte W Handley, The Sherwood Foresters. With reference to your letter dated 10/7/23, the Memorial Plaque and Scroll were forwarded to the mother of deceased soldier on 8/10/19. The 1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals were forwarded to Mr J Handley, at the above address, on 1/8/19 and 7/3/22 respectively. These decorations should have been forwarded in accordance with War Office Instructions to the mother of the late soldier, Mrs Annie Handley, and, as she is now deceased, they become the property of her eldest son, John Pierrepont Handley, unless a Will was made by her in favour of another person. Yours faithfully ... for OIC Infantry Records.'
Letter from OIC Infantry Records, Litchfield, dated 27 July 1923 to Mrs S Comery, 43 Burgass Road, Thorneywood. ‘Madam, With reference to your letter undated, I have to inform you that the Memorial Plaque and Scroll of the late No. 9380, Pte W Handley, The Sherwood Foresters, were forwarded to his mother, Mrs A Handley, at 277 Denman Street, Old Radford, Notts, on 8/10/19. Yours faithfully ...’
Note: There is a receipt for William's British War and Victory Medals which was signed by 'Mrs Comery' on 10 March 1922. See OIC Infantry Records, Litchfield, 14 July 1923. Medals sent to Mr J Handley, 43 Burgess Road, 7 March 1922. The 1914 Star was sent in 1919.
Photo of William Handley
Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium (www.cwgc.org)