FARRANT, Arthur Edward


No.254863, Private, Arthur Edward FARRANT
Aged 18


1st/3rd Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
Died of his Wounds on Thursday, 5th September 1918


Arthur Edward FARRANT was born in Haverhill (Risbridge Q2-1898 4A:759), baptised on 30th July 1898 in St Mary's, Haverhill, son of Arthur and Harriet FARRANT(née SALTER).


1901 census...Aged 1, he was at 33 Burton End, Haverhill with his father Arthur FARRANT [25] hair cloth weaver; his mother Harriet [23] and brother Stanley [4]. All were born in Haverhill.

1911 census...Aged 11, he was at 58 Crowland Road, Haverhill with his parents; brothers Stanley (baker's assistant), Albert [9], Charles [5], John [3] and William [1]; sister Nellie [6] and widower great grandfather Timothy FARRANT [94]. All born in Haverhill. His mother had lost one child.

His father died in Q1-1917 and brother Stanley died in France in the Royal Warwickshire regiment in October 1917. see here



He enlisted in Woolwich. Early in 1918 the 1st/3rd and 2nd/3rd Battalions merged to become the 3rd Royal Fusiliers
As he died of wounds and his service record is not found, there is no way of being sure exactly when or where he was wounded. The battalion war diary is no help, just recording training etc in camp near Martin Eglise in the first days of September 1918.
46th Casualty Clearing Station was at that time in Bailleulval.

The South West Suffolk Echo on October 30th 1915 read:-
"Mrs Farrant,of 68 Weavers Row, Haverhill has received news that her son,Pte. A.E.Farrant, of the Royal Fusiliers, has been killed in France. Deceased who was only eighteen years of age, was at one time employed in the cord room of the factory.He afterwards went to Woolwich Arsenal, leaving there to join up in March last. Following the death of her husband,Mrs. Farrant received news of the loss of a son on the front last October, and now comes the intelligence that the only other son serving has passed away. She has received the following letter from the Matron of the 46th Casualty Clearing Station:- "Your son came into us on 2nd September; he was seriously wounded in the chest. For a time he seemed to be doing well, but he took a turn for the worse on the afternoon of the 5th, and passed away at midnight. He died very quickly and peacefully, and I hope it may be of comfort to you to know he was here with us and had every loving care and attention. We send you our deepest sympathy:







photo: Rodney Gibson

Arthur Edward Farrant is buried in Bac-du-Sud British Cemetery, Bailleulval grave 3:F:26

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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