Name
Horace William Handscombe
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
NA
Biography
Margaret Handscombe identified Horace. Although it is not known if he was living in Pirton at the time of the war, there are definitely some strong Pirton connections.
Horace was Margaret’s grandfather and she believes that his father, William, was born in Pirton circa 1863 and that his son Horace was born in Luton on November 7th 1886. In the 1901 census he is recorded as living in Emma Handscombe’s house (his aunt) with his cousins Clara and Alice Maud. She knows that he spoke a little of the war to her father and certainly told him about the horrendous punishments meted out to soldiers, such as being tied to a wheel.(*1)
*1 This particular punishment was known as ‘Field Punishment No.1’ and consisted of the man being tied or shackled to a gun wheel or similar for up to two hours in twenty-four, but apparently not for more than three days in four or more than twenty-one days in his sentence.
Additional Information
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission
Acknowledgments
Margaret Handscombe, Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission.
