MEDAL AWARDED
Must older Renfrew residents know Dr. H.L. (Herb) Handford as the kind, gentle and highly professional family doctor that he was for many years, prior to his illness and subsequent retirement from practice some years ago.
Many younger Renfrew residents may not know he won the Military Cross for distinguished service during World War 2.
Herb Handford was born October 16, 1913, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. A.L. (Gus) Handford. He had an older brother Edward and a sister Lillian.
Alter graduating from RCI he entered Queen’s University in the fall of 1934 and graduated with a degree in Medicine in 1940. He took his internship training at Saratoga Springs and did post graduate work at London University.
Dr. Handford enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps on June 4, 1940 and in 1942 he was sent from Canada to England to act as Liaison Officer for the 3rd Field Ambulance Corps. He served with the British Army in North Africa with the 153rd Field Ambulance for four months.
From North Africa, Major Handford returned to England and prepared the 3rd Field Ambulance Corps for their landing in Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1945. Major Handford was part of the second medical team to land with the invasion force, their objective was Calais.
It was for this D-Day and similar war services and that Major Handford was later presented with the Military Cross. His citation reads as follows:
“This officer landed on D-Day in charge of a Field Ambulance Company in support of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade. For the succeeding 72 hours he arranged evacuation from the Brigade Group, carrying on under intense fire.
On 18 July 1944, while in charge of A Company of a Field Ambulance, on his own initiative he organized a method of evacuation for casualties across a river when the normal means was impossible. This he did while the area was under aerial bombardment without regard for his own safety. By his action he saved many lives and contributed greatly to the efficiency of the Brigade by quickly clearing casualties. In this way he made a definite contribution to the success of the operation.
The Company commanded by Major Handford was again subjected to intense fire from artillery and bombing at Cormelles during the period of 23 to 25 July 1944 when this officer, by his coolness and resourcefulness, maintained a most efficient casualty clearing post which continued to operate and quickly evacuated casualties from the danger area.”
After winning one of the highest honours given for military service, Major Handford was honorably discharged from the Canadian Army on July 5, 1945 and returned to Canada where he interned at the Montreal General Hospital.
He married the former Margaret Lockwood of Renfrew on January 16, 1945 and returned to Renfrew to set up practice with his brother on September 6, 1946.
Dr. and Mrs. Handford have three children, Kathryn, Herb Jr, Grace and grandchildren.
Information provided by Miss Lillian Handford and from Dr. Handford’s niece, Dianne Lockwood, from research she completed for a school biography project.
The Renfrew Mercury, Renfrew, Ontario — Nov 11, 1987