Richard HANDLEY

Main CPGW Record

Surname: HANDLEY

Forename(s): Richard

Place of Birth: Garsdale, Yorkshire

Service No: 35809

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Northumberland Fusiliers

Battalion / Unit: 23rd (Service) Battalion. (4th Tyneside Scottish)

Division: 34th Division

Age: 22

Date of Death: 1918-03-29

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: XX. E. 11.

CWGC Cemetery: CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: GARSDALE, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Richard Atkinson Handley was the son of Richard and Mary Handley, née Atkinson. Both parents were born at Garsdale, Yorkshire.

1901 Garsdale, Yorkshire Census: Dandragarth - Richard A. Handley, aged 5 years, born Garsdale, son of Richard and Mary Handley.

1911 Garsdale, Yorkshire Census: East Coat Weggs - Richard Atkinson Handley, aged 15 years, born Garsdale, son of Richard and Mary Handley.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Richard Handley, 50344, W. York. R.; 35809, Noth'd. Fus. D. of W.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Richard Handley, 50344, 2nd West Yorks. R.; 35809, 26th Northd. Fus.; 36809, 23rd Northd. Fus. D. of W.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Richard Handley, 35809, 23rd Bn Northumberland Fus. Date and Place of Death: 29.3.18 Auberchicourt. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - Richard. £0 6s. 11d.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Richard Handley, 35809, 23rd Bn Northd. Fus. Date and Place of Death: 29.3.18. Officially accepted. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - Richard. £19 16s. 8d.

Richard was originally buried by the Germans in Auberchicourt German Cemetery. His remains were exhumed and reburied in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez in 1924.

The SDGW and CWGC date for Richard’s death is given as 29 March 1918. The date of death on his mourning card is 22 March 1918. On the 21st and 22nd March 1918, Richard’s battalion was in action near Croisilles village. As he was buried by the Germans at Auberchicourt, which is quite a distance from Croisilles, he may have died of wounds as a prisoner of war.

Richard is commemorated in the Rolls of Honour at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh.

A short biography of Richard is included in: ‘Sedbergh and District 1914-1918 – But who shall return the children?’ Compiled by Sedbergh and District History Society. Edited by Diane Elphick (2016).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---

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