HANDLEY Albert Ernest. Sapper, 538552, Base Signals Depot, Royal Engineers, died 16th March 1918 from injuries received at Salonika. Lived at Dorking Surrey. He was born on the 27th June 1890 to Albert Ernest and Jane Alexandria. In 1911 his parents were living at 33 Hart Road, Dorking, Surrey. 10th September 1907 aged 17 he was a boarder at 9 The Parade, London Road, Mitcham, home of Thomas and Helena Wise, occupation a clerk with the London, Brighton and South Coast Railways at Box Hill Station. Later he was moved to other stations.
Some notes from what remains of his army record.
He joined up at Eastbourne on the 8th November 1915 aged 25 and 4 months and posted to the 3rd Home Counties Signal Cot, Royal Engineers as sapper 3708 (At some stage his army number was changed 538552) He lived with his parents, Albert Ernest and Jane Alexandria at Brook Cottage, London Road, Dorking Surrey. He joined up on the 8th November 1915, embarked for Salonika on the 3rd January 1917 and died in a hospital in Malta from carcinoma of intestine and liver on the 16th March 1918. (Different cause of death)
EVANS John Edward. Private, 81875, 38th General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps, died 3rd April 1918, aged 26 years. The son of William and Margaret Evans, of Llansilin, Oswestry.
KAULFUSS Albert Edward. Private, DM2/130308, 603rd M.T. Coy, Royal Army Service Corps, Died of accidental injuries, 12th April 1918, aged 20 years in Valletta Military Hospital. He was born on the 30th September 1897 to Francis Arthur and Surina Kaulfuss, of 36 Porter Road, Derby. In 1911 he was living with his parents and siblings at 275 Baker Street, Alvaston, Derbyshire.
Some notes from what remains of his army number. He joined on the 17th October 1915 at Osterley Park, MT Depot, Isleworth, London aged 19 years and 1 month. He was living with his parents at 51, Loudoun Street, Derby. After he had completed his training he was sent to Malta to join 603 Company M.T, Depot Floriana on the 10th January 1916. While he was stationed at Malta he had an accident which resulted in his death. I have taken a brief extract of events from the notes of the Court of Enquiry held on the 16th April 1918 in Malta. The report does not give the date of the accident. The accident happened in the Dry Canteen (Alcohol is not sold or drank) at St Francis Barracks. As he was leaving the canteen toward the door he had to scale some steps. His foot slipped on the top step and he fell backwards down the steps stopping halfway. He was helped up and taken to his barrack room where he was vomiting badly and bleeding from an ear. An ambulance was called and he was taken to Valletta Military Hospital where he died at 7-50pm on the 12th April 1918. (end of brief report) While he was in hospital a surgeon performed 4 trephined through the skull (Hole in the skull) but he died seven hours after the operation. He was laid to rest on the 13th in Pieta Military Cemetery. Death was caused by a fracture of the base of skull and meningitis.
All at rest in Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta. Plot C Row XVII Grave 5
