HANDLEY, Albert

Albert Handley was born at Cradley Heath but had moved to Stourbridge by 1914. He volunteered for the Worcesters and joined the 9th (Service) Battalion. After training they were sent in June 1915 to Gallipoli where the initial attack had failed to capture the peninsula. They landed on the 6th August at Suvla Bay without opposition but their first attack on the Turkish defences was a costly failure. No progress was made and, after months of stalemate, they were evacuated in December. They spent a few weeks in Egypt and were then sent further east to join the army in Mesopotamia. They landed on the 4th March near Basra and advanced up the Tigris. Their task was to raise the siege of Kut where General Townshend's force was trapped. A quick advance reached the Turkish triple defences. The first line was captured fairly easily, but the Turks fell back to the Sannaiyat Line. A night attack was made on the 9th April but the Turkish defences withstood all the brave efforts of the troops. The Worcesters' losses amounted to 3 officers and 29 men killed. These included Corporal Albert Handley. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial and is also commemorated on the Stourbridge Memorial.