Copy of a letter sent by Lydia, second wife of Edward, after the decease of the later in 1839.
Lydia Handfield, widow of the late Commander Edward Handfield of the Royal Navy begs to most respectively submit the following statement of services of her late husband in the hope that they will entitle his children to the favourable consideration of the Lords Commissionners of the Admiralty.
Commander Edward Handfield entered the Naval Service in December 1804 on board the H.M.S. Pomone under the successive commands of Captains Lobb and Barrie and was during five years repeatedly most actively employed in her boats against the ennemy on the coasts of France, Spain, Italy and Africa.
In September 1810 when Midshipman of H.M.S. Topas, Captain Hope, being attached to the Army under the Command of Major General Lord Blaney on South Coast of Spain, he re-took the British colors which had been captured by the French. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in August 1811 and in the Phipps Schooner, off the coast of France, boarded and carried Le Cerf, a french Privateer, on which occasion he was wounded in the head.
He subsequently, in the H.M.S. Ganon, then in the Herald, Captain Milward, was employed in the Blockade of New Orleans.In June 1813 when in command of a division of the boats in an attack on a brig of 16 guns and five armed schooners (pirates) off the coast of Louisianna, he received a severe wound in the left shoulder, which injured the socket and fracture the left clavicle. August following, his wound still open, he was again employed in the boats in pursuit of a vessel in the River Mississipi and was for twelve weeks separated from his ship, during which time, he attacked and captured two American armed schooners and experienced the greatest privation, being for four days without food, exposed to a violent hurricane in which he lost one of his boats.
At the solicitation of His Excellency A. Cameron, Governor of the Bahamas, he sailed in the above schooner to the relief of a detachment of the 2nd West India Regiment stationed at Sandy Key.
The difficulties he surmounted in removing these men from their perilous situation met with the unqualified approbation of Governor Cameron but his constitution was so reduced by excessive fatigue and exertion that he was obliged to quit the Herald and remain on shore at New Providence.
When re-established, he volunteered his sevices to Captain Umferville, the Senior Officer and was sent in command of the Brig Florida, 10 guns, with despatches and supplies of arms etc. for the Squadron and Army before New Orleans under Sir A. Cochrane.
He afterwards served in the Inconstant, Sir G. Leo, on the coast of Africa for two years where his constitution suffered severely.
In June 1820, he was appointed to the Revolutionaire in the Mediterranean, subsequently to the Pandora, from which he was transferred to the H.M.S. Blanche, Captain Mendes, and served in the Brazil and Pacific, having been actively employed for 22 years (15 as a Lieutenant) he was promoted to the rank of Commander and appointed to H.M.S. Sloop Jasiur, which he commanded for two years on the South American Station and paid off in March 1828, receiving testimonials of the efficiency of that ship, both as to the Great Gun and Sword Exercise from Sir R. Otway and Lord Northesk.
In July 1832, he was appointed Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, stationed at Connemara, afterwards removed to Dundalk and during three years service received the unqualified approbation of both the Comptrollers and Inspector General.
Commander Edward Handfield having no private fortune, his pay barely sufficient for the maintenance of his numerous family, his children are now destitute and his widow earnestly commends them to the favourable consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
I am with much respect Your Lordships most obedient servant, Lydia Handfield.