Family

Born in Skegness, Lincolnshire to a long-established Lincolnshire family, he lived in Winthorpe and Wainfleet,^[4] Lincolnshire. In 1891 he became a baker boy, he worked and lodged in Lumley Road, Skegness.^[5]

He lived with his father John Handsley, a fisherman, and his mother Rebecca Raithby. He was the middle son of three boys. His elder brother Charles John Henry and younger brother Fred. Following the death of his mother in 1883, his father continued to raise the children until Jesse joined the Navy in 1894.

It is likely that the children were educated, as it was noted that most of the men on Discovery could read and write.^[6] Their father John had to make his mark on his marriage certificate, but both Charles and Jesse signed their marriage certificates.

Charles was named as next of kin when Jesse joined Discovery.^[7]

Early naval career

Handsley, who enlisted in the Royal Navy at the age of 15 in 1891, finished his basic training in January 1893. At 18, he enlisted for 12 years of duty in 1894. By 1895, he had completed his training to become an able seaman and was certified as a Seaman Gunner.

His service number was 164549.

Table 1: Demographic characters

Table 2: Training

Table 3: Service at Sea

• His service records did not show the reason for his punishment. Days in cell punishment did not count towards time in the service, Jesse signed up for 12 years of continuous service from his 18th birthday but would have to serve 12 years and 24 days.

• He was roused half an hour early for being in the 2nd class for conduct,^[8] given extra work, reduced pay, only allowed shore leave once a month and his tot of rum (daily allowance since his 20th birthday) was stopped. He lost another two pence a day from his pay for the disqualification of his Seaman Gunner.

Expedition of the Heroic Age

The Discovery Expedition was undertaken during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Setting sail in 1901, Discovery arrived in Antarctica in early 1902 establishing a base at McMurdo Sound. The purpose of the expedition was to undertake scientific and exploratory research and sledging journeys.

A hut (known as the Discovery Hut) was erected, intended as accommodation for the men but it proved to be too cold so the ship became their living quarters and base camp.

Around a dozen names have been found at the Discovery Hut, among these are Weller, Cross and Handsley, all from Scott's original Discovery expedition.

On the voyage to Antarctica, sea water seeped into the ship's hold and a well-received joke during a show put on in the Discovery Hut was "What vegetable did the Discovery bring from England'?", "The Dundee Leak".^[9] The condition of food stored in the hold was checked daily. During the winter of 1902, the ship became frozen into the ice. The relief ship SY Morning arrived with supplies and several of Discovery's crew returned to England aboard the Morning, although the majority remained and the expedition was extended for another season.

In late 1903 the Morning returned with the Terra Nova with explicit orders to bring back all the expedition members if the Discovery could not be freed. The Discovery crew sighted the two relief ships on 5 January 1904.

Scott and his crew did not relish the prospect of abandoning Discovery,^[10] their home for the last three years and set about releasing her with renewed efforts. Discovery finally broke free and the three ships left Antarctica together.

The voyage from Antarctica was fraught with danger but the expedition finally reached London and the crew were welcomed as heroes. They were viewed as pilgrims of the historic age.

The Discovery, built in Dundee, had many uses in later years including use by the Boy Scouts/Sea Cadets. The ship was saved from the bbreaker'syard in 1979 and restored and is now the centrepiece of Dundee's visitor attraction at Discovery Point, Dundee.

The crew

Of the 48 crew members, all but two returned home.

Handsley joined the expedition by fate, volunteering following a tragic accident^[11][12] when Charles Bonner fell from above the crows nest to his death whilst Discovery was leaving Littleton, New Zealand, he was relieved from his naval duties on HMS Ringarooma.

The other tragedy of the expedition occurred in Antarctica when George Vince slid to his death over a precipice into the water^[13] whilst wearing fur boots which were the wrong type of footwear for the conditions.^[14] A cross still stands to his memory on the summit of Hut Point.

Tom Crean (explorer), also a volunteer from the Ringarooma, was a member of three major Antarctic expeditions including Scott's fatal expedition to reach the South Pole (1911–1913).

Handsley joined two other Lincolnshire men on the expedition:

Reginald Skelton born at Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, supervised the building of Discovery and was Chief Engineer and official photographer on the expedition.

Arthur Harry Blissett born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, (Royal Marine) was a ward room steward and domestic on the expedition. Arthur completed 30 days of sledging and undertook research into Emperor penguins. Arthur got married at Littleton and returned with his new bride to England until emigrating to New Zealand in 1922.

In 1904, the Polar Medal was inaugurated for members of the expedition. Bronze Polar Medals were awarded to members of the crew who returned home on the Morning, Silver Polar Medals were awarded to those who served for the full term of the expedition, with Gold Medals being presented to those with outstanding achievements on the expedition. It was also awarded to the crews of both rescue ships, Terra Nova and Morning.

Handsley’s contribution

Handsley undertook several sledging journeys spending a total of 153 days man-hauling sledges.^[3]

From the record of medals (Royal Geographical Society):^[3]

"Always willing, always obliging and very zealous"

(1) 3 February 1902. Handsley journeyed over the barrier with a partyledd by Lieutenant Armitage,^[15] under instruction to return within 24 hours. In the haste to leave, a tent was left behind and 5 of the party of 6 occupied a 3-man tent whilst the 6th, Bernacchi, slept outside. The surveying party left the next morning, and Handsley, who was not yet adept on skis returned to camp after 11 miles. By the time the party arrived back at Discovery ,they had learnt a great deal more about the barrier.

(2) With Lieutenant Barne

(3) 29 November 1902 to 19 January 1903 - Armitage reached the summit of Victoria Land on his 2nd attempt.^[16] A surveying party of 21 men, made up of two parties. The Main Western Party (12 men including Handsley) with 10 sledges and over 1,300 lbs of food, less than 2 ½ lbs per man per day and the Western Support Party (9 men). On 15 December they started a descent, lowering sledges down a 40° slope, some of the party losing control, Handsley and Walker brought down their 9ft sledge without incident following in the tracks of the others. Christmas lunch was Welsh rarebit and bacon on biscuits. They reached the summit on 28 December and returned to Discovery on 19 January 1903.

(Not shown in table) 9 September 1903. Scott, Skelton, Daily, Evans, Lashly and Handsley form a party to find a new road to the Ferrar Glacier and place a depot ready for a great western journey over the ice cap.^[17]

The party encountered a blizzard and delayed reaching the New Harbour until 13 September. They spent an anxious night on the 14th when temperatures dropped to -49°. By 16 September they reached Cathedral Rocks, deposited provisions and set out for home, the temperature had fallen below -50° each night, they reached Discovery on 20 September 1903.

(4) 12 October 1903 – 12 men – Journey to Summit of Victoria Land and as far as could be reached in the time limit. The advance party were to proceed and the remainder to turn back.^[18] The parties would pick up food from the depot at Cathedral Rocks. They reached the Knob Head Moraine in 6 days, making better progress than the 27 days it had taken Armitage's party in September 1903.

(5) 22 November 1903 the party split and Handsley, who was used to working at sea level, had been undertaking work at (∓) 8,500 feet,^[19] was suffering at the high altitude with his chest.^[20] Scott praised him for his determination to carry on saying "they won't give in till they break down, and then they consider their collapse disgraceful", but it was decided that he and two others would return to Discovery whilst Scott, Evans and Lashly would continue on, returning to Discovery on Christmas Eve.^[21] where they found Jess still recovering^[22]

Escape from the ice. 31 December 1903 - Handsley was now recovered and joined the sawing camp which was set up to saw through the great ice-sheet which intervened between the Discovery and the sea.^[23] Due to conditions the sawing had to begin in the middle of the ice sheet, not at the edge. Work had been ongoing for 10 days, the 30 men were working in temperatures of up to -36° and sleeping in tents. To make a channel a mile in length they had to cut through four miles of ice. Twenty miles of ice still encased Discovery.

Scott decided that they should prepare for another winter and Handsley with three others set about raids on the penguins to ensure a winter food stock. On 28 January 1903, Discovery started creaking and moving in the ice and on 5 February, Scott decided to use explosives to free her. By 15 February, the Morning and the Terra Nova break through and lie almost side by side with Discovery,^[24] and on 16 February Discovery was freed.

Postings

Following the Discovery Expedition, Handsley was given advancement to Petty Officer 1st class without going through the intermediate rate of Leading Seaman.

Promotions and conduct

Handsley's conduct was assessed each year, mostly as good, but he served at least two sessions of cell punishment during his 23 years service^[27] He was awarded two good conduct badges but was deprived of them both before having them both restored. It took him 17 years to get his third badge, 5 years longer than the usual 12 years. His service record does show that his conduct was assessed as very good towards the end of his tragically short life.