Name
George William Alfred Farrow
Circa 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/09/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
265386
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
IXA. D. 2.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, Tilehouse St., Baptist Church War Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
George William Alfred Farrow was born around 1898 in Kentish Town, London and baptised on 3 April 1898 in Holy Trinity Church, Haverstock Hill, Camden. His parents were Alfred George and Marie Teresa Farrow. The family address at that time was 2 Hartland Grove Haverstock Hill, Camden.
In 1901, Alfred (23), Marie (23) and George (3) were living at Alfred’s parents, George (71) and Betsy (67) Farrow’s home, Ducklands Farm, Hitchin. George work was recorded as ordinary agricultural labourer and Alfred’s agricultural horsekeeper on farm.
George later attended Hitchin Boys British School.
By 1911, Alfred and Marie were in their own home at Ducklands Farm, Hitchin. Alfred still in the same work. The census recorded they had been married for 14 years with 5 children, of whom 1 had died. The children listed were George (13), Dorothy (7), Reginald (1) and Margaret who was under six months old.
Officially George was recorded as born in Kentish Town, Middx., and living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
George was originally given the service number 2313 in the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment. This means that he joined them between 28 January 1913 and 1 January 1914. He was probably in ‘G’ Company – later No. 4 Company, of the 1st Battalion of the Regiment.
As he was already a serving Territorial, he had been trained to a good extent. They were only required to serve in the United Kingdom, but like many others he volunteered for overseas service in August 1914 and was sent to France, landing there on 5th November 1914.
George was re-numbered to service number 265386 in early 1917 when soldiers who had enlisted or were serving in a Territorial Force regiment were issued with a new, six-digit service number.
He had been gassed on one occasion, wounded on another and was killed in action by a shell in Belgium. At the time of his death the Hertfordshires were part of the 118th Brigade of the 39th Division in X Corps.
The Herts were not engaged in any major action at the time, but had just received a severe mauling at St. Julien, as a result of which, they temporarily ceased to exist as a fighting unit, having lost half their number. On the 26th September the 118th Brigade attacked with the three other Battalions in the Battle of Polygon Wood. They were positioned west of Gheluvelt and south of Clapham Junction (on the Ypres to Menin road).
He was buried in Plot 9A, Row D, Grave 2 in the Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death £6 13s 8d was authorised to go to Marie Farrow, his widow, on 21 February 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £17 was authorised to be paid to her, on 23 October 1919.
His pension cards record Marie Farrow, his mother, as his dependant, living at Duckland, Hitchin (probably Duckland Farm, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 5s a week from 16 April 1918.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild