Charles Henry Handley was born on the 22nd December 1872 at Watford and was baptised there on the 23rd March 1873.
Charles Henry’s father was Charles Handley, a Police Constable who was born in 1838 at Sandridge. He served as a Constable in the Hertfordshire Constabulary between 23rd February 1869 and 27th February 1895.
Published in the Herts Advertiser on Saturday 27th February 1869 under the headline: Watford. Petty Sessions, Tuesday Feb. 23rd.
Present: H.C. Finch, Esq., in the chair; Rev. A.H. Barker; W. Stuart, Esq., D. Carnagie, Esq.
New Constable.
Charles Handley was sworn in as a constable for the Watford division.
The following testimonial on his retirement from the Police was published in the Herts Advertiser on Saturday 24th August 1895 under the headline:
Apsley End. Presentation Ex-Police Constable Charles Handley.
On Monday evening a public meeting was held at the Village Club, Apsley End, for the purpose of presenting Mr. Handley with a testimonial in recognition of his long service as police constable. Mr. A. H. Longman, J.P., C.C., Shendish, who made the presentation said it afforded him sincere pleasure to have been able to accept the invitation of the Handley Testimonial Committee to be present on this occasion. Mr. Handley had spent ten years and five months in the Army as a private in the Scots Guards, and 26 years in the Hertfordshire Constabulary. As a magistrate for this district he had had a good opportunity of knowing how well and faithfully Mr. Handley had discharged his various and multifarious duties, some of which been of a most onerous character, and had required considerable amount of discretion and tact to ensure giving general satisfaction. He could also say that brother magistrates had always held a good opinion of Mr. Handley, and he, the speaker, was heartily pleased to find that his services, were to be recognised. It showed that the inhabitants of the district had really appreciated his services, and he had therefore much pleasure in asking Mr. Handley to accept the purse of money which amounted to £17 18s., and trusted be would long be spared to enjoy the pension which had been granted him from the Police Funds. Mr. Handley in accepting the testimonial, said he could only thank those present, and all who had so kindly contributed towards it, and especially did he feel indebted to Mr. Longman for making the presentation, and the committees desire most heartily to thank Mr. Chas. Samson for the great interest he had taken in promoting the fund, and Mr. Geo. Pitkin who had so kindly undertaken and efficiently carried out the duties of hon. secretary. We may add that upon joining the army, Mr. Handley was drafted out to the Crimea, but upon arriving at Malta, peace was proclaimed, and sometime after, the Indian mutiny breaking out, his regiment was off to the East Indies, where Mr. Handley was attached to the field force under General Sir Hugh Rose, and upon returning home put in some service in Ireland. Upon Mr. Handley obtaining his discharge, his character was marked Exemplary, his discharge papers from the police force, from which he retired on superannuation on Ash Wednesday last, being also similarly endorsed.
Charles Henry’s mother was Emma Slocomb who was born in 1838 at Ardley. She married his father on the 27th October 1866 at Stevenage. Charles and Emma had 7 children:
1. Harriet Annie baptised 29th March 1868 at Abbots Langley.
2. Rosa Emma born 7th October 1869 at Watford.
3. Emily born 22nd January 1871 at Watford.
4. Charles Henry.
5. Alice Margaret born 5th May 1875 at Watford.
6. Sarah Ann born 1878 at Hemel Hempstead.
7. William Richard born 30th November 1881 at Hemel Hempstead. Served as Police Constable 71 in the Hertfordshire Constabulary between 20th December 1902 and 20th December 1927. In April 1921 William was commended by the Chief Constable for stopping a runaway horse in Hertford thus preventing a serious accident.
In 1879 Charles Henry Handley was admitted to the Boxmoor Junior, Middle & Infant School at Hemel Hempstead his home address was listed as Catlin Street. He left school on the 24th March 1885.
In the census of 1881 Charles Handley, with his wife and children, was recorded as living in Catlin Street, Hemel Hempstead. He was shown as being employed as a Police Constable.
In the 1891 census Charles Handley was still employed as a Police Constable in Hemel Hempstead. He and his family were shown as living at 7 Catlin Street, Hemel Hempstead. Charles Henry was recorded as being employed as a general labourer.
Charles Henry Handley Police Service.
Charles clearly decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. Unfortunately, his Police Service Record has not survived but, however, his Pension file has partially survived and is held in the archives of the Hertfordshire Police Historical Society. It contains two documents one, dated 23rd October 1956, is a re-assessment of his wife’s widows pension and the other is a very brief precis of his Service Record. Between the two, together with information from Hertfordshire Constabulary General Orders and newspaper articles, it has been possible to complete a timeline of his service in the Constabulary.
Charles Henry Handley was Appointed as Constable 66 in the Hertford County Constabulary on the 27th April 1893, aged 20 years 5 months. He was stationed as a Probationary Constable at the C or Watford Division where he was trained, most probably by a senior Constable under the supervision of the Divisional Superintendent. Training was not moved to Police Headquarters until just before the outbreak of WW1. No known photograph of him has survived and the only detail of his physical description known is that he was 5 feet 9 inches tall.
The following newspaper article records that he was sworn in as a Police Constable at Watford on the 2nd May 1893.
Published in the Watford Observer on Saturday 6th May 1893 under the headline:
Watford. Petty Sessions. May 2nd.
Present: J.F. Watkins, Esq. in the chair; W.R. Woolrych, Esq., R.W. Henderson, Esq., S. Noakes, Esq., F. Sumner Kayvett, Esq., and C.E. Keyser, Esq.
Augmentation Of the Police Force.
The following were sworn in as Police Constables for the county: Albert James Merry, Harry Maunders, Arthur Wood. James Abbott, Charles Henry Handley, Joseph Pearce. James Albert Harman, and Aubrey Henry Hull.
Under the then Police Regulations his pensionable Service as a Constable only began when he reached the age of 21 years on the 21st December 1893.
After he had completed his training, it is not known exactly when, he was posted to Bishops Stortford.
Marriage.
On the 28th April 1900, at St. Mary’s, Parish Church Hemel Hempstead, Charles Henry Handley, a bachelor aged 27 years and employed as a Police Constable of Bishops Stortford, married Sophia Jane Perry, a spinster aged 25 years (born on 28th February 1874) of 15 Austins Place, Hemel Hempstead. They had no children.
During the census of 1901 Police Constable Charles Henry Handley and his wife Sophia are shown as living in Jervis Road, Bishops Stortford.
Promotion To Sergeant and Transfer to Sawbridgeworth.
The exact date that Charles Henry Handley was promoted to Sergeant is not known, but there are newspaper articles referring to a Sergeant Handley stationed at Sawbridgeworth as early as 1906. This would seem to be a not unreasonable time period to have served as a Constable before being considered for promotion.
The 1910 Electoral Roll records him as living at 80, London Road, Sawbridgeworth.
Promotion To Inspector and Transfer to Royston.
According to the following newspaper article Charles Henry Handley was promoted to Inspector and transferred to Royston on 14th April 1910.
Published in the Herts & Cambs Reporter & Royston Crow on Friday 22nd April 1910 under the headline: Royston. The New Inspector of Police. PS Handley, late of Sawbridgeworth, who has been promoted to the rank of Inspector, and succeeds Inspector Spriggs, who has been made Superintendent at Bishop Stortford, took up his duties at the Police Station on Thursday in last week.
At the time of the census of 1911 Charles Henry Handley is shown as being a Police Inspector and living in the Inspectors residence at Royston Police Station. On the day of the census his wife Sophia was visiting their old neighbours, the Morris family, at 78 London Road, Sawbridgeworth.
The 1911, 1912 and 1914 Electoral Rolls also show him living at the Police Station, Priory Lane, Royston.
Transfer.
Published in the Herts & Cambs Reporter & Royston Crow on Friday 30th January 1914 under the headline:
Removal of Inspector Handley. We understand that Inspector Handley will shortly be removed to headquarters at Hatfield, and the Police Station at Royston will be in charge of PS. Chapman from Letchworth. Inspector Handley has been at Royston for nearly four years and by his tact and courtesy in dealing with the work, has gained the esteem and respect of all classes, and especially the men under his control, with whom he is very popular.
Promotion To Superintendent.
From the following General Orders concerning his pay increases and leave periods, it can be seen that Charles Henry Handley had been promoted from Inspector to Superintendent. The pay rises shown were all awarded on the 20th July of the respective year. Pay rises at this time were always awarded in line with the date of Appointment of the officer or if applicable a date of promotion. It is reasonable to assume then that Charles was promoted to Superintendent on the 20th July 1914. The same Orders show that he had been moved again and was now in charge of the A or Ware Division.
Commendation.
In 1914 Charles was commended by the Chief Constable for his actions at a fire at Broxbourne. It has not been possible to find any further information but from the location it must have occurred after he was promoted to Superintendent.
Pay Rise.
General Order 124 of the 29th July 1915 announced that Superintendent C.H. Handley A Division would receive an increased rate of pay from £145/0/0 to £152/10/0 per annum from the 20th July 1915.
Leave.
General Order 148 of the 7th October 1915 announced that during the absence of Superintendent C.H. Handley from the 9th October to the 25th October 1915, inclusive, Inspector Moles, A Division, will take charge and act as Superintendent of the A or Ware Division.
Pay Rise.
General Order 88 of the 24th July 1916 announced that Superintendent C.H. Handley A Division would receive an increased rate of pay from £152/10/0 to £160/0/0 per annum from the 20th July 1916.
Leave.
General Order 93 of the 3rd August 1916 announced that during the absence of Superintendent C.H. Handley, A Division, from 12th August to the 5th September 1916, inclusive, Inspector Moles, A Division, will take charge of and act as Superintendent of the A or Ware Division. Inspector Moles will proceed to Ware on Friday11th August 1916 and personally go through books, documents and correspondence with Superintendent Handley.
Pay Rise.
General Order 65 of the 23rd July 1917 announced that Superintendent C.H. Handley A Division would receive an increased rate of pay from £160/0/0 to £167/0/0 per annum from the 20th July 1917.
Leave.
General Order 66 of the 2nd August 1917 announced that during the absence of Superintendent C.H. Handley, A Division, from 8th August to the 21st August 1917, inclusive, Inspector Moles, A Division, will take charge of and act as Superintendent of the A or Ware Division. Inspector Moles will proceed to Ware on Tuesday 7th August 1917 and personally go through books, documents and correspondence with Superintendent Handley.
Pay Rise.
General Order 70 of the 25th July 1918 announced that Superintendent C.H. Handley A Division would receive an increased rate of pay from £167/10/0 to £175/0/0 per annum from the 20th July 1918.
Leave.
General Order 72 of the 1st August 1918 announced that during the absence of Superintendent C.H. Handley, A Division, from 8th to 21st August 1918, inclusive, Inspector J.W. Moles, A Division, will take charge of and act as Superintendent of the A or Ware Division. Inspector Moles will proceed to Ware on Wednesday 7th August 1918 and personally go through books, documents and correspondence with Superintendent Handley.
The 1919 to 1921 Electoral Rolls show Charles and Sophia living at the Ware Police Station. In the census of 1921 Charles Henry Handley is shown as being a Police Superintendent and living with his wife at the Police Station, 2, Watton Road, Ware.
Leave.
General Order 170 of the 30th July 1919 announced that during the absence of Superintendent C.H. Handley, A Division, from 6th August to 27th August 1919, inclusive, Inspector W.R. West, A Division, will take charge of and act as Superintendent of the A or Ware Division. Inspector West will proceed to Ware on Tuesday 5th August 1919 and personally go through books, documents etc., with Superintendent Handley.
Two Commendations.
On the 19th October 1920 Charles was commended by the Chairman of Ware Petty Sessions in the case of larceny of a bicycle. This was endorsed by the Chief Constable.
On the 27th October 1920 he was commended by the Chairman of Cheshunt Petty Sessions for an unknown case but it was also endorsed by the Chief Constable.
Again it has not been possible to find any further information regarding either case.
Leave.
General Order 104 of the 30th June 1921 announced that during the absence of Superintendent C.H. Handley, A Division, from 2nd to 18th July 1921, inclusive, Inspector W.R. West, A Division, will take charge of and act as Superintendent of the A or Ware Division. Inspector West will proceed to Ware on 1st July 1921 and personally go through books, documents etc., with Superintendent Handley.
Buntingford Agricultural Show.
General Order 113 of 15th July 1921 announced that the Buntingford Agricultural Show would be held at Corney Bury Park, Buntingford, on Wednesday 20th July 1921. The detachment of the Hertford County Constabulary would be under the command of C.H. Handley, A Division. The rest of the Order detailed the numbers and disposition of Officers, including mounted Officers, dress and other administrative information.
Leave.
General Order 177 of the 26th October 1921 announced that during the absence of Superintendent C.H. Handley, A Division, from 28th October to 4th November 1921, inclusive, Inspector W.R. West, A Division, will take charge of and act as Superintendent of the A or Ware Division. Inspector West will proceed to Ware on 27th October 1921 and personally go through books, documents etc., with Superintendent Handley.
Retirement.
General Order 188 of the 22nd November 1921 was entitled: Retirement on Pension. Superintendent Charles Henry Handley, A Division, having submitted an application for consent to retire on pension, the resignation is accepted and will take effect on 31st December 1921. Superintendent Handley will be paid up the 31st December 1921, inclusive, and his name will be struck off the establishment of the Force on the same day. The Chief Constable desires to place on record his high appreciation of the long and faithful services performed by this Officer.
General Order 205 of the 31st December 1921 was entitled: A or Ware Division – Temporary Control Of. Consequent of the retirement of Superintendent C.H. Handley and as a temporary measure, Superintendent James Henry Prior of the B or Bishops Stortford Division will take charge and control of the A or Ware Division in addition to the B or Bishops Stortford Division as from midnight on 31st December 1921. Superintendent Prior will continue to reside at Bishops Stortford and Police Sergeant 197 Hagger will act as Section Sergeant at Ware.
General Order 4 of the 10th January 1921 announced that Superintendent C.H. Handley, A Division, had completed 28 years of approved service and had been granted an annual pension of £306/13/4 from the 1st January 1922.
Published in the Herts and Essex Observer on Saturday 17th December 1921 under the headline:
Ware Petty Sessions. Tuesday.
Magistrates present: Mr S. Croft (chairman), and Mr A. H. Rogers.
Retirement Of Supt. Handley.
The Chairman, before the business of the Court commenced, said that unless anything of an unusual kind happened there would be no further sitting of the Bench this year, as Tuesday, December 27th, would be a public holiday. That being the last meeting of the Court at which It was presumed that Supt. Handley would be present, he would like to speak of the great respect which the Superintendent had always shown to the Bench, how well he had prepared his cases, and the general courtesy he had displayed to all. He wished that to be recorded on the minutes of the Court.
Mr A. H. Rogers, in seconding, said that he fully endorsed what the Chairman had said. He could speak in the highest terms of the Superintendent’s work, and he had noticed that when he could say sword for a defendant he always did so. The value of the Superintendent’s oversight of the town in the time of the air raids would never be fully known, and in his (Mr Rogers’) opinion he saved the town. He had been a splendid officer, and he wished him every comfort in his well-deserved rest. Superintendent Handley thanked the bench for their kind words. lie hid always endeavoured to do his duty and was glad to think that his services had been appreciated.
Death.
The 1922 Electoral Roll shows Charles and Sophia had moved from the Police Station and were now living at The Briers,14, Watton Road, Ware and they remained there until Charles died on the 14th May 1924. He was buried on the 19th May 1924 in plot PC36 at Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead.
In the 1939 Register Sophia was recorded as living at 1 Warner Road, Ware. The 1956 Pension Assessment form shows her at the same address. She died in 1960 at Hemel Hempstead.
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