No.22032, Lance Corporal, Reginald Arthur FARTHING
Aged 22
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Reginald Arthur Farthing was born in Culford on 2nd April 1894 ( from school register), but possibly the Arthur Reginald FARTHING birth registered Newmarket
Q2-1894 3B:512.
1901 census...Aged 6 he was at The Cottages, Culford with his widowed grandmother Elizabeth FARTHING [64] born Wickhambrook; uncle Charles FARTHING [30] bricklayer's labourer, born Culford; sister Ellen [12] and cousin William BEST (son of Naomi, Elizabeth's daughter) [3] both born in Culford He was at Culford National/Voluntary School from 2nd April 1894 until 11th June 1906. Ellen's father (could be guardian)is named in the school register as Robert and Robert was name of his grandfather (died 1895). Ellen was living with her grandparents Robert and Elizabeth in 1891 1911 census...Aged 17, farm horseman, he was at Culford with his grandmother, uncle Charles and cousin William Robert BEST.
The pension card has his dependant as Mrs Martha Bruce, of Fornham St Genevieve, the guardian of an illegitimate child, with a pension of 5 shillings per week (25p)
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He enlisted in London. The "soldiers personal effects" register has as legatee his grandmother Elizabeth.
The 7th Northants moved forward from Montauban at 4pm on 17th August, relieving the 8th Royal West Kents. There was heavy shelling in the rear area during the night. The Battalion launched attack at 3 pm on Guillemont Quarry and reached the left half of their objective, the right half being driven back. They were relived on the 19th by the Royal West Kents and went to CRATERS, the old German front line. The war diary records 5 officers and 45 OR killed, 15 officers and 258 OR wounded, 1 officer 49 OR missing. The Bury Free Press of 30th September 1916 reported on the death of Reginald and three of his cousins (of Hawkedon):- ONE LEFT, THREE TAKEN - A GALLANT QUARTETTE (sic) We regret that it is our sad duty to record the death of lance Corporal Reginald Arthur Farthing of Culford, who was killed in action on August18th. The deceased soldier joined the colours in August 1914, and proceeded to France in December of the same year. The following March he was invalided home,suffering from exposure. He remained in England some fifteen months, and was sent out to France again as fit in May of this year with the 7th Northants Regt. His death was instantaneous, and he was buried where he fell, clasping his rifle, in the German lines. A comrade of the gallant young soldier has written to his fiancee, Miss Davis of Shepherds Bush, as follows: "it is with feelings of great regret and sorrow I send these tidings of the loss of your beloved one, Lc-Corpl Farthing. Although a perfect stranger to me,and also to his regiment, it fell to my lot to lay him in his last resting place. Therefore I felt it my duty to notify you. He died a noble death, in the act of charging, and it will be a consolation to know, without any pain, his end being instantaneous. I am not allowed to give names of places, but should I be spares to come through this, and you desire to know fully, I will be pleased to give you any information that I can.It was on the afternoon of August 18th, about 3 o'clock, the Northants were ordered to charge, and we, the Sussex, followed over shortly afterwards. We got in touch with them on our left, and it was here I found him, quite dead, clasping his rifle, at the back of the German lines. After we had consolidated the position, I, with a party of ur men, were detailed to bury those fallen heroes who lay in the German lines, and Lc-Corpl Farthing was one of them. All his personal; property, letters, case and photographs, I handed to the Officer Commanding Northants. He lies buried exactly where he fell.I said a few simple prayers over his remains and placed a memorial over his grave.I do not know your name.I read just sufficient of one letter to obtain your address.Please accept my deep sympathy, and I hope and trust time will heal a little the sufferings this sacrifice is bound to give you. Should his relatives wish for further information, I would be only too pleased to furnish them as far as it lays in my power - Believe me, your respectfully Lc-Cpl H.Teague" The report went on to details of his cousins. Unfortunately the photograph in the paper is completely useless for this website. The fact that he is namedon the Thiepval Memorial indicates that his grave was lost in further fighting
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
