Henry Basil Strutt Handford
- Family History
- Military History
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He was born in 1894 the son of Major Henry Handford MD (RAMC) and the Hon Mrs H Handford (formerly Gale) of Elmfield Southwell. He had one brother, Everard Francis Sale (b. 1895). Both brothers served in the 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters and were killed in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt in 1915.Their mother had a daughter, Gertrude Veronica (1883-1970), by her first marriage to Henry Mark Gale (1842-1890). In 1911 Gertrude married John Pickard Becher, later Major in the 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters. Major Becher was wounded in the same action in which his brothers-in-law were killed and died of his wounds on 1 January 1916.
'C' Coy. He was killed in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.'The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919, 1/8th Battalion' p71 (Salient 1915): 'During these days there was much active patrolling in order to make certain of the dispositions of the enemy, and much daring work was carried out by Lieuts ... (and) HBS Handford.'
Notts County Council minutes 1915. Public Health and Housing Committee 27 July 1915 (p133). ‘Dr Handford, County Medical Officer and Chief Tuberculosis Officer of the County has been mobilised for military service in connection with the military camps in this County and at Cannock Chase. Dr Handford will be frequently absent on this military duty …’ Western Daily Press, Bristol, Friday 22 October 1915: ‘Captain Henry Basil Strutt Handford and Second Lieutenant Everard Francis Sale Handford, both of the 8th Sherwood Foresters, elder and younger sons of Dr. Henry Handford, MD, FRCP, and the Hon. Mrs Handford of Elmfield, Southwell, Notts, were killed in France on October 14 (sic). Captain Handford was educated at Rugby School, where he was a well-known athlete.’ (Source: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Major JP Becher DSO, the husband of Dr Handford’s step-daughter Gertrude Veronica Becher (nee Gale), and Henry and Everard's half-sister, was mortally wounded in the same action and died 1 January 1916.A History of the General Hospital near Nottingham, Frank H Jacob MD FRCP, 1951. Published John Wright & Sons Bristol (Nottingham Local Studies Library, CRM 00 784970) p232 'Dr H Handford (Hon Physician to the General Hospital for 20 years, resigned in 1906 on his appointment as MOH to the County of Nottingham). ‘The War came and with it great trouble for this kindly physician: October 15, 1915 was a very sad day for Dr Handford. “The 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Territorial) were mobilized at the onset of war. On Feb 25, 1915 they went to France: and were in the thick of fighting until the end of the war. On Oct 15 they took part in the disastrous attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. On that day, Dr Handford’s two sons, Capt. Basil Handford and Lieut Everard Handford, were killed. “Two of the most promising young officers in the Battalion”.' Inscription on memorial window, Southwell Minster: ‘For a remembrance before God of Henry Basil Strutt Handford, Capt. VIIIth Battn Sherwood Foresters, and of Everard Francis Sale Handford, Lieut. VIIIth Battn Sherwood Foresters, who were killed in action in France on Oct. 14th (sic) 1915. Lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided.’ (2 Samuel 1:23)This website has identified seven days during the Great War on which two Nottinghamshire brothers were killed. Four of the local pairs discovered so far were killed fighting with the same unit. The Handford family tragedy highlights the downside of siblings serving in the same battalion.
