HANDFIELD, Paulette
| Service Number: | 3265 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 June 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Petersham, New South Wales, Australia, 28 February 1889 |
| Home Town: | Bondi, Waverley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Bondi High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Artist |
| Died: | Killed in action, Messines, Belgium, 7 June 1917, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jun 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3265, 45th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 3265, 45th Infantry Battalion , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 3265, 45th Infantry Battalion , HMAT Beltana, Sydney |
Help us honour Paulette Handfield's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Handfield enlisted and served as Paulette Handfield. His full name on the Roll of Honour and Commonwealth War Graves records is Cleeve Egerton Paulet Handfield. He was the son of Charles Arthur Stuart Handfield and Margaret Ellen Handfield, of Bondi, New South Wales.
He was one of five brothers who enlisted in the AIF during WW1.
His younger brother, 2825 Sergeant George Edward Carey Handfield 2nd Battalion AIF later died of wounds in France on 21 May 1918, aged 26.
Cleeve Egerton Paulet Handfield was an artist, and a young one when he wrote a published letter to the Sydney Sun during 1911, frustrated that his works were being rejected by publishers. “It's encouragement the ‘Young Australian’ wants, but the number of Sydney magazines and journals is so limited, and the number of artists at present in Sydney so numerous that it can't cope with the demands made upon it; but what I wish to point out is that the Australian artist should get the first privileges if their work is good. I am one of the many young Australian artists who, forced by circumstances, and advised by some of Sydney's prominent journalists and artists, am going abroad, first to America, and then to the old country, and while wishing ‘Young Australian’ artists the best of luck, hope to return and find that Australia has at last awakened to the fact that talent is not only found outside its own waters, but right here in its midst, if only an encouraging hand were hold out to welcome it.”
Paulette enlisted in Sydney during June 1916. He arrived in England during January 1917, and joined the 45th Battalion at the front on 1 April 1917. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Messines. He was first reported as wounded, then wounded and missing, which caused some confusion for the family before his death was confirmed late in 1917. He has no known grave.
In his Red Cross file, a Private Finigan of the 45th Battalion stated, “I knew Handfield, he was in B Company, VI Platoon with me and came over as 8th reinforcements. We called him ‘Snowy”, he was fair, young, slight build, on the short side. I believe he came from a Sydney suburb, towards Bondi or Paddington: he was an artist and did poster work, and did a lot of sketching for the chaps whilst at Bresle. At Messines on 7-6-1917 at about 3.30 p.m. he was wounded (by a bullet I believe) and feel he was about 15 or 20 yards away and in front of me at the time. I believe a man called Chapman and also 3198 McFaddin, since killed, stopped to see if there was anything they could do for Handfield. I passed within three yards of him. He fell between the first and second objectives we set out to win….”
Paulette’s father noted on his Roll of Honour form, “5 brothers served in the war, in Palestine, Egypt, and on the Western Front. Great-great nephew of Captain Phillips Carey Handfield R.N. in command H.M.S.’Delight’ which formed one of Admiral Duckworth’s squadron which penetrated the Dardanelles in 1807.”