HANDLEY, Albert James
| Service Number: | 2215 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia, September 1895 |
| Home Town: | Bairnsdale, East Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | SW arm and abdomen, Poperinge, 17th Casualty Clearing Station,Belgium, 1 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Plot XX, Row C, Grave No. ? |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2215, 46th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2215, 46th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 16 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2215, 46th Infantry Battalion, RMS Orontes, Melbourne | |
| 1 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2215, 46th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, DOW at 17th Casualty Clearing Station, Poperinge, Belgium SW left arm and abdomen - severe. | |
| 1 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 2215, 48th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2215 awm_unit: 48 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-10-01 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From RSL South Australia
This evening we commemorate the service and sacrifice of 2215 Private Albert James Handley, 46th Battalion, of Bairnsdale, Victoria, who died of wounds during the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium on this day in 1917, aged 22. His sacrifice is commemorated at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Albert was a plumber before he enlisted on 1 May 1916 and was allocated as a reinforcement to the 46th Battalion.
Originally raised in 1916 for service during World War I, the 46th Battalion served on the Western Front, fighting at Pozières in 1916, the First Battle of Bullecourt, at Messines and at Passchendaele in 1917, and during the German Spring Offensive and Allied Hundred Days' Offensive in 1918, before being disbanded in 1919.
During its service throughout the war, the battalion lost 590 men killed and 1,939 wounded. Members of the battalion received four Companions of the Distinguished Service Order with one Bar, one Officer of the Order of the British Empire, 28 Military Crosses with one Bar, 14 Distinguished Conduct Medals, 140 Military Medals with seven Bars, six Meritorious Service Medals, 37 mentions in despatches and five foreign awards.
It was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Citizens Forces in 1921 and in 1927 adopted the title of the "Brighton Rifles", before becoming part of the Militia in 1929. During World War II the 46th served in a garrison role before being amalgamated with the 29th Battalion in August 1942 to form the 29th/46th Battalion.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.
Ian Smith
Chair
Anzac Day Committee
Albert James Handley: AWM
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