William James Hands

Story:
William James Hands was born in Ilchester, Somerset, on 9 Oct 1889 the son of Edwin James Hands and Letitia Mary Hands (nee Lemon).  He lived his early life in Ilchester until by 1911 he was boarding in Enstone, Oxfordshire, where he was employed as a Grocer.  Prior to the outbreak of WW1 he had moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset, and took up employment with the local firm of Stratton, Sons & Mead working as a Grocer.  He had enlisted and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No 1722).  He served in Egypt where the Yeomanry was absorbed into the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 230909).  He died in Egypt on 28 Nov 1917 and was buried at the Kantara Military Memorial Cemetery (Grave ref. F.80.).  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  His name appears on the WW1 Memorial in Ilchester, Somerset, as well as on his employer's Roll of Honour.