James Halton HANDBY

19 October 1917

HANDBY – October 2nd 1917, killed in action on the Western Front, Private James Halton Handby, Canadian Expeditionary Force, third son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Handby, Leak House, Austwick, aged 24 years.

19 October 1917

AUSTWICK – PTE. JAMES HALTON HANDBY KILLED: The 6th Fatality

Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Handby, Leak House, received information last week of the death in action on October 2nd, of their third son, Pte. James Halton Handby, of the ----- Battalion Canadians. He was 24 years of age, and was educated at Austwick Church and Bentham Grammar Schools. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. T. D. Smith Ltd., grocers, Lancaster. He emigrated to Canada in February 1912, going back with his eldest brother and a cousin who had become successful farmers there, and who were having a holiday in the old country. After his arrival in Canada he became manager of a large store in Calgary, owned by Mr. R. J. Frizzle. He joined the 50th Battalion Canadian Infantry at Calgary in July 1915, and arrived in England on December 20th last. He arrived home on leave on February 28th, the same day four years ago he had left home for Canada. Widespread sympathy is felt for both Mr. and Mrs. Handby in their sad loss. He is the sixth lad in the Austwick Parish to give his life for his country.

The following letter from his Captain was received by Mrs. Handby on Wednesday morning:-

“Dear Mrs. Handby, - “It is my very sad duty to have to write and offer you my sincerest sympathy on the death of your son James. It will be some consolation to you to know that his death was instantaneous, and that he can have suffered no pain. I never want to have a better man in my Company than your son was, and he is a very great loss to me. He will be buried today in a nice cemetery near the battalion transport lines, and you have my assurance that his grave will be well cared for. A parcel containing all his personal belongings is being posted to you today, and I trust will reach you safely. I shall be only too pleased to send you any further information you may require regarding your boy.

“Believe me, yours very truly, A.F. PRINGLE (Captain), Commanding ‘C’ Company, 50th Battalion.”

Another letter has also been received by Mrs. Handby from the Chaplain, who buried him.

A memorial service for the deceased soldier was held at the Wesleyan Chapel on Sunday night. There was a large congregation present. An impressive service was conducted by Mr. Cumberland, of Bentham, and his address was listened to with marked attention, during which he drew attention to the earlier life of the young man they were mourning. Hymns suitable to the occasion, ‘Thou doest all things well’, ‘Jesu lover of my soul’, ‘The sands of time are sinking’, ‘Abide with me’ and ‘Nearer my God to Thee’ (deceased’s favourite hymn), were sung with tender feeling by the congregation.

09 November 1917

STAINFORTH – PRIVATE GEORGE TOWLER KILLED

Mrs. Towler, of Knight, Stainforth, received sad news on Wednesday morning that her third son, Private George Towler, of the Canadian Infantry, had died for his King and Country in Flanders on October 26th last. This brave young soldier was in his 26th year and served his apprenticeship with Greenwood and Whitehead, grocers, Lancaster. After leaving there he went as assistant to Liverpool. Being of a pushing disposition he went to Canada and soon obtained a lucrative position at Calgary in Alberta. Here he was highly esteemed, but, answering the call of the Mother Country to her sons, he, with his pal, James Handby, of Austwick, enlisted. Both were trained in Calgary, and came to England for a short training in Hampshire before going to the Front in the early part of this year.

Handby was killed a few weeks ago and now George has paid the supreme sacrifice. He received his education in the village school here and was always a plodder, ever trying to excel as a man, a reliable friend, and a careful and smart business colleague. Mrs. Towler has two other sons in France – Lance Corporal Tom Towler, M.M., and Private Lawrence Towler.

The Commanding Officer has sent a letter in which he states:– “Your son was a man I was immensely proud to command. He always performed every duty allotted to him in a most efficient manner, and his place in the Company will be hard to fill. It will be some consolation to you to know that he suffered no pain, and his death was instantaneous, and that he was decently buried where he fell.”

We will give a photograph of the deceased soldier next week.