The Family members who served in the First World War

The story of the many soldiers from the family who took up arms in the First World War

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A Throw of the Dice

The male members of the family who happen to have been born between about 1890 and 1900, were, in all probability, destined for the horrors of industrial war in the second decade of the twentieth century. A table of those who served summarises the forty members of our family, who served in the First World War.

Rudyard Kipling, after the death of his son at the Battle of Loos, mourned If any question why we died, Tell them, because our fathers lied. Wilfred Owen denounced the Roman poet Horace’s patriotic maxim, Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori, It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country as the old Lie. The Great War still haunts the British memory. 750,000 lives, one in three of all British males aged 19 to 22 in 1914, were lost and nine million soldiers died in Europe. It was a struggle for freedom, and HG Wells’ War that would end all wars.

There was certainly heroism. For all the horrors, there were acts of self-sacrifice, often by soldiers who just happened to be born at a certain time, and to find themselves in a certain place. This part of our family story is a poignant one and the actions and memories of these members of our family, some of whom did not have the chance to live longer lives, are an integral part of this history. It was Charles Dickens in a Tale of Two Cities, who wrote, I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy, in that England which I shall see no more. It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known. Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) wrote They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam.

There was little choice, but when faced with unspeakable challenges, these were ancestors who were called on to show courage, and did so.

The Leeds Pal

Private (later Lance Corporal) George Weighill Farndale, the son of Thomas and Mary Hannah (nee Weighill) Farndale was born at Whitkirk, Leeds in 1886. By 1911, he was working as a warehouseman in the Hunslet area of Leeds. He was a member of the Colton Institute, which is a cricket club in Leeds. He also worked for Messrs Ashworth, Brown, and company, of St Pauls Street in Leeds who were silk and woollen goods retailers. The family lived at Whitkirk and Colton, which are adjoining districts at the eastern edge of modern Leeds.

George served with 15th Battalion (1^st Leeds), The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), known as the Leeds Pals. The Battalion was formed in Leeds in September 1914 by the Lord Mayor. In June 1915, the Battalion came under orders of 93^rd Brigade, and 31^st Division. There were two Bradford Pals Battalions that made up 93^rd Brigade with the Leeds Pals. In December 1915 the Battalion went to Egypt to defend the Suez Canal from the threat of the Ottoman Empire, and then deployed to France in March 1916 to join the British build up for the Battle of the Somme. George arrived in Egypt on 22 December 1915 before moving to France a few months later.

On the first day on the Somme, on 1 July 1916, the 31st Division attacked towards the village of Serre and the Leeds Pals advanced from a line of copses named after the Gospels. The battalion was shelled in its trenches before Zero Hour at 07.30 hours and when it advanced, it was met by heavy machine gun fire. A few men got as far as the German barbed wire but no further. Later in the morning the German defenders came out to clear the bodies off their wire, killing any that were still alive. The battalion casualties, sustained in the few minutes after Zero, were 24 officers and 504 other ranks, of which 15 officers and 233 other ranks were killed. Private A.V. Pearson, of the Leeds Pals later wrote, the name of Serre and the date of 1st July is engraved deep in our hearts, along with the faces of our 'Pals', a grand crowd of chaps. We were two years in the making and ten minutes in the destroying. John Harris' novel Covenant With Death is a fictional account of a private in the Sheffield City Battalion from their formation until the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

George was wounded in July 1916, presumably in the Somme offensive. He seems to have been relatively lucky but what horrors he witnessed can only be imagined. On Tuesday ten more wounded soldiers arrived at Portal. They are all most cheerful. They were conveyed from Chester Station by motor cars, kindly lent by the Honourable Mrs Marshall Brooks, Mrs Gordon Houghton, Mr Broughton, Mr G Bebington. Sister Searl met them at the station. Another employee of Messrs Ashworth, Brown, and company wounded is Private G W Farndale, whose home is at Colton. His wound is in the shoulder. He is in hospital at Tarporley, Cheshire.

The hospital at Tarporley in Cheshire, later a cottage hospital founded in 1919, was originally a Red Cross Hospital in the First World War which had cared for injured soldiers from October 1914 when local stalwarts the Honourable and Mrs Marshall Brooks were determined the village should have its own hospital. George was on a list of wounded under a Roll of Honour in August 1916, W Yorks, Farndale (319), G.

A year later, 15/319 Lance Corporal George Farndale was Killed in Action, aged 30, in France on 3 May 1917, serving with the Leeds Pals. He is commemorated at Bay 4, the Arras Memorial, France.

Among the Leeds men who had fallen in action are the following. Lance Corporal G W Farndale, the only son of Mr Thomas Farndale, of Colton. The Toll of War in Yorkshire. Brave ones who have fallen in the fight. The following casualties were also reported to Leeds men. Lance Corporal G Weighill Farndale, killed, of Colton. Lance Corporal George W Farndale, only son of Mr and Mrs Farndale, of Colton, died whilst on active service on April 30^th. The deceased, who was in the West Yorkshire Regiment, was well known in the district.

George is listed in an alphabetical list of the Leeds Pals.

For much of the war, the opposing armies on the Western Front had been at stalemate, with a continuous line of trenches from the Belgian coast to the Swiss border. The Allied objective from early 1915 was to break through the German defences into the open ground beyond and engage the numerically inferior German Army, the Westheer, in a war of movement. The British attack at Arras was part of the French Nivelle Offensive, the main part of which was the Second Battle of the Aisne. The aim of the French offensive was to break through the German defences in forty-eight hours. At Arras the Canadians were to re-capture Vimy Ridge, dominating the Douai Plain to the east, advance towards Cambrai and divert German reserves from the French front.

The French handed over Arras to Commonwealth forces in the spring of 1916 and the system of tunnels upon which the town is built were used and developed in preparation for the major offensive planned for April 1917. The Second Battle of Arras was the same British offensive during which George Farndale had been killed twenty four days before his kinsman George Weighill Farndale. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British troops attacked German defences near the French city of Arras on the Western Front. The British achieved the longest advance since trench warfare had begun, surpassing the record set by the French Sixth Army on 1 July 1916. The British advance slowed in the next few days and the German defence recovered. The battle became a costly stalemate for both sides and by the end of the battle, the British Third and First Army had suffered about 160,000 and the German 6th Army about 125,000 casualties.

The British effort was an assault on a relatively broad front between Vimy In the north-west and Bullecourt to the south-east. After a long preparatory bombardment, the Canadian Corps of the First Army in the north fought the Battle of Vimy Ridge and took the ridge. The Third Army in the centre advanced astride the Scarpe River and in the south, the British Fifth Army attacked the Hindenburg Line, Siegfriedstellung, but made few gains. The British armies then engaged in a series of small operations to consolidate the new positions. Although these battles were generally successful in achieving limited aims, they came at considerable cost.

The Third Battle of the Scarpe took place on 3 to 4 May 1917. Having survived the Somme offensive, George was ordered forward once again. After securing the area around Arleux at the end of April, the British determined to launch another attack east from Monchy to try to break through the Boiry Riegel and reach the Wotanstellung, a major German defensive fortification. This was scheduled to coincide with the Australian attack at Bullecourt to present the Germans with a two–pronged assault. British commanders hoped that success in this venture would force the Germans to retreat further to the east. With this objective in mind, the British launched another attack near the Scarpe on 3 May. However, neither prong was able to make any significant advances and the attack was called off the following day after incurring heavy casualties. Although this battle was a failure, the British learned important lessons about the need for close liaison between tanks, infantry and artillery, which they would use in the Battle of Cambrai, 1917.

Front lines at Arras prior to the attack

The Third Battle of the Scarpe on 3 to 4 May 1917 was an unmitigated disaster for the British Army which suffered nearly 6,000 men killed for little material gain.

First Battle of Scarpe The Arras Offensive

When the battle officially ended on 16 May, the British had made significant advances but had been unable to achieve a breakthrough. New tactics and the equipment to exploit them had been used. To some extent, the British had absorbed the lessons of the Battle of the Somme. They had learnt how to mount set-piece attacks against fortified field defences. After the Second Battle of Bullecourt between 3 and 17 May 1917, the Arras sector became a quiet front, that typified most of the war in the west, except for attacks on the Hindenburg Line and around Lens, culminating in the Canadian Battle of Hill 70 from 15 to 25 August.

George Weighill Farndale was awarded the Victory Medal, British war Medal, 15 Star. He is buried and commemorated at the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. The Arras Memorial is in the Faubourg-d’Amiens Cemetery, which is in the Boulevard du General de Gaulle in the western part of the town of Arras. The cemetery is near the Citadel, about two kilometres west of the railway station.

The Commonwealth section of the Faubourg-d’Amiens Cemetery was begun in March 1916, behind the French military cemetery established earlier. It continued to be used by field ambulances and fighting units until November 1918. The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields and from two smaller cemeteries in the vicinity. The cemetery contains 2,651 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.

The Arras Memorial commemorates almost 34,738 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918 and have no known grave. The main events of this period were the Arras offensive of April to May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918.

George W Farndale, is also remembered on the Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church, Whitkirk, now southeast Leeds. There is also a memorial at Temple Newsam, West Yorkshire.

The Quiet and Gentle Boy

G333852 Private George Farndale was born in Egton in 1891, the youngest son of John Farndale, a Deputy in an ironstone mine, and Susannah, nee Smith, Farndale. The family soon moved to Loftus, and by 1911, then aged 20, George was a blacksmith striker. He was an assistant to a blacksmith and his work often involved swinging the heavy sledgehammer and striking the hot iron in the metal forging process. He also worked for an ironmonger. He enlisted on 9 February 1916, probably into the one of the Yorkshire Regiments at Whitby, but was transferred to the Highland Light Infantry on 1 May 1916.

On Sunday 8 April 1917, he wrote to his sister, en route France.

Dear Sister

Just a line to tell you that I arrived at Folkestone at 7 o clock this morning and I am in a rest camp now waiting of a ship. It is quite a fine place here. I think we shall leave here at 10.45 am for the ship which I think will take us to Boulogne where we will stay over night. I got a very decent breakfast here and had an extra tea before we left Catterick. They also gave us 20 packet of cigarettes each. Well tat-ta for the present will write you again as soon as possible.

With Love Geo

On 19 April 1917, he wrote another letter to his sister.

Dear Sister

Received letter on Tuesday last and parcel today. I must say the parcel was extra. The cake is excellent, also must say that you could not have sent a more suitable parcel. Well I must send you my sincere thanks for your kindness also for writing to the Girl. I am sorry I had to send home for some money, but I only get 5 francs here, and I want to get some of those French cards to send you as I know you would like some of them. I am pleased to hear you are all keeping well. I wrote to the Girl on Sunday so I am expecting to hear from her anytime. Will you send me one of your photos as I would like one with me out here, please put your name on it. Remember me to all and Give them my best respects, also down John St. How is Father keeping hope he isn’t worrying about me as I am alright. Well I think this is about all I have to say so I must draw to a close thanking you once again for parcel also hoping to hear from you again soon. Well tud-a-lu

With Love

from Your Loving Bro Geo.

P.S. I am not afraid about the watch and parcel, as I know the young man I left with is honest and straight in every way, and I told him he wasn’t to go down special with it, he was to post it anytime when he was going to town.

With Love again

Geo.

By 24 April 1917, he was expecting to move up to the front line as he wrote to his sister again, accompanied by a standard form.

Dear Annie

I am just sending you a line to tell you that I am in a draft and expecting to go out any day. If you haven’t wrote and sent the things I asked for don’t trouble, as I may be gone before they arrive and I sharn’t be able to take them with me. If I should be here over the weekend I will write you again on Sunday if not I will try and send you a line before I leave. I have got all my kit ready for going but I don’t think I shall go before Saturday or Monday. Well be sure and don’t worry about me and tell Father not to, as I shall be alright, and I must say before I go that you and Father have been very kind to me as I never wanted for anything and I must say you have done more than your duty towards me. Of course it may be weeks before I go into the trenches as am sure to be kept at the base for a week or two. If I should send for anything when I get to France, be sure and register it, as it will make it more sure of me receiving it. Well don’t write any more until you hear from me again and don’t think anything is wrong if you don’t hear from me for a short time, but I promise you to write you as soon as I possibly can. Well this is all I have time to say just now, so I will now close, trusting this finds you all well. Remember me to all. Well be sure and don’t worry about me, and look on the bright side of it as I shall soon be back again.

With Love, From Your Loving Bro Geo

PS. If the writing pad comes I will give it to some of the boys as it won’t be worth sending it back. I shall very possibly be sending some shirts home.

A month after writing to his sister, on 20 May 2017, George was involved in an attack when we went over and took the German front line trench, which we held for 2 days and then were relieved. He was with his mate, Private R Sellers that day.

George was killed in action a week later on 27 May 1917, aged 26, while serving with the 1^st/9^th (Territorial Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry which was part of 100^th Infantry Brigade of 33^rd Infantry Division in operations against the Hindenburg Line, during the Battle of Arras, barely a month after arriving in France. He was struck in the trenches by a German mortar round, and killed instantly. This was twenty four days after his kinsman, George Weighill Farndale, had been killed in the same offensive. George was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

The Highland Light Infantry Regiment raised a total of 26 Battalions, these included 3 pals battalions which were formed as part of Lord Darby’s scheme. The Glasgow battalions were not pals battalions and they had nicknames for each other. The 15^th was the Boozy First, the 16^th, the Holy Second and the 17^th, the Featherbeds. The Regiment was awarded 65 Battle Honours and 7 Victoria Crosses losing 10,030 men during the course of the war.

1/9^th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion Territorial force in April 1914 had been stationed in Glasgow as part of the H.L.I. Brigade of the Lowland Division before they moved to Dunfermline. In November 1914, they mobilised for war and landed in France and transferred to the 5^th Brigade of the 2^nd Division and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including the Battle of Festubert and the Battle of Loos. In 1916 they were engaged at the Battle of Albert, the Battle of Bazentin, the attacks on High Wood, and the capture of Boritska and Dewdrop Trenches.

Then in 1917, the Battalion took part in the First and Second Battle of the Scarpe.

Between 9 April and 16 June 1917 the British were called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive as part of the Arras offensive. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe were encouraging, but the offensive, often known as the Battle of Arras, soon became bogged down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt proved costly.

British troops moving up to the trenches near Arras, 29 April 1917 The Battle of Arras April to May 1917

George is buried at Bay 8, Arras Memorial. He is also commemorated at the War Memorial at East Loftus on the junction of High Street and Water Lane behind the town hall at St Leonard’s Church, Water Lane, Loftus. Mr. John Farndale, 10, Cleveland St, Broughton, has received official intimation that his son, Private George Farndale, Highland Light Infantry, was killed in action on May 27^th. Previous to joining the colours he was employed by Mr J D Robinson, ironmonger, Loftus. He was 26 years of age and enlisted on 9^th February, 1916. He had only four month’s service on the Western Front, the remainder of his soldiering career having been spent in England.

George’s father received the news on 2 June 1917, accompanied by a rather less formal account from one of George’s pals.

France, 2/6/17

Dear Mr Farandale

I deeply regret to inform you of the death in Action of your son 333852 Pte G Farandale on 27^th May. He was a good soldier and a popular fellow, beloved by us all and our deepest sympathy goes out to you and yours at this time.

Believe me, Yours truly, D W Greenhulds, 2Lt, 9^th HLI.

June 2^nd/6/17

Dear Friend

It is with deep regret I inform you that your Bro George was killed on the 27^th May. He had just gone into the trenches the previous night and before it was properly daylight a German trench mortar came over and struck George death being instantaneous. I have know George for a good long time and he was a fine pal. He was in the Yorks at Hartlepool when I was, and we were transferred to 2/9^th HLI together May 1^st/16. It was New Years time when I mist him as he was sent to Scotland and I was left with Batt. Eventually I came out to France in Feb and it was there at the base I met him again and we have been together practically all the time. I was next to him on the 20^th/5/17 when we went over and took the German front line trench, which we held for 2 days and then were relieved. You have my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement and hope you will find consolation in knowing that he died faithfully doing his duty. The officer got his pay book and pocket wallet which I expect will be sent on to you.

Yours Sincerely

R Sellars

332854 Pte R Sellars 9^th H.L.I. Glasgow Highlanders

C. Company 11 platoon.

B.E.F. France.

Another letter followed to George’s sister. It was sent from Shingle Hall in Hertfordshire which operated as an aircraft landing ground from April 1916 until November 1918, and it seems that George had some involvement with Shingle Hall before he went to France. He may have worked there, as part of an agricultural contingent before he joined the army. This letter was perhaps from the mysterious Girl who George referred to in his letter of 19 April 1917, so perhaps this was a girl he had met when working at Shingle Hall before joining the army.

Shingle Hall, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. Thursday

Dear Miss Farndale:-

I am deeply grieved on hearing from you yesterday morning that dear George has been killed in action, and all at Shingle Hall including myself wish to express our deepest sympathy with you all in this dark hour of sadness.

It was an awful blow to me dear, and is one that I shall never forget. He was such a nice quiet and gentle boy and was very much liked by all who knew him in Sawbridgeworth, and no fellow could not think so much of a girl as your dear brother did of me, and had he been spared to come back safely we intended getting married. I don’t know if he ever spoke about it to you.

It will be awfully kind of you to copy those letters for me and shall be most pleased to receive them.

Yes dear, I will see about another doz. P.cs. being copied and will write and let you know, as I shall be only too pleased to do anything for you, for the sake of the dear one I have just lost.

He sent me the Yorkshire badge (as he said no one else should have it but me) also the cap badge of the H.L.I. and bought me a small regimental brooch of the H.L.I. so I shall always think of the dear boy.

Now dear Miss Farndale I will draw to a close trusting you will all accept our deepest sympathy once more.

With fondest love hoping to hear from you again soon

I remain

Your sincere Friend

Dolly.

P.S. Please excuse pencil.

The Canadian

104060 Private William Farndale, was the ninth child of twelve of Martin and Catherine Farndale, born at Tidkinhow Farm on 29 January 1892. We met the Tidkinhow family in Act 25. He is my great uncle. His parents called him William after the child who had died in infancy, two years before. He left school at 14 in 1905 and became an apprentice butcher in Saltburn with a Mr Ormsby. He then served in a butcher's shop. Later he had a butchers shop in Charltons which he shared with his elder brother Jim, who we will meet again shortly. They then took another butcher’s shop in Commondale. They began with a share in a bullock with a man in Guisborough who had a slaughter house. Later they were selling three bullocks a week and were well remembered in their horse drawn delivery van. His brother Alfred, who we will also meet again shortly, remembered him at their mother's funeral on 14 July 1911, as William consoled him.

William, sitting on the right, with his brothers at Tidkinhow in 1911. Jim is sitting on the left. Alfred is the small boy standing between them

William emigrated to Alberta in Canada in about 1913, following his brothers. We met the Alberta emigrants in Act 27. He then moved to Earl Grey near Regina, in Saskatchewan in 1914 and continued his trade as a butcher.

William in about 1914

He joined the Canadian Army on 19 April 1916 at Regina, Saskatchewan and went to France. He served with the Canadian Army, with the 28th Saskatchewan Regiment.

28^th Battalion (Northwest) of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was authorised on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 29 May 1915. It disembarked in France on 18 September 1915, where it fought as part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division, in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The Battalion originally recruited in Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and Fort William and Port Arthur, now Thunder Bay, Ontario and was mobilised at Winnipeg, Manitoba.

His younger brother Alfred, who he has consoled at their mother’s funeral in 1911, had already joined to British Army in late 1915, though strictly, he was a little younger than he should have been. His older brother, Jim, who had moved on from Canada to the United States, joined the US Army in 1917, shortly after the USA joined to conflict. Three brothers, served in three different armies, for the common cause.

William was wounded in action at Vimy Ridge on 13 December 1916 while serving with the 28th Battalion. He took a gunshot wound in the right forearm and was in hospital in Epsom, in England. The Ottowa press on 19 December 1916 reported simply, Wounded, Pte W Farndale, England.

The strategic escarpment known as Vimy Ridge was a focus of fighting from early in the War. In 1915, the French suffered some 150,000 casualties in their attempts to gain control of Vimy Ridge and surrounding territory. The French Tenth Army was relieved in February 1916 by the British when the French transferred to join in the Battle of Verdun. The British soon discovered that German tunnelling companies had taken advantage of the relative calm on the surface to build an extensive network of tunnels and deep mines from which they would attack allied positions by setting off explosive charges underneath their trenches. The Royal Engineers sent specialist tunnelling companies to the ridge to combat the German mining operations and German artillery and trench mortar fire intensified in early May 1916.

The Canadian Corps relieved IV Corps along the western slopes of Vimy Ridge in October 1916. On 28 May 1916, Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng took command of the Canadian Corps from Lieutenant-General Sir Edwin Alderson. Discussions for a spring offensive near Arras began, following a formal conference of corps commanders held at the First Army Headquarters on 21 November 1916.

Trench raiding involved making small-scale surprise attacks on enemy positions, often in the middle of the night for reasons of stealth. All belligerents employed trench raiding as a tactic to harass their enemy and gain intelligence. In the Canadian Corps trench raiding developed into a training and leadership-building mechanism. The size of a raid would normally be anything from a few men to an entire company, or more, depending on the size of the mission.

From December 1916 to March 1917, the Canadian Corps executed 55 separate trench raids. Competition between units even developed with units competing for the honour of the greatest number of prisoners captured or most destruction wrought. The policy of aggressive trench raiding was not without its cost. A large-scale trench raid on 13 February 1917, involving 900 men from the 4th Canadian Division, resulted in 150 casualties. An even more ambitious trench raid, using chlorine gas, on 1 March 1917, once again by the 4th Canadian Division, failed and resulted in 637 casualties including two battalion commanders and a number of company commanders killed.

Artillery fire at Vimy Ridge

When William was wounded on 13 December 1916, he later told his sister that he had four operations in two weeks.

In March 1917, the army HQ formally presented Byng with orders giving Vimy Ridge as the Canadian Corps objective for the Arras Offensive. The later Battle of Vimy Ridge fought from 9 to 12 April 1917, was part of the Battle of Arras, the same battle where the two George Farndales later fell. The 6^th Canadian Infantry Brigade formed the leading Brigade in the assault.

The details of his injury were later recorded. Loss of function, right arm, penetrating gun shot wound at forearm with compound comminuted fracture of radius, bullet entered inner surface of forearm, two inches below elbow, and passed directly through the arm, coming out on the other side, and splintering the radius in its passage. Severe inflammation of the arm followed, and inflammation, and sequestrum formed and was removed. Had erysipilis while in hospital, 23rd CC Station, 24th General Hospital (British) Etaples from 17 Jan to 23 April 1917, Reading War Hospital from 23 April to 12 July 1917, MC Hospital Epsom, since 12 July 1917, wounds all healed. The wound and exit wound shows the remains of a sinus from the radius not discharging now. Has wrist drop, and is wearing a dorsiflexion splint. Flexion and extension of elbow are greatly limited and pronation and supination are absolutely stopped, in a position of partial supination. Is otherwise normal.

Alfred, his younger brother, remembers asking for leave to visit him in hospital in Exeter, but since he was under orders himself for France, he was not allowed to go. Indeed later William went on leave to Trochu and Tidkinhow and the family remember questioning him about France and the fact that Alfred was, by then, in Ypres.

He wrote from hospital, almost certainly in 1917, to his sister Grace.

Left hand of course

Jan 12

Dear Sister

I will try and write to you. I find I am doing fairly well but I have got a very bad arm. I was hit with an explosive bullet which made a hole through two inches wide and broke both bones. They give me very little hope of my arm being any good but I hope it will not be so bad. I had an awful hard time in France. I had four operations in two weeks. They could not get it stopped bleeding and I got so weak that I could not feed myself. But I am alright now, but not able to get up yet for two weeks or so. I may have to have another operation. Not sure yet. Going to have my arm x-rayed shortly. I want you to write a letter for me to Sister Armstrong, 23 CCS, BEF, France. Give her my address and tell her I am getting along alright. This is not a very nice hospital, but good doctors. If you send a parcel, send me a toothbrush and hairbrush. I expect I will be here three months. I tried to get into Yorkshire so you could come and see me, but this is as far as I could get. If my arm does not get better it is likely I will get sent back to Canada in the Spring, but I will never see France any more. I am awful sorry that Alf had to go. If ever he gets to France I will want to go back again.

Your affectionate brother

W.F.

He was discharged from the Army at Calgary on 18 February 1918. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

After his return to Regina, he used his car to take patients to hospital during the great influenza epidemic of 1918. He caught the ‘flu while still weak from his wound and died at Earl Grey, Saskatchewan, Canada, aged 25 years on 23 November 1918. He was buried in Earl Grey, Saskatchewan.

William had been engaged to a girl in Earl Grey at the time of his death. She wrote to some members of the family but there was no trace of her since.

His memorial reads, Farndale. 28th. In Memory of Pte Wm Farndale, 28th Batt. UEF. Died Nov 26th 1918, aged 25 years. Erected by his fellow Comrades and the citizens of Earl Grey and district, in grateful recognition of his services to King and Country.

My Grandfather

83795 Private (later Acting Sergeant) Alfred Farndale enlisted into 88^th Training Reserve Battalion at Northallerton on 13 December 1915 and joined the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1916, but then volunteered for the Machine-Gun Corps and served on the front line with 239^th Company at Ypres in France until mid 1917 when he went to Mesopotamia and served in action there until the end of the war. He served in France, Iraq and India. He saw service with the colours from 6 December 1916 to 18 March 1920, three years and three months.

He later recalled, the war came in 1914 and I was just 17. I wanted to join up so I ran away and joined up at the local recruiting office at Northallerton, somewhere in South Parade I think. I joined the West Yorks but my father found out and said I was under age, which I was. The CO wanted me to stay on the band, but father wouldn’t hear of it and I came out. I remember being very proud of my first leave in uniform. Then one day they called for volunteers for the Machine-Gun Corps and I stepped forward. We went to Belton Park, near Grantham for training. I joined 239^th Company MGC and we were attached to the Middlesex Regiment.

Machine Gun Corps at Belton Park, Grantham in 1917

In 1917 we sailed for Calais and went to “Dickiebush” Camp. A MGC Transferral Oder showed him proceeding to the British Expeditionary Force in France on 12 July 1917. He embarked at Southampton on 13 July and disembarked at Le Havre on 17 July 1917, part of 239^th Company MGC BEF 13 July 1917. His Medical History Record showed he was 5 ft 6 ¼ inches height and 133 lbs. We were first in action at Westbrook and Polygon Wood. He saw service with the BEF for a three month period from 13 July to 13 October 1917.

The Battle of Pilckem Ridge from 31 July to 2 August 1917 was the opening attack of the Third Battle of Ypres in the First World War. In follow on operations by 4 August 1917, the Gheluvelt Plateau was a sea of mud, flooded shell craters, fallen trees and barbed wire. Troops were quickly tired by rain, mud, massed artillery bombardments and lack of food and water. A rapid relief of units spread the exhaustion through all the infantry, despite fresh divisions taking over. The Fifth Army bombarded the German defences from Polygon Wood to Langemarck but the German guns concentrated their fire on the Plateau. Low cloud and rain grounded British artillery-observation aircraft and many shells were wasted. The 25^th Division, 18^th (Eastern) Division and the German 54^th Division had taken over by 4 August but the German 52^nd Reserve Division was left in line; by zero hour on 10 August, both sides were exhausted. Some troops of the 18^th (Eastern) Division quickly reached their objectives but German artillery isolated those around Inverness Copse and Glencorse Wood. German counter-attacks recaptured the Copse and all but the north-west corner of Glencorse Wood by nightfall. The 25^th Division on the left reached its objectives by 5:30 a.m. and rushed the Germans in Westhoek. Both sides suffered many casualties during artillery bombardments and German counter-attacks.

Ypres, France, 1917 (Alfred centre, rear)

I remember an incident on the Menin Road galloping up with two limbers of ammunition towards the gun positions at Hooge. I was a Private but I was giving a lift to Quarter Master Sergeant Zaccarelli. The Germans started to shell us. They could clearly see us. I had one horse killed and I managed to cut him free and I then rode the other. Zaccarelli was killed; it was quite a party when I reported it. My Captain asked if there were any witnesses but there were none, otherwise I might have got something. I remember an officer coming up to me when we were under bombardment at Ypres and saying “How would you like to be in Saltburn now, Farndale?” We saw some action at Zonnebeke, Ploegstraat and Arras.

Then suddenly we were ordered to Marseilles and got on a troopship for Basra in Mesopotamia. He then saw service overseas Iraq and India from 14 October 1917 to 9 January 1920, a period of two years and three months. His later service was recorded with 239 Company in Mesopotamia. After about 14 days we were in the Suez Canal and then the Red Sea. We landed at Basra and marched to Kut-el-Amara as part of a force under General Maud to relieve Townsend. About the middle of 1918 the Turks surrendered. We hung around for quite a while. I cut my thumb on a bully beef tin and it got poisoned. I was in hospital in Kut when 239^th Company left for England. There is a record of an accidental injury and in a separate statement, he wrote While opening a tin of canned beef on 2 February 1919 at Baiju Station with Jack Knife, the knife slipped and cut my right thumb. A Farndale.

Alfred in Mesopotamia 1917 to 1918, a corporal and a sergeant

I eventually got to Mosul where I thought my unit was and met my platoon commander Lieutenant Pearson. He asked me where I had been and put me in charge of the officers mess. We had some Punjabi officers at the time and they used to knock me up to try to get whiskey! Later in 1918 we were ordered to Bombay. He was posted to 18^th Indian Divisional Battalion 10 January 1919 and to 17^th Indian Divisional Battalion 10 January 1920. I remember I had to take my stripes down on the troopship. We were sent up to the Afghan frontier for a while and we had quite a lot of trouble in the local bazaars.

Eventually in early 1919 I think, we got a troopship to England. We landed at Southampton. I remember we were told that we could keep our greatcoats or take £1 when we were demobbed on Salisbury Plain. I took the £1! I remember arriving at Middlesbrough station very late at night and sleeping on the platform. I got the first train next day to Guisborough and actually arrived at Tidkinhow before they were up! This would be in 1919. I know that I was clear of the army by the start of 1920. I wish I had stayed in. I really did like the army life. But I had to come out.

Alfred transferred to Class Z Army Reserve on demobilisation on 19 March 1920 and was discharged on 31 March 1920 on General Demobilisation. His Identify Certificate was issued on his dispersal on 20 February 1920. His address for pay was Tidkinhow, Boosbeck. His (most recent) theatre of War was recorded at Mesopotamia. The place for rejoining in case of emergency was Clipstone. He was granted 28 days furlough from the stamp date. The standard form completed by all soldiers regarding any disability, showed that he had none at the time of his discharge. He was awarded the British War Medal, issued 17 March 1922 and the Victory Medal, issued 17 March 1922.

His grandson, Nigel Farndale, later wrote of his military career. For my grandfather, Private Alfred Farndale, who died in the mud of Passchendaele, and again seventy years later in his bed. In Farndale’s view, every man died in that battle, even those who survived. For the dark, life-sapping shadow that descended on them all snuffed out a vital spark. The battle raged for 100 days. More than half a million Allied troops and a quarter of a million German were killed. The dead would be buried under a deluge of soil only to be disinterred by the next shell, and reburied by the next. In his novel, The Blasphemer, partly inspired by young Alfred’s traumatic experiences, Farndale vividly brings to life the horrors young men endured. As a boy, he had listened to his grandfather’s tales of war as they worked together on the family farm near Leyburn. But the silences were just as memorable: “He was an affable man but prone to dark mood swings. There were long periods, maybe three weeks at a time, when he wouldn’t talk. I had little doubt what lay behind it, having grown up listening to his stories of life in the trenches. It deeply affected him,” he says.

Alfred’s eldest son, Farndale’s uncle, went on to join the Army against his wishes and rose to the rank of general. The fact that a former private’s son was able to go on to claim the title General Sir Martin Farndale, Commander-In- Chief of the British Army of the Rhine is perhaps partly due to the social upheaval that followed the Great War. Alfred’s beginnings were much more humble. He was the youngest of 12 children and in a reserved occupation looking after the stock on his parents’ farm near Guisborough when, against their wishes, he lied about his age at 17, signing up at the local Army recruitment office in Northallerton. Despite being sent home because he was too young, he volunteered again as soon as he was able. Alfred knew something of the realities of life on the Front Line and would have been very aware of what he was letting himself in for. “My grandfather had two older brothers fighting in the trenches and one had been shot in the elbow. His distant relative George had been killed at Arras in May 1917. There were widespread reports of the 20,000 men killed and 40,000 injured on the first day of the Somme. It was quite a frightening prospect.”

Alfred certainly rose to the challenge. He was, undoubtedly, a hero, and an unsung one at that. One of the stories he told his family, about a daring dash under fire to deliver much needed ammunition to the Front Line, revealed an act of bravery that had gone unnoticed in the chaos of battle. “My grandfather was haunted by this incident,” says Farndale who, in 2007 visited the battlefield with his father to mark the 90^th anniversary of Passchendaele. “It was a moving experience. When we came to the notorious spot known as Hellfire Corner, we remembered the story he told us. He and Quartermaster Sergeant Zaccarelli had been galloping up to the Front with an ammunition limber when the Germans started to shell them. Zaccarelli was killed, along with a horse. My grandfather managed to cut the dead horse free, drag Zaccarelli’s body into a ditch and carry on up to the Front on one horse with his delivery of ammunition. “It amounted to family legend because there were no witnesses or dates, just this memorable surname. We came across a small British war cemetery and there was the surname, only spelt slightly differently. Company Quartermaster Sergeant John Zaccarelli died on August 28, 1917, a month into the battle of Passchendaele. He was 27. “Until that moment we didn’t really believe it had happened. He was a real person after all, not a myth, and when we stood before his grave my father and I felt the hairs on the backs of our necks rise. “It was so arbitrary; this man happened to die and my grandfather happened to live. This meant my father had been given life, and so too had I.”

For Farndale, visiting the site of the battlefield brought much of what his grandfather had told him to life. He recalls Alfred explaining the complex trench systems and the nicknames they used to describe them. As he stood there, Farndale could even sense the smells his grandfather and comrades had to endure, “an acrid combination of cordite, mustard, chlorine, sweat and putrefying horseflesh,” he says. “He would tell me about the noise, which was so loud, so deafening, it gave men mild concussion. They couldn’t even remember their names, they weren’t able to count to three. During one particularly heavy bombardment, his first commanding officer from the Yorkshire Regiment recognised him. “I bet you’d rather be in Saltburn now, Farndale’,” he said.

Alfred talked a lot about the mud. “The drainage system on this reclaimed marshland had been destroyed by shelling. It was a landscape of mud, one big bog. As well as constantly dodging bullets, soldiers who slipped off the slippery duckboard walkways, just 18 inches wide, were drowned in an orange sea of bubbling, gas-poisoned mud. It was a death trap. “In winter on the farm, when we got stuck in deep mud, he would say ‘This was like the dry bit in Passchendaele, dry enough to sleep on’. We talked a lot. We would go round the stock together, singing World War One songs. I don’t think I quite got the brutality of it when I was young, but the War seemed very immediate to me.”

Inspired by his grandfather’s story, Farndale, 47, did more in-depth research into the experiences of young men in the First World War. In The Blasphemer, which takes place partly in the present day and partly in the First World War, he explores what happens when our courage is put to the test. “My generation didn’t have the experience of war to test our courage. That is what I wanted to explore,” he says. He read letters and diaries written by troops in the trenches, as well as personal accounts written after the war. “Many of them left school at 14, but they wrote such vivid descriptions, in such beautiful handwriting. The letters, written by 17 and 18- year-olds, were very humbling. When the last of the veterans died, our remaining link with that war was broken. All we have now is empathy.”

“He was among those British troops sent to India. He ended up in Iraq and Basra for a short time. That saved his life,” says Farndale. When he returned to England, aged 22, Alfred was offered the choice of taking £1 or keeping his greatcoat. He took the pound. Other than that, he had nothing. With little work around, he farmed for a while in Canada, before returning to Yorkshire. “Things had changed. There wasn’t the same deference,” says Farndale. “He was working in a field once when a local aristocrat, who had managed to avoid fighting in the war, came along and told him to open the gate. He told him to ‘open it yourself’.”

Alfred and his wife Peggy went on to have four children and he died in 1987, just a few weeks short of his 90^th birthday. “As I said in my dedication, he did survive Passchendaele. But he died then as well,”

The American

1111619 Sergeant James Farndale was the older brother of William and Alfred. In 1915 he had left Alberta and got into Dulath High School from where he got himself a place at Valpraiso University in Indiana. There he met he met Edna Adams whom he married on 25 September 1917, shortly after he had enlisted into the US Army on 31 August 1917. The USA declared war on Germany on 6 April 1917.

James in Plymouth, Indiana in 1917 With Edna, in uniform

He sailed home, 1111619 Sergeant James Farndale, on the Empress of Russia, as part of E Company Repair Unit, and arrived in New York on 17 September 1918. His next of kin was Adelbert E Adams, a friend, and he was returning to Plymouth. He returned to France, and on 15 July 1919, he sailed from Brest in France on the South Carolina to an army base at Norfolk, a sergeant in the Motor Transport Corps who served 14 Section, 309 Repair Unit.

309^th Motor Repair Unit was part of the US Motor Transport Corps. They served as electrical and mechanical engineers. The Motor Transport Corps was formed out of the United States Army Quartermaster Corps on 15 August 1918, by General Order No. 75. The American Expeditionary Force that deployed to France during World War I was in need of an organization that could log, track and maintain all needed motor transportation. Men needed to staff this new corps were recruited from the skilled tradesmen working for automotive manufacturers in the US. It is possible that Jim had been transferred to the MTC after the War, and we are not sure about his service during the war itself.

He caught a very bad dose of influenza from which he never fully recovered. He was discharged from the US Army on 1 August 1919 At the end of the war, he managed to visit Tidkinhow again. He eventually became State Senator for Nevada.

The Military Medal Holder

Herbert Farndale (1892 to 1971) was born on 30 March 1892, into the Craggs Hall Farm family.

Herbert served with 2/4^th Battalion of the 2^nd West Yorkshire Regiment. He first joined for duty on 11 August 1915 at Middlesbrough, with Medical Grade A1 His medical examination on enlisted took place in Middlesbrough on 11 August 1915. He was a farmer and 23 years old and was five foot six and a half inches high. There is a form which he signed confirming that he was not engaged in the manufacture of munitions for war and agreed to be inoculated.

Herbert sailed from Southampton to Le Havre on 29 and 30 June 1916. On 10 September 1916 he was posted to 10^th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. He joined the Battalion on 12 July 1916.

In June 1917 His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the under mentioned non commissioned officers and men, 36143 Private H Farndale, Yorks Regt. His Military Medal for bravery in the field arose for service from 11 August 1915 to 30 June 1916 and particularly on 1 July 1916, with the Expeditionary Force in France.

On 1 July 1916, the 10^th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment was part of the 92^nd Infantry Brigade in support of the 31^st Division’s assault on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The 10^th Battalion had trained at Wareham and was sent to France in July 1915. It saw action in and around the Hooge and Bluff sectors and at Fricourt on 1 July, suffering enormous casualties on the opening day of the Somme offensive in 1916. Eleven officers and 299 other ranks were killed in total.

The village of Fricourt lay in a bend in the front line, where It turned eastwards for three kilometres before swinging south again to the Somme River. The XV Corps was to avoid a frontal assault and attack either side of the village, to isolate the defenders. The 20^th Brigade of the 7^th Division was to capture the west end of Mametz and swing left, creating a defensive flank along Willow Stream, facing Fricourt from the south, as the 22^nd Brigade waited in the British front line, ready to exploit a German retirement from the village. The 21^st Division advance was to pass north of Fricourt, to reach the north bank of Willow Stream beyond Fricourt and Fricourt Wood. To protect infantry from enfilade fire from the village, the triple Tambour mines were blown beneath the Tambour salient on the western fringe of the village, to raise a lip of earth, to obscure the view from the village. The 21^st Division made some progress and penetrated to the rear of Fricourt and the 50^th Brigade of the 17^th (Northern) Division, held the front line opposite the village.

The 10th West Yorkshire Regiment was required to advance close by Fricourt and suffered 733 casualties, the worst battalion losses of the day. A company from the 7^th Green Howards made an unplanned attack directly against the village and was annihilated. Reserve Infantry Regiment 111, opposite the 21^st Division, were severely affected by the bombardment and many dug-outs were blocked by shell explosions. One company was reduced to 80 men before the British attack and a reinforcement party failed to get through the British artillery-fire, taking post in Round Wood, where it was able to repulse the 64^th Brigade. The rest of the regimental reserves were used to block the route to Contalmaison. The loss of Mametz and the advance of the 21^st Division made Fricourt untenable and the garrison was withdrawn during the night. The 17^th Division occupied the village virtually unopposed early on 2 July and took several prisoners. The 21^st Division suffered 4,256 casualties and the 50^th Brigade of the 17^th Division 1,155.

The 92nd Brigade was formed from East Yorkshire Regiment battalions and also fought on the Western Front. Following heavy casualties in April 1918, the 92^nd and 93^rd Brigades were amalgamated as the 92^nd Composite Brigade. However, they were reformed soon after.

A payment record shows Herbert’s pay as Private from 11 August 1915, but he was posted on 20 November 1915, and was Acting Lance Corporal from 11 April 1917, and then Lance Corporal from 17 August 1917. He was a Corporal from 12 September 1917 and Sergeant from 11 January 1918.

Herbert Farndale wearing military medal in Green Howards Herbert Smith at officer training unit in 1918

He was commissioned in 1919. On 16 February 1919, 238221 Sergeant Farndale of 2/4 Yorks Regiment, was transferred on being disembodied. This is not as bad as it sounds, but is a reference to him transferring to be an officer cadet. Another further document on 16 February 1919 also refers to him disembodied on demobilisation but struck off to England for admin to Cadet. To England Candidate for a Temp Commission.

On 13 May 1919 the under mentioned cadets to be temporary 2^nd Lieutenants under the provisions of the Royal Warrant dated 30 December 1918, promulgated in Army Order 42 of 1919. West Yorkshire Regiment, 5 March 1919, Herbert Farndale, MM.

Herbert was awarded the Military Medal as well as the Victory Medal, and British War Medal. My grandfather, Alfred Farndale, knew him and we have many of his papers and his medals.

The Casualty

3758 and 201065 Private Richard Farndale was the son of George and Mary (“Polly”) Farndale and born into the Coatham Line at Coatham in 1897. Richard joined the colours in May 1915, at the age of eighteen. He had previously been released as unskilled labour in response to Lord Kitchener’s request for release for munitions output. However in May 1915, he enlisted into the 1/4th Battalion, the Princess of Wales’ Own Yorkshire Regiment, also known as the Green Howards.

The Battalion served with the 150th Infantry brigade of the 50th Division. On 31 December 1916 it had been at Bazentin le Petit and in reserve at Flers on 7 January 1917. On 11 January 1917 the Battalion moved to the front line at Hexham Road. It was on the front line from 30 January to 11 February 1916 at Genercourt. The battalion moved to Proyart on 19 February 1917.

Richard died at 21st Casualty Clearing Station in France of broncho-pneumonia on 25 February 1917. He was presumably badly wounded at Hexham Road or Genercourt or Proyart and evacuated to No 21 Casualty Clearing Station at La Neuville, where he later died of pneumonia. In April 1916, No 21 Casualty Clearing Station came to La Neuville and remained there throughout the 1916 Battles of the Somme, until March 1917.

Richard is buried at La Neuville Communal Cemetery, Corbie, Somme. La Neuville British Cemetery was opened early in July 1916, but burials were also made in the communal cemetery. Most of them date from this period, but a few graves were added during the fighting on the Somme in 1918. The communal cemetery contains 186 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The graves form one long row on the eastern side of the cemetery. Corbie is a village 15 kilometres south-west of Albert and about 23 kilometres due east of Amiens. La Neuville Communal Cemetery is north of the village.

He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal posthumously on 21 January 1921. His name is on a War Memorial at Coatham.

The gas victim

131820 Lance Corporal William Farndale was born into the Great Ayton 2 Line on 22 January 1890. By 1911, aged 21, he was working as a joiner in Great Ayton.

At the age of 25, on 17 November 1915, he enlisted into 235th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers. He was promoted to Lance Corporal, Royal Engineers Class ‘P’ AR, on 4 March 1917. He was a carpenter by trade. A record on 3 February 1917 shows his skill as a carpenter and joiner were superior.

His service record shows that he was in England from 17 November 1915 to 8 March 1916, with the British Expeditionary Force in France from 9 March 1916 to 28 July 1917, and then in England from 29 July 1917 to 19 September 1918.

A further Active Service Form shows that he was promoted to Corporal in March 1917 and was wounded in a gas attack in April 1917 when he was transferred to England to 2 General Hospital.

His Medical report shows that he was gassed with a disability originating on 12 July 1917, but he appears to have been released for coal mining. However a Memorandum from the Eastern Command Discharge Centre to Chatham on 1 June 1918 said This NCO having been placed in Grade II (which is equivalent to Military Category Bi) by the Civilian Medical Board at this Centre, he is not now eligible for transfer to the Army Reserve as a Coal Miner. AFW 3980 has accordingly been returned to the War Office. Another Medical report confirms he was gassed in 1917. A continuation shows he suffered 20% disability. Consequently, he received a pension for his gas disability. His symptoms were described in another form. He was less than 20% disabled by the gas attack. His pension was renewed. This was also confirmed in an Award Sheet.

On 10 January 1918 he overstayed his pass for 22 hours, but was admonished.

A record addressed to the Eastern Command Discharge Centre at Sutton in Surrey on 16 September 1918 said Owing to the Medical Authorities being extremely busy, this NCO could not be Boarded until this day, and he has been directed to report to you on the 17th instant. Another record on that date at Chatham certified William as free from contagious disease and fit to travel by train.

He received a weekly pension of 6 shillings from 20 September 1918 to be reviewed in 52 weeks. He was transferred to the reserve on 21 September 1918.

He was discharged from the army on 30 December 1918. The cause of discharge was Para 392 (xvia)(Gas psng).

He was awarded the Victory Medal, British Medal and Silver Badge Roll 11 November 1919. The Silver War Badge was awarded to most servicemen and women who were discharged from military service during the First World War, whether or not they had served overseas. Expiry of a normal term of engagement did not count and the most common reason for award of the badge was King’s Regulations Paragraph 392 (xvi), meaning they had been released on account of being permanently physically unfit. This was as often a result of sickness, disease or uncovered physical weakness and war wounds.

Soldiers discharged during the war because of disabilities they sustained after they had served overseas in a theatre of operations could also receive a King’s Certificate. Entitlement to the Silver War Badge did not necessarily entitle a man to the award of a King’s Certificate, but those awarded a Certificate would have been entitled to the Badge. The main purpose of the badge was to prevent men not in uniform and without apparent disability being thought of as shirkers. It was evidence of having presented for military service, if not necessarily serving for long.

The Flying Ace

The younger brother of Florence Farndale, Rev William Edward Farndale’s wife, Lieutenant Graham Price, was a World War One pilot of the Royal Army Flying Corps, killed in action, in a duel with a German aeroplane at 8,000 feet. He had written a letter to his parents shortly before he died, If anything happens to me do not grieve, but feel thankful that you had a son to give to the country. In another letter, seeming to understand his fate, he had written I would not have been without my experiences for anything in the world, Au Revoir. His commanding officer wrote This letter is in confirmation of the telegram of yesterday’s date notifying you of your son’s death. It happened in a flight in which he was observing for one of our batteries over enemy lines. His machine was attacked by a German aeroplane and after fighting for fifteen minutes at a height of 8,000 feet, your son received a direct hit in the heart and was killed immediately. It was a wonderfully plucky fight against heavy odds, and although the result was fatal for him, I know that this was the end that he would have chosen for himself, to die fighting, hot headed, in a great fight in the greatest of all causes. He was a very fearless and gallant officer, so dead keen on his work and so thoroughly efficient. I feel that his loss is irreplaceable. The Chaplain had written Your son put up a most glorious fight, and has sacrificed himself for his country and friends. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

It was later reported Lieutenant Graham price, the young airman who has just been killed at the front was the youngest brother of Mrs Farndale, The Avenue, Birtley, wife of the Rev W E Farndale, the second minister of the Chester le Street circuit. He went out to Flanders in September, 1914, as a despatch rider, and did a lot of excellent work. Near the end of last year he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, and his promotion there was very rapid, and he had already reached the rank of pilot. He held the record of his squadron for the number of air duels he had fought, 15. He was killed in the last fight, when he received a bullet in the heart. He was at the time engaged in observing for the artillery over the enemy lines.

The Artillerymen

204344 Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant Henry Farndale, the son of John and Rose Farndale, was born in Leeds. By the age of 27, in 1911, he was working as an engineer draughtsman in Leeds and he later worked as a shipbroker’s clerk and became a member of the Leeds Stock Exchange. He married Grace Bell in 1913.

His attestation on 3 December 1915 showed he was an accountant, 31 years and 11 months old, married, living at 8 Wrangthorn Avenue, Hyde Park, Leeds. His descriptive report on enlistment shows that he was 5 ft and 7 inches and his next of kin was his wife, Grace Elizabeth Farndale who he had married on 27 December 1913 at Wrangthorn Church, Leeds. The same form records that he had two children, Edward Francis Farndale born on 14 November 1914 and Henry Stewart Farndale, born 27 September 1916, both in Leeds. Henry was killed in the Second World War in training as a pilot in a Tiger Moth.

There is a record of a 204344 Gunner H Farndale, of E Battery, Royal Field Artillery, admitted to Catterick Military Hospital on 14 January 1918. He had been gassed. There is a record of severe gas poisoning in his military papers. A casualty form also records that he was gassed in about November 1917.

On 2 August 1918 was attached to a unit in London. On 10 August 1918 Acting Bombardier H Farndale of 35th Reserve Battery RFA, 6th ‘B’ Reserve Brigade RFA was posted to 12th Brigade, 67th Divisional Artillery with effect from 9 August 1918. A War Office letter on 10 August 1918 confirms that he was appointed as paid acting Sergeant.

There is a record of his movements from June 1918 to March 1919. A War Office letter dated 3 January 1919 confirms that Acting Sergeant H Farndale had been sent to RH and RFA Records, Blackheath, Tower of London to work in connection with cost accounting. On 20 March 1919 he was promoted to Acting Regimental Quarter Master, for cost accounting duty at 416 Agricultural Company, Bowerham Barracks, Lancaster. There is an undated note requesting that Acting Sergeant Farndale be traced as keen to meet. A Special Confidential Report dated 23 October 1919 at Lancaster recommended Henry’s promotion to the substantive rank of Warrant Officer. He had been engaged on a Cost Accounting Scheme from 1 January 1919 and had handled the accounts of the King’s Own Lancaster Regiment, 416 Agricultural Co, Labour Corps, 210 TF Depot and the Prisoner of War Camp at Lancaster. He was reported as capable and industrious, with a sound knowledge of bookkeeping.

As Acting Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant, he sought his discharge by 21 July 1920 at Western Command, Chester. This had also been confirmed in a letter from the Depot at Bowerham Barracks, Lancaster on 19 May 1920.

This followed an interesting exchange of correspondence with the War Office. On 7 May 1920, the War Office proposed the permanent transfer of Acting RQMS H Farndale RFA to the Corps of Military Accountants, as Accountant Staff Sergeant. He would have been required to complete seven years with the Colours, less his mobilised service since 4 August 1914. Another letter on 7 May 1920 also seems to confirm this extension, also commenting that he should not be rejected on medical grounds unless this would prevent him from sedentary duties. The Form for completion for extension to the Corps of Military Accountants dated 7 May 1920 was sent to Henry. However Henry’s reply on 11 May 1920 did not accept this extension. A Certificate of Identity issued on his discharge and dated 15 August 1920 granted 28 days furlough and graded him in medical category B11. He was discharged on demobilisation at Woolwich on 2 September 1920. His conduct sheet was certified no entry by the Adjutant.

He served with the Royal Field Artillery and was awarded the Victory Medal, and British War Medal. He was gassed in November 1917. He was then promoted to Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant and was engaged working on a cost accounting scheme after the War ended. He died in Leeds in 1951.

104633 Gunner Albert Edward Farndale was born into the Loftus 2 Line in 1895. He served with the Royal Garrison Artillery and was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. He died in Northallerton on 17 April 1971.

89289 Gunner John Joseph Farndale was born in Great Ayton on 22 January 1882. He enlisted into the Royal Garrison Artillery on 4 December 1915. He lived at Low Green House, Great Ayton and his trade was a builder. His Descriptive Report showed he was 5 feet and 8.75 inches tall and Church of England by religion. His next of kin was his wife, Mary Ann Farndale or Low Green House, Great Ayton who he had married at Great Ayton on 2 July 1914. His service record showed that he attested on 4 December 1915 and was transferred to the Army reserve on 17 December 1915.

John was mobilised on 30 May 1916 and posted to the Heavy Artillery Depot at Woolwich on 30 June 1916. His character was very good. On 1 October 1917 he was appointed wheeler and posted to RSG Sheerness Garrison. He was at Ripon in April 1918. There was a medical board held in April 1918 and he appears to have been transferred to the Reserve. He was certified a skilled wheeler.

He was discharged on 14 December 1918. He was awarded the Campaign Medal and was on the Silver War Badge Roll.

L/28839 Driver John W Farndale was born in Huttons Ambo in 1894. He served with the Royal Field Artillery (“RFA”). When he attested into the army on 7 June 1915, he was 21, single, and a farm servant. He was originally enlisted into 176th (Leicester) Brigade Royal Field Artillery. He was 5 feet and 6.5 inches tall. He was posted to 238 Brigade, RFA from May 1916 he was in France with the Expeditionary Force. His Active Service record shows he travelled to Le Havre from Southampton on 8 and 9 January 1916 and was in the Field with R Battery (later D Battery 235th Brigade RFA). On 4 June 1916 his brother, it is not clear from the signature which one, wrote a letter to the Secretary of State asking for any news of John who the family had not heard from for some time. His address was given as 28839 JW Farndale, R Battery, A Sub, 8th London Brigade RFA, 47th (2nd London) Division, BEF, France.

The 8th London (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery was a new unit formed when Britain's Territorial Force was created in 1908. Together with its wartime duplicate the brigade served during the First World War on the Western Front, at Salonika and in Palestine where it was the first British unit to enter Jerusalem. At the end of October 1914 training was stepped up, despite bad weather and equipment shortages. Brigade and divisional training began in February 1915 and it received its orders for the move to France on 2 March 1915. By 22 March 1915 all the batteries had reached the divisional concentration area around Béthune, but this was before John’s time.

On 19 January 1916 the batteries of 1/VIII London Brigade were re-equipped with 4.5-inch howitzers, for which they had been training since August. On 4 February it was joined by B (H) Bty and a subsection of the Brigade Ammunition Column from CLXXVI (Leicestershire) Howitzer Brigade, a newly arrived Kitchener's Army unit, followed by R (H) Bty of CLXXVI Bde on 4 April 1916, so this was the unit which John had joined.

In the spring of 1916, 47th Division took over the lines facing Vimy Ridge. Active mine warfare was being conducted by both sides underground at this time. In May 1916, the Germans secretly assembled 80 batteries in the sector and on 21 May 1916 carried out a heavy bombardment in the morning. The bombardment resumed at 15.00 hours and an assault was launched at 15.45 hours, while the guns lifted onto the British guns and fired a Box barrage into Zouave Valley to seal the attacked sector off from support. 47th Divisional Artillery reported 150 heavy shells an hour landing on its poorly covered battery positions and guns being put out of action, while its own guns tried to respond to desperate calls from the infantry under attack, though most communications were cut by the box barrage. During the night the gun pits were shelled with gas, but on 22 May the artillery duel began to swing towards the British, with fresh batteries brought in, despite their shortage of ammunition. A system of one round strikes was introduced. Whenever a German battery was identified every gun in range fired one round at it, which effectively suppressed them. British counter-attacks were attempted, but when the fighting died down the Germans had succeeded in capturing the British front line. Throughout their stay in the Vimy sector the batteries suffered heavily from German Counter Battery fire.

On 1 August 1916 47th Division began to move south to join in the Somme Offensive. While the infantry underwent training with the newly introduced tanks, the divisional artillery went into the line on 14 August in support of 15th (Scottish) Division. The batteries were positioned in Bottom Wood and near Mametz Wood, and became familiar with the ground over which 47th Division was later to attack. Casualties among Forward Observation Officers and signallers was heavy in this kind of fighting. Between 9 and 11 September 1916, 47th Division took over the front in the High Wood sector, and on 15 September the Battle of Flers-Courcelette was launched, with tank support for the first time. The barrage fired by the divisional artillery left lanes through which the tanks could advance. However, the tanks proved useless in the tangled tree stumps of High Wood, and the artillery could not bombard the German front line because No man's land was so narrow. Casualties among the attacking infantry were extremely heavy, but they succeeded in capturing High Wood and the gun batteries began to move up in support, crossing deeply-cratered ground. Casualties among the exposed guns and gunners took their toll, but a German counter-attack was broken up by gunfire. Next day the division fought to consolidate its positions round the captured Cough Drop strongpoint. When the infantry were relieved on 19 September 1916, the artillery remained in the line under 1st Division.

4.5 inch howitzer dug in on the Somme, September 1916

He was demobilised in March 1920. He had a clean conduct sheet. He was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

151907 Gunner John W Farndale was born in Leeds on 18 May 1886. He was attested on 21 February 1916 when he was transferred to the Army Reserve. His Descriptive Report confirms his next of kin as his wife, Dorothy Doris Chamberlain of 22 Laurel Road, Leicester who he had married at Leicester on 21 April 1916. They had a daughter at the time, Pauline Margaret Farndale who was born at Leicester on 22 February 1917. He was 5 feet and 7.5 inches tall. He had been a commercial traveller in Leeds. He was mobilised on 2 February 1917, to join 434th (Siege) Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. He was embarked on 5 April 1917, although another record suggests he was at Hull and Glen Parva, Leicester in April and May 1917. He had first joined for duty at Ripon on 6 April 1917.

434 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery was formed on 21 April 1917 at the Humber. The Battery deployed to the Western Front on 5 September 1917 and took over 6 inch guns from 198 Siege Battery. In late 1917, most of the Heavy and Siege Batteries of the Royal Garrison Artillery were transferred to come under orders of a Heavy Artillery Group with which they then remained. Before this, they had frequently been transferred from Group to Group. 434^th Siege Battery became part of 25^th Heavy Artillery Group and became Army Troops from April 1918.

Second Lieutenant Nathaniel Croger of 434^th Siege Battery was killed on 25 September 1918, in what may have been the same action that Hohn Farndale was gassed.

6’’ Gun of the 484^th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

He was evacuated after a gas attack in September 1918. He was on the casualty list as a result of being wounded by a gas ‘B’ shell sev, which may have meant severe. This suggests he was admitted to Rouen on 16 September and later to the General Hospital at Leicester on 22 September 1918.

In May 1915, a denouncement of the horrors of asphyxiating gases, was given in the Leeds newspapers. The use of poisonous gases by the Germans in their latest offensive in the western area of the war will be no surprise to those who know well the German character, or to those who have studied the record of their disregard for all the humane rules and conventions of war during the past nine months. That a nation, whose sovereign and rulers have ignored solemn treaty obligations when it has suited their convenience to do so, and have been responsible for the murder and pillage of the civilian populations of Belgium and Poland should ignore Article 23 of The Hague convention, which forbids the use of poisonous or asphyxiating gas in civilised warfare, was only to be expected to, and the only surprising fact is that this new barbarism of the military oligarchy in Germany was not brought into use earlier in the war. Since the German defence is that the French and ourselves began this new style of warfare by using shells emitting poisonous gases, it may well be as well to examine discharge, and to show how far it is from the truth.

151907 Gunner Farndale, L Battery, was listed in the Hospital Admission and Discharge registers at Catterick Military Hospital. Another record suggests he was admitted on 9 September 1918. The record lists previous inoculations. Another record indicates admission to the 5th General Hospital at Leicester from 22 September to 8 October 1918 as a result of a gas shell attack. He was transferred to the Military Hospital at Glen Parva at Leicester from 9 to 29 October 1918 and then to the depot at Catterick from 5 November to 13 December 1918, ‘gassed’.

He was demobilised on 24 February 1919. His Statement as to Disability at Shoreham by Sea confirmed that he did not claim any disability as a result of his service. His address was 3 Albany Street, Highfields, Leicester. His Identity Certificate shows he was nevertheless A1 fit on dispersal on 27 January 1919 at Clipstone. His conduct sheet was certified with no entry. He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.

James Farndale was born in Firby near Bedale on 20 May 1873. By 1891, he was working in the iron works in Stockton. By 1911, he had joined the Order of Druids. He signed up immediately at the start of the First World War and joined the Royal Field Artillery. His name was included in a further list of young men who have responded to their countries call at Middlesbrough, Stockton, Thornaby and Redcar recruiting offices on 19 September 1914.

The Infantrymen

19318 Private George Farndale served with the East Yorkshire Regiment and was awarded the Victory medal, British medal, and 15 Star. He arrived in the Balkans on 12 November 1915. He was born in Whitby in 1891 and died in Lancaster on 15 May 1954.

26042 Private John W Farndale was a cross country athlete in Leeds before the War and served with the East Yorkshire Regiment, but he was wounded in September 1917, after which he served as 570018 in the Labour Corps. He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.

26124 and 27364 Private William Farndale, a clothing salesman of Bradford born in about 1887, served with the 20th (Local) Reserve Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment and later the East Yorkshire Regiment. He served in Salonika, where he suffered from Malaria. He was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

TR/5/211407 and 211407 Private (William) James Farndale was born in Londonderry in Ireland on 9 September 1900, but lived in Bramham, near Wetherby before the War. He was the cousin of George Weighill Farndale who was killed at Arras. Whilst James enlisted after the War ended, he did so immediately he came of age. He joined 53rd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. He was declared fit (Grade (2) B1) for service at York on 10 October 1918. He attested when he was 18 years and 1 month old. He was a market gardener, 5 ft 2.5 inches tall. He had brown hair, of fresh complexion with hazel eyes of moderate physical development. He was dentally fit and vaccinated in infancy. He had flat feet but not severe. His service reckoned from 9 October 1918. He was transferred to Class 2 Army Reserve on demobilisation on 19 February 1919. His standard Disability Form confirmed that he claimed no disability from service. After the War, William James Farndale worked for the Lane Fox family at Bramham Park.

15271 Private (later Corporal) William Farndale served with the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards). He enlisted on 12 October 1914. His Medical History shows that he was from Great Broughton, a farm man. He was 5 feet and 7.5 inches tall. He enlisted at Stokesley on 12 October 1914. He was also at Ripon on 12 October 1914. In January 1915, during the past weekend, a party of the recruits from Great Broughton have spent their furlough in the village. Those who are present included W Farndale. All of them showed a clean bill of health, and greatly enjoyed their leave amongst their friends. William Farndale arrived in France 27th August 1915. There was some news home a few weeks later. In October 1915, Private W H Millington, who has been in hospital, off and on, for months, is now almost well, and hopes shortly to go to the front. News has been received that Private W Farndale was drafted out to France a few weeks ago. In a letter to friends at Great Broughton, he jocularly remarks that, now he has gone, he has got the Germans on the run. He served in France and Italy and came home on leave in August 1918. Private William Farndale, late of Great Broughton, arrived at his native village last weekend to spend his leave with Mr and Mrs R Reed, of Hill Cottage. Private Farndale enlisted soon after the outbreak of war, and has served both in France and Italy. He was awarded the Victory Medal, British Medal, 15 Star.

44768 Private Robert Farndale was a hotel manager from Hartlepool. He served with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Labour Corps, and Royal Sussex Regiment. His daughter, Eva J Farndale was born on 29 February 1916. He was wounded in September 1917. He probably joined the Labour Corps after he had been wounded. 426393 Private R Farndale of the Garrison Guard, 934 Area, The Labour Corps, aged 40, was admitted to the Fourth Stationary Hospital again in 1918, with a date of discharge on 15 April 1918.

2483 Private Charles E Farndale served with the First Hertfordshire Regiment and was awarded the 15 Star with Clasp.

3/28913 Private Charles Farndale, a clothing shop assistant of Harrogate, served with the Leicestershire Regiment and 19th London Regiment in 1917. He was awarded the Victory Medal.

38005 A/Corporal John William Farndale of Egton served with the Lincolnshire Regiment, then as 29415 in the Labour Corps and was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

G/445 Lance Corporal George James Farndale (later Sergeant) was born on 2 February 1892 at Portfield in Sussex. He served with the Second Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment and went to France on 31 May 1915.

The Second Battalion had arrived in France on 7 August 1914 as part of the BEF, and served on the western front for the duration of the war.

The Second Battalion took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915, which was a disaster. No ground was gained, no tactical advantage was gained, and they suffered more than ten times the number of casualties as the Germans.

During the Battle of Loos in September 1915 Sergeant Harry Wells was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, when the battalion took part in an attack.

The battalion took part in the Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1916. The first action for the 116th (Royal Sussex) Brigade of the 39th (New Army) Division which was formed from the 11th, 12th and 13th Battalions was on 30th June 1916 at Richebourg l’Avoue. This was part of a series of diversionary attacks for the Somme Offensive, which was to start the following day. Like the first day of the Somme, this attack was poorly planned, poorly supported and resulted in heavy casualties for the assaulting troops. 17 officers, and 349 men were killed in five hours of fighting and became known as The Day Sussex Died.

The Battalion also took part in the British pursuit to the Hindenburg Line in Spring 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917, the Battle of the Lys in April 1918 and the Second Battle of Arras in August 1918.

Second Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment marching past Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, near Bruay, France on 1 July 1918

He was awarded the Victory medal, British medal, 15 Star and the Military Medal for bravery. On 23 October 1918, His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the under mentioned Warrant Officers, Non commissioned officers and men. G/445 Corporal, Acting Sergeant, G J Farndale, Royal Sussex Regiment, Portfield. He was a Sergeant with B Company, Second Battalion, the Royal Sussex Regiment.

It seems likely that he received his Military Medal during the Second Battle of Arras, also the Second Battle of the Somme, from 21 August to 3 September 1918. The battle was part of a series of successful counter-offensives in response to the German Spring Offensive.

He was admitted to 31st Ambulance Train on 8 November 1918 and his discharge was the same day.

18981 and 577701 Private Harry Farndale was from Stockport, but had been a cleaner with the United States Cotton Company, Foundry Street, Central Falls, Rhode Island, USA shortly before the first world war. He served with the 7th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment. Harry enlisted on 15 February 1915 at Liverpool. He sailed from Plymouth to France on 25 and 26 May 1915. He served in France and Belgium from May 1915 to July 1916 and from May 1917 to April 1919.

He took a bullet wound to his left ankle on 1 July 1916 and was taken to Brook War Hospital and Garden Hurst Hospital. He was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital with an ankle, shoulder, leg injury. His arm was out of place caused by a broken arm, which did not trouble him until it twisted out of place in 1917 by a fall at No 2 Rest Camp while playing football. He was at Brook War Hospital, Woolwich from 5 July to 16 September 1916 for comp fract of Tabia. He was at Harfield, Bristol from 7 to 12 December 1916 with Ballanitis.

His Regimental Conduct Sheet reflected a colourful military career and there is a record of a military court martial.

He embarked from Folkstone to Boulogne on 3 May 1917. He was then posted to France and was at Rouen and Etaples.

He was in hospital with influenza in March 1919 and at Chester War Hospital with influenza admitted on 11 April 1919 and recorded well on 22 April and 4 May 1919. He was transferred to the reserve on 5 June 1919. His standard Disability Form, completed by all soldiers at discharge, showed he finished his military career with 225 Labour Corps.

He was with 225 Company, the Labour Corps, on his discharge. He was transferred to the Reserve on 5 June 1919.

He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory medal and the 1914 to 1915 Star.

2898 and 43302 and 37425 Private Herbert Arthur Farndale was a mustard packer in Norwich before the War. He served with the Norfolk Yeomanry and then in the Northern Regiment and the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was wounded in October 1917 when serving with the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

19832 and 35864 Private James Farndale served with the 1st Devonshire Regiment, then in the Wiltshire Regiment. He arrived in Egypt on 9 October 1915. He served in both World Wars. In the First World War, he tended the horses.

His war service was 31 Aug 1914 to 10 Mar 1919 and from 1939 to 1941. He was awarded the Victory medal, British medal, and 15 Star.

The Cavalry

2216 Private Alfred Farndale, 9th Lancers worked on a splitting machine in Leeds before the War. He served with the 9th Lancers. He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 14 Star. The 9th Queen's Royal Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1715. The Regiment landed in France as part of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in the 1st Cavalry Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. Captain Francis Grenfell was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in saving the guns of 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery on 24 August 1914. The Regiment then participated in the final lance on lance action involving British cavalry of the First World War. On 7 September 1914 at Montcel à Frétoy Lieutenant Colonel David Campbell led a charge of two troops of B Squadron and overthrew a squadron of the Prussian Dragoons of the Guard.

The attack at Montcel à Frétoy 9^th Lancers in France, 1918

Charles Farndale served with the 8th/18th Hussars. The 8th Hussars entered the trenches on the Western Front for the first time on 9 December 1914, not having arrived in time to take any part in the Retreat from Mons. The first action that the 8^th Hussars encountered was in December 1914 at the Battle of Givenchy. When the troops dug in to the trenches, the cavalry were held in reserve, waiting for a gap. Most of their time was spent sending large parties forward to dig trenches and this continued for the whole of the war. In May 1915, they took part in the Second battle of Ypres where the Germans first used chlorine gas. In September 1915 the 8th Hussars transferred to the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division.

The Medics

12035 and 53270 Private William Henry Farndale was born at Kirkham Abbey near Malton on 12 February 1893. He served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, later in the Lancashire Fusiliers. He arrived in France on 12 September 1915 and was awarded the Victory Medal, British Medal, and 15 Star.

1813 and 475088 Private William Claude Farndale was Herbert’s brother and he also lived in Norwich, in a saw mill and later as a tinsmith. He was attested into the Army on 16 September 1913 at Norwich, aged 17 years and 2 months. In fact he was 16, so perhaps gave an older age in order to enlist. He served with the 1/2 East Anglian Area Field Ambulance Company, Royal Army Medical Corps.

The 1st East Anglian Field Ambulance joined the 29th Division in January 1915 and served at Gallipoli. Advance elements of 1/2 East Anglian Field Ambulance went out with the infantry battalions of the 54th Division when they sailed from Liverpool at the end of July 1915, with the rest plus drafts from the 1/3 Field Ambulance and the other support elements of the Division sailing a week later. The Transport Ship Royal Edward was torpedoed when it reached the Aegean with significant loss of life.

After the initial stalemate, in August 1915 additional regiments arrived from Britain, mainly raw recruits from Kitchener’s New Armies. General Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, attempted a flanking action in the north of the Peninsula. While the ANZACs broke out of their trenches in the hills, the idea was that the new forces would land at Suvla Bay and move inland across lower ground, taking the Turks from behind. Leadership failed. Lieutenant General Stopford, in command of the barely-opposed Suvla landings, faltered, allowing the Turks to reinforce their lines and hold back the advance. Effectively, that was the end of the Campaign.

William’s Medal Records show he served in the Balkans from 16 August 1915, which almost certainly meant he served in the Gallipoli campaign, as part of the August reinforcement.

In October 1915, General Sir Ian Hamilton was relieved of his post and General Sir Charles Monro took over, with the brief to draw the Campaign to a close. The evacuation was perhaps the most successful element of the Gallipoli Campaign. The whole Allied force of 150,000 men was withdrawn under the noses of the Turks and completed in early January 1916. Many of the troops returned to military bases in Egypt and were then sent to Salonika and the Middle Eastern campaigns.

88th Field Ambulance manhauling an ambulance wagon off 'W' Beach, Cape Helles, Gallipoli, 27 April 1915 88^th Field Ambulance at their bivouac camp above Cape Hells, Gallipoli, 1915

The Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit. It was not a vehicle. Most Field Ambulances came under command of a Division, and each had special responsibility for the care of casualties of one of the Brigades of the Division. In theory, the capacity of the Field Ambulance was 150 casualties, but in battle many had to deal with very much greater numbers. The Field Ambulance was responsible for establishing and operating a number of points along the casualty evacuation chain, from the Bearer Relay Posts which were up to 600 yards behind the Regimental Aid Posts in the front line, taking casualties rearwards through an Advanced Dressing Station to the Main Dressing Station (MDS). It also provided a Walking Wounded Collecting Station, as well as various rest areas and local sick rooms.

There is a record on 7 May 1919 of his bounty of £15, with £5 for present use and £10 to be issued subsequently as laid down in the Army Order. He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal and 15 Star. He was demobilised on 3 August 1919.

436 and 403261 Private William Jameson Farndale served with the Royal Army Medical Corps with the Second West Riding Field Ambulance of which there are Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the unit’s War Diaries. He enlisted on 5 November 1914. He was included in a list of Harrogate and district men who are serving with the Colours at the Front, on 14 March 1917. He was discharged on 18 February 1919. He was 23 when he was discharged. He was recorded as having served overseas. He was awarded the Silver War Badge on 18 August 1919 and was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Logistics

011374 Corporal George William Farndale was a post office clerk in Harrogate before the war and he later became a successful entertainer with the Yorkshire Mummers. George served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

016314 Private Joseph Farndale was working in the dubious role of a skiver in Leeds in 1911. In fact in this sense, he operated a machine that bevelled the edges of leather articles, such as belting, gloves, wallets, cigarette and key cases, and handbags to prepare parts for joining. He served with the Army Ordnance Corps and was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.

S4/199459 and TR9/16884 and 18216 George William Farndale was a clerk and book keeper for George Alder in Middlesbrough when he enlisted into the Army Service Corps on 10 December 1915, aged 18 years and 9 months. He was a Primitive Methodist by religion. His next of kin was his mother, Mary A Farndale, of 19 Temple Street, Middlesbrough. He was 5 feet and 5 5/8th inches tall, 119 lbs with good physical development. He was declared fit for service at home and transferred to 43rd Training Reserve Battalion.

On 24 March 1916, there was an appeal against conscription of George William Farndale on the basis of a need to continue in his current occupation. Exemption was allowed until 30 July on understanding this was to be final. This seems to have been a temporary measure, perhaps urged by his employer to enable him to put business matters in order.

His papers on his discharge on 9 April 1919 recorded that he became a Corporal in the Army Pay Corps at Blackheath. He first joined for duty with the Pay Corps on 8 August 1916. He served in England from 8 to 16 August 1916, in Ireland from 17 August to 18 December 1916, and in England again from 19 December 1916 to 9 April 1919. He was a clerk from 8 August to 18 December 1917 and an infantry clerk from 16 December 1917.

He suffered from deafness from about June 1914 and had been at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Cork and the military hospital, Tidworth.

S/294809 Private John Farndale was a married butcher from Loftus. He attested into the Army on 1 March 1916. His next of kin was his wife Hannah, and he had a daughter, Irene and another dependant, Percy Carver Temple. He was 5 ft 8.75 inches and 150 lbs. He joined 385th (Mechanical Transport) Company, Royal Army Service Corps. On 10 February 1917 he was certified in slaughtering after testing and posted to K (Supply) Company Army Service Corps, 6th Field Butchery. The Army Service Corps provided an important service in the production of bread and meat for the troops in the field.

He travelled from Southampton to Le Havre on 20 and 21 March 1917.

He was transferred to UK for release on 28 October 1919. He was demobilised to the Reserve on 27 November 1919. He had been attested on 1 March 1916, transferred to the Army Reserve on 2 March 1916 and mobilised on 7 February 1917. His will was received on 12 July 1918 and returned on 6 November 1920. In the standard Disability Form issued to all soldiers at discharge, he did not claim to be suffering from any disability due to his military service. There is a receipt document for his soldier’s documents.

He was awarded the Victory medal, British medal.

247529 T/Warrant Officer Class I Joseph Farndale was a clerk in Manchester before the war and brother of Rev Dr William Edward Farndale, who became President of the Methodist Church. By the outbreak of the War, he lived at Mobberley in Cheshire. He joined the Army Service Corps and Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He became a Sergeant Major in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

To commemorate the centenary of the First World War, Alistair MacLeod created a booklet detailing the lives of many of Mobberley’s fathers, brothers and sons who served in the First World War, The men from Mobberley which records all those remembered at Mobberley’s service of dedication held in 1921 and through whatever information has survived, provided a portrait of where they lived and how they fitted in to village life before war was declared. In a community of only 323 households in 1911, 288 men linked to Mobberley served, of which 48 died. Many of those who returned were deeply affected physically and psychologically.

Joseph was awarded the Victory Medal and the British Medal

The Navy

Z/6840 Thomas Henry Farndale served in the Royal Navy Reserve in London in the first World War as a wireless telegraphist. He later joined the police.

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