Private Thomas Handley.
5543 1st East Lancashire Regiment.
Missing in Action 13th May 1915, aged 18.
Thomas was born in Burnley about 1897 the son of Thomas Handley and Mary Rogerson. In the 1901 census their family lived at 11 Free Trade St. Burnley. Thomas 32 Carter for the railway born in Oldham, Lancs, Mary 27, Thomas 4, James 3 and Annie 11 months.
The family had moved into 2 rooms at 8 Fell St, Burnley by the 1911 census. Thomas 42 and now a widower, Thomas 14, James 13, Annie 11, Daniel 8, Mary 7, Willie 5 and two lodgers, Mary Ellen Barber 41 and Florence Durkin 10.
From the Burnley Express dated 2nd June 1915: ANOTHER BRAVE EAST LANCASHIRE.
News was received only yesterday by the father of Private Thomas Handley 5543, of B Company 1st East Lancashire Regiment, that the soldier had been killed on May 13th. Private Handley was only 18 years of age. He attended st. Paul's Day schools as a boy and had worked before enlisting at Healey Wood Mill. Every sympathy will be extended to the father and family who reside at 9 Fell Street Burnley.
Formerly lived at 9 Fell Street.
Thomas left his effects to his father Thomas.
Thomas is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium: Panel 34.
