Name
George Francis Fardle
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
43832
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 74 to 76.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Separate individual plaque in the Non-conformist Chapel, Therfield
Pre War
Born on 13 May 1880 in Therfield, Herts. son of Thomas and Martha Fardle and christened on 1 Aug 1880 in Therfield.
1891 census details
The family were living at The Terrace, Therfield and Thomas ,51 (a road labourer) with his wife Martha, 54 had 3 boys at home. These were John, 17, Arthur, 14 and George Francis, 10. The 3 boys were recorded as agricultural labourers.
1901 census details
George was a draper’s cart driver in London and was a lodger alongside 50 others at 7/8 Stratford Mews, off Portman Square.
1911 census details
He was now recorded as working for Harrods as a warehouseman for Harrods and lodging with a Mrs Waller at 26 Montpellier Row in Knightsbridge.
Later living in Camberwell, Surrey and living there in 1891. In 1901 he was living in Stratford Mews in Marylebone, London working as a draper’s cart driver. In 1911 he was a warehouseman for Harrods and living as a lodger
Wartime Service
Formerly 5967 London Regiment 8th Bn.
He enlisted in Camberwell and first joined the London Regiment with the number 5967 and according to his medals went over to France after the beginning of 1916. At some point he transferred into the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles with the number 43832. In early 1918 they were transferred to the 107th Brigade in the 36th Division and in March, the month of his death this division was engaged in the Battle of St. Quentin.
As none of his service records have survived we cannot detect further details but know that he was killed on March 21st (see war diary extract). His name appears on the Pozieres Memorial.
He was killed near Artemps, south west of St. Quentin as his Division was pushing back the enemy. As well as being named on the Therfield Roll of Honour his name also appears on the one in the Harrods store in London where he was employed.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Jean Handley
