Charles Reginald Handfield (26 August 1878 – 6 May 1915) was an Australian-born South African first-class cricketer and soldier.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Charles Reginald Handfield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1878-08-26)26 August 1878 South Yarra, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 6 May 1915(1915-05-06) (aged 36) Gibeon, German West Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1909 | Transvaal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 1 August 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Handfield was born in South Yarra in August 1878 and was educated at Malvern Grammar School, where he was the captain of the cricket and football teams.[1][2] After graduating in 1901, he and his brother George emigrated to South Africa, where he joined the 1st Imperial Light Horse on the outbreak of the Second Boer War.[1] He served in the Orange Free State and Transvaal and was promoted to corporal in 1902.[1]
Handfield appeared in one first-class Currie Cup cricket match for Transvaal against Border on 23 March 1909.[3] During the match, which took place at the Newlands Rugby Ground, Handfield caught Charles Johnson and Norman Norton and scored 5 runs before being bowled by Arthur Sprenger.[4]
At the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Handfield enlisted in the Natal Light Horse, once again with the rank of corporal.[1] The regiment was engaged in the South West Africa campaign, in which they were pushing German forces into German West Africa.[1] Handfield was wounded in action during a battle at Gibeon on 27 April 1915 and died of his wounds on 7 May.[1][2] He is buried at the Gibeon Station Cemetery.[5]