Orders, Decorations and Medals

Permanent Forces of the Empire L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (Pte. J. Handley, R.C.O.C.) minor contact marks, very fine £80-100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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James Handley was born in Widnes, Lancashire on 13 January 1880. A Labourer by occupation and a member of the 3rd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, he attested for the South Lancashire Regiment at Warrington on 3 June 1898. He transferred to the Royal Field Artillery in September that year, and served in South Africa, November 1899-January 1903, and Egypt, January 1903-March 1905. For his service in the Boer War he was awarded the Queen’s medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith, and the King’s medal with two clasps. Transferred to the Army Reserve in June 1906, he was discharged on 2 June 1910. Handley then emigrated to Canada, and on 16 August 1910 he enlisted in the Canadian Permanent Force, purchasing his discharge in November 1912. He re-enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Esquimault Battalion on 4 February 1914 and served until he was discharged on 20 October 1921. In this period of service he was with No. 9 Detachment Canadian Ordnance Corps. With them he served in the Ordnance Mobile Workshop at Vladivostock, January-May 1919. He was demobilized on 17 August 1919 from the C.E.F. and then re-enlisted into the C.P.O.C. Handley was awarded the Permanent Forces of the Empire L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1922, the award being published in the Canada Gazette of 23 September 1922. Returning to England and living at Stafford, Handley died on 23 August 1941, being then employed as a Storekeeper at a Fleet Air Arm Depot. Sold with copied attestation papers and other research.