Name
Albert Edwin Handscombe
14/08/1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/03/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
L/10007
Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 45 and 47.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Church of St Mary the Virgin Memorial Cheshunt
Pre War
Albert Edwin Handscombe was born in Newington, London/Surrey, on the 14th August 1895, son of Albert Edward Charles Handscombe a, Groom/Coachman and Bertha Mary Handscombe, (nee Holland). The eldest of two children.
Albert was Baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Islington, London, on the 27th October 1895.
1901 Census records Albert Jr. aged 5, living with his mother Bertha at, 157 Manor Place, Newington, London/Surrey. His father was away from the family home on the night of the Census.
In 1903 the family moved to Cheshunt, were Albert Jr. attended Dewhurst Endowed Boys School from June 1903, to December 1909, when he left to go to work.
1911 Census records Albert Jr. aged 15, no occupation is given, living with his parents and sister Florence (8) at, 54 Dewhurst Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
In late 1912, Albert Jr. travelled to Tottenham, Middx, and enlisted in the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) with the service number 10007. (the “L” was issued at the outbreak of war to indicate a regular soldier).
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war, the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment was stationed in Dublin, part of the 13th Brigade of the 5th Division. They were mobilized and proceeded to France landing at Le Havre, on the 15th August 1914. They were in action at the Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, the Battles of Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne, La Bassee, Messines and the First Battle of Ypres in 1914.
Albert Jr. was Killed in Action on the 25th March 1915, in the area of the Ypres Saliant. He has no known grave; he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing in Belgium.
Additional Information
His effects of £8-7s-6d, Pay Owing and his War gratuity of £5, went to his father Albert Handscombe.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
