FARRANT, Frederick Joseph
entered as "Dick" on the memorial


No.49922, Private, Frederick Joseph FARRANT
Aged 33
13th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
posted as # 136055 to 372 H.S. Coy., Labour Corps
formerly 48440, Middlesex Regiment
Died on 22nd June 1918


Frederick Joseph FARRANT, just to add to the confusion was registered at birth as Frederick Aquilar FARRANT, the son of Frederick and Sophia FARRANT (née CABLE). He was born at Duddery Road, Haverhill on 24th October 1884 (Risbridge Q4-1884 4a:605).
A definite case of family help in identification, A family member relates that he was known in the family as Dick, hence Dick Farrant on the memorial. One tends not to look under Frederick for someone named as Dick.

1891 census...Aged 6, he was at 18 Broad Street, Haverhill with his father Frederick FARRANT[43] a tailor's cutter; his mother Sophia [42] born Theberton, Suffolk; sisters Emily [19] sewing machinist; Maggie [10] scholar; Violet [7] and Grace [1]; brothers Oliver [16] factory hand, Isaac [14] and Harry [13] both errand boys, and Jesse [5]. All except his mother were born in Haverhill.

1901 census...Aged 18 he was at 43 John's Street, Luton with his brother in law John GAZELEY (assistant in Life Insurance Co) born Pirton, Herts; his sister Emily and their children, daughter Bertha GAZELEY [3] born Peterboro. Also there was his sister Grace[13]. His mother was alone at 38 Withersfield Road, living on her own means. his father seems to be at 24 Broad Street, now a co-op manager, with Maggie [20], Herbert [10] and Charlie [7].

In Q4-1909 he married Mabel Frances MOBLEY in Luton.

1911 census...Giving his birth place as Newmarket, it seems that, aged 25, a straw hat blocker, he was at 38 Granville Road, Luton with his wife Mabel [20] born Dunstable, and their daughter Ethel May [1] born Luton. They had another daughter Doris E in 1911. Despite this confusion, the Soldier's Personal Effect record does show his widow as Mabel FARRANT. There are so many age and name confusions that this record does need expanding on, if at all possible


He enlisted in Luton in February 1917.

No medal index card has been found, which usually indicates no overseas service. Also transfer to the Labour Corps was often the result of either wounding or illness down grading a fitness status. Frederick died at Richmond Hospital, but the cause is not yet known.



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Frederick Joseph Farrant is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey grave 13:D:14

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


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