Name
John William Farris
30/10/1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/06/1915
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
7445
Rifle Brigade
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA BRIQUE MILITARY CEMETERY NO.2
I. M. 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
"HE MADE THE SACRIFICE AND LIVETH FOR EVER MORE"
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney War Memorial, Napsbury Hospital and Staff Memorial London Colney
Pre War
John William FARRIS was born on 30th October 1882, in St Pancras, London, son of William Richard Farris, a Painter and Paper Hanger, and Emily Sarah Farris (nee Long). One of their eleven children we believe three died in childhood.
His parents married on 24th April 1878, at St Jude’s Church, Grays Inn Road, London.
John was Baptised on 27th November 1892, in the Parish Church, St Pancras, London.
1891 Census records John aged 8, at school, living with his parents, brothers Frederick (11), Edwards (6), sisters Maud (3) and Minnie (2), at Hamfield Cottages, Cookham Rise, Cookham, Berks.
John enlisted in The Rifle Brigade (date of enlisting not known), issued with the service number 7445, he served in South Africa - Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902, with the 1sst Battalion, Rifle Brigade, he was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with Transvaal Clasp and Date Clasp’s 1901 & 1902, he arriving back in the UK in October 1902.
John married Rose Helena Aldridge of Maidenhead, Berks, on 1st September 1908, they went on to have one son Leslie George Farris, in 1913.
1911 Census records John, married to Rose, they are living with Rose’s widowed mother Sarah Aldridge at Dell Cottages, Cookham Rise, Cookham, Berks. John’s occupation is recorded as “Attendant on the Insane” at The Middlesex County Asylum.
John’s father William Farris died in 1915, aged 60.
At one time the family lived at 3 North Cottage, Napsbury, Nr St Albans, Herts.
Wartime Service
John’s service record was not found it is assumed at the outbreak of war John volunteered (possible he was in the reserve) as he kept his service number 7445, and was appointed a Sergeant, he arrived in France on 9th February 1915, serving with the 3rd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade.
He was Killed in Action on 15th June 1915; he is buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No. 2. in Belgium. Grave Ref: I. M. 33.
Additional Information
His effects of £8-17s-02d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £8, went to his widow Rose.
His Headstone inscription “HE MADE THE SACRIFICE AND LIVETH FOR EVER MORE” was requested by his widow Rose H Chapman, formerly Farris.
Rose remarried in mid-1917, to William Chapman they went on to have a daughter Elsie Chapman born in 1918.
1921 Census records, Rose, William and the two children, Leslie and Elsie, living at 123 Kings Road, East Street, St Pancras, London.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
