Lives of the First World War

Privet Herbert Wilfred Farmer (Wilfred to friends and family) served with the 1st/13th Kensington Battalion London Regiment. It is believed by his family that he belied his age so that he could enlist. In 1914 The 1st/13th was mobilised and moved to Abbots Langley before landing at Le Harve, France in November, and joined the 25th Brigade, 8th Division later the same month. Upon Wilfred's arrival in France he wrote a letter back home to his mother. Wilfred wrote that he "Arrived quite safe on Thursday and had a lovely voyage I quite enjoyed it, the sea was very smooth & there was no sea sickness. We were on the boat until Friday when we proceeded to the base. The scenery is lovely and the people very nice. We are all quite well have been living in luxury, bully beef, biscuits has hard as iron, cheese and jam & tea. A shilling is only worth tenpence out here and that is all you get for it. We are in tents with about twelve in each tent, rather close quarters. The[re is] every regiment represented here I think including the fist battalion. The price for parcels if you care to send anything is three pounds for a shilling the hardest things to get are cigarettes, tobacco and chocolate. I hope you got my letter quite safe you can answer this one if you find time. Well I must close now, With love Wilfred PS give my love to all". From Le Harve the Battalion journeyed to Laventie and took over a section of trenches which at that point constituted the front line. According to The Princess Louise 's Regimental Association by the end of February 1915 the battalion had sustained 96 casualties predominantly from sniper, shell and mortar fire. This is supported in a letter from Wilfred to his mother "Dear Mother, Just a line to let you know how things are going received your letter quite safe and very pleased to hear from you. The weather is very cold and we are getting a lot of snow, but get plenty of warm clothing. I have just come out of the trenches [and] are another three days & nights in them. We are constantly being sniped at while we are in the [trenches], but our guns give them hell. Do not send any tobacco as Mrs Killingray has sent me some but please sent biscuits & coco & cigarettes if possible. We only get bread now & again and short bread biscuits are very handy. I am trying to get that allotment put through, but I think it will be a job now. I am sorry to hear Daley's is closing as it will make it rotten for you. I am in the best of health and I [hope] you, Dad & the Kidds are the same. You should see what the Germans have done to the town we are billeted in, it would surprise you very much. Well I must finish now as we are very busy so goodbye for the present. With love from Wilfred xxxxxxxx PS Give my love to all". On the 10th of March 1915 Wilfred's Battalion went into battle at Neuve Chapelle, North West of Bethune, Flanders. The objective was to capture the village of the same name and make a break in part of the German Army's front line. The operation was successful but at a high cost, and the British were not able to take further advantage. It was during this action that Wilfred was wounded in the neck/face and leg and moved to ward 3 of the General Hospital at Boulogne. On the 14th of March while in hospital Wilfred dictated a letter to his mother through a Miss D. M. Gorden "My dearest Mother I have been wounded by a bullet through the neck and leg & have got paralysis of the hands so can't write myself. But hope to be well enough to do so in a few days I am in a very nice hospital here and am well looked after. Best love your loving son Wilfred". Wilfred died of wounds sustained the next day. In a letter dated the 24th of March 1915 Miss D. M. Gordon explains to Wilfred's mother that he passed away later on the same night in which she wrote the letter on behalf of Wilfred. She went on to mention how she is sorry that she could not let Wilfred's mother know sooner and that Wilfred was confident that in a few days he would be able to write to her directly. Miss D. M. Gordon informs that everything that was possible was done by the doctors and sisters to save him. Wilfred was one of estimated 7,000 British casualties that resulted from The Battle of Neuve Chapelle. His grave can be found in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave reference: Plot III, Row C, Grave 85 This information was gathered and written by Mr Terrance Clark, Miss Jade Martin and Mr Callum Martin.

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