The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Lance Corporal J Farrelly

Lance Corporal John FARRELLY, G/1266, 8th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 1st September 1916.

Born Blackburn, Lancashire, son of Peter & Bridget (deceased 1930, age 79), Farrelly, 40 Henrietta Street, Blackburn, Lancashire. One brother.

7th September 1901, St Anne's, Roman Catholic Church, King Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, married Grace Kendal, 70 Limbrick, Blackburn, Lancashire.

Children - Alice Farrelly, born 29th June 1905, Blackburn, Lancashire; Catherine Farrelly, born 11th December 1910, Blackburn, Lancashire.

1911 Census - John Farrelly, head, age 32, married, brush maker, worker, born Blackburn; Grace Farrelly, wife, age 29, married 9 years, 2 children, both still alive, born Barrow in Furness; Alice Farrelly, daughter, age 5, born Blackburn; Catherine Farrelly, daughter, age under 4 months, born Blackburn; Henrietta Mathews, boarder, age 39, single, certified teacher, LOcal Education Authority, Elementary School, born Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

Enlisted Blackburn, Lancashire, age 34 years & 3 months, height 5ft 4¾ inches, weight 123lbs, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Formerly brush maker.

Home 6th September 1914 to 4th October 1915; BEF 5th October 1915 to 1st September 1916.

6th September 1914, enlisted; 13th October 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 26th October 1914, posted 9th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 4th October 1915, posted BEF & 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 18th October 1915, appointed Lance Corporal.

23rd September 1916, letter from 2nd Lieutenant W G Lock, 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, Springfield, Lustow, North Devon - I am home on a few days leave and I was with Lance Corporal Farrelly when he was killed, perhaps you would like a few lines from me. We were all frightfully sorry when he was killed as there was no better man in the Battalion. When in the trenches, he never minded the enemies shells and was always the first to render help to anybody wounded and by his fine steadiness was a great example to the rest of the men. He has been recommended for a special award and will I hope soon obtain it. I have been with the Company since last October and so knew Lance Corporal Farrelly very well. He was killed instantaneously by a shell in Delville Wood and is buried there, in the middle of the wood.

26th March 1917, pension awarded of 18/6 a week for widow and two children, increasing to 22/11 a week from 4th April 1917. Living at 6 Court Fold, Langham Road, Shear Brow, Blackburn.

14th July 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, Grace Farrelly, 70 Limbrick, Blackburn; Children - Alice Farrelly, born 29th June 1905; Catherine Farrelly, born 11th December 1911; Father, Peter Farrelly, 40 Henrietta Street, Blackburn; Mother, Bridget Farrelly, 40 Henrietta Street, Blackburn; Brother - James Farrelly, age 38, 19 Pleasington Street, Balckburn.

11th June 1923, memo from Infantry Records to War Office in respect of an application from Mrs Grace Farrelly, Beechwood, Cassilis Street, Kogarah, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, concerning Canteen Fund, Great War; 22nd June 1923, letter from Controller of Surplus Stores & Salvage to Mrs Grace Farrelly, "I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 26th April 1923, and to inform you that, in accordance with the War Services Canteens (Disposal of Surplus), Act of 1922, all funds formed of the accumulated profits of Canteen trading during the War, so far as they were derived from the Army and Air Force, have been paid over to :- The United Services Fund, 29 Cromwell Road, London, SW7."

Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 11C, Somme, France.

This page was last updated on 08-Dec-2018.