Current Information:

Age-29

Born-Bromley

Norfolk Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France

12th Middlesex of 54 Brigade, arrived in France in July 1915 along with the rest 18th Division and  in August moved to the Somme, a sector of the Western Front that had recently been taken over from the French. On 4th September, 1915, 12th Middlesex left their billets in Mericourt and moved into the nearby front line trenches, D3 where they stayed until relieved on 14th September. There was a lot of mining activity by both sides in this sector and on both 6th September and 9th September, the enemy had exploded 2 small mines in front of the trenches held by 12th Middlesex. During the following days saps were pushed out towards these craters and it was whilst engaged on this work on 12th September that John Handley was killed by a sniper’s bullet.