Lives of the First World War

known July 1911

The Eagle, Vol XI, No. III. SIR GEORGE FARRAR, BART, D.S.O, M.L.A "The "Illustrated Star" of Johannesburg, of June 3rd, gives an excellent portrait of Sir George Farrar, together with views of his beautiful home, Bedford Farm, about 8 miles from Johannesburg. The accompanying article has the following passages: - To begin at the beginning. George Herbert Farrar was born on the 17th June, 1859. His father was Dr. Charles Farrer, who practiced in Cambridgeshire. Sir George has three brothers: Mr. Sidney Farrer, who was associated with him in business in Johannesburg for a number of years; Mr. Percy Farrar (a Captain of Irregulars in the late war, and who, like George, therein won his D.S.O); and the Rev. C.F. Farrar, headmaster of Elstow School Bedford. To answer a question often asked, he is not related to the late Dean Farrar, though mention of the ministry calls to mind the fact that a cousin of his is Mrs. Hugh Price Hughes, widow of the late Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, the eminent Nonconformist divine. From Cambridgeshire the family moved to Bedford, where, happily, Mrs. Farrer (the mother) lives at the present time. An octogenarian, she is young in spirit to-day; and anyone having the privilege of friendship with this kindly, thoughtful lady, the possessor of high character, and a clear thinker, can easily imagine the training the Farrar boys must have received at her hands. Young George Farrar, as he then was, went to Bedford Modern School, and there received his scholastic training. Euclid, so he has been heard modestly to say, was a subject he could not understand; but the fact remains that since his schooling days many a hard problem he has successfully solved. As the subject of this sketch is at present voyaging to England, dates and details are difficult to obtain, but we assume that he left school early. Engineering was his choice of work, and he began his business career in the engineering house of his uncle, Sir Frederick Howard, of Bedford, England. He also worked in an engineering house in London, going to and from Bedford daily. To go abroad was his ambition as a youngster, and go abroad he did. He came to South Africa about the year 1879. He settled first at Cape Colony, we believe, as agent to his uncle, Sir Frederick Howard, the name of the firm being Howard, Farrar & Co. (Managed by Mr. George and Mr. Sidney Farrar). Mr. George Farrar personally superintended at Port Elizabeth, the construction of the mill of the Union Gold Mining Company, Barberton - one of the first mills erected at Barberton, Queenstown. Port Elizabeth and East London, and the Eastern Province generally, were centres of his activity, and into the business of ploughs, windmills and such like, he fused characteristic energy, and he found time too, for more regular recreation then than he has been able to do since. In those days he was a athlete; a springy, lissom runner, with stamina also a feature. He held for twenty years the South African record for the mile. The river too, attracted him, for he was a good swimmer, and could also handle a pair of oars with efficiency and ease. A first-rate cross-country rider, he won several point-to-point races. His business career in the Transvaal has been uninterruptedly progressive. He concentrated on it, studied mines, and kept his concerns working in first rate order. He wins loyalty. Ability to give clearness of orders is a feature of his, as indeed it is in all leaders of men. Words said of another strong man apply to him: "The instinct to direct and govern men is the primordial instinct of his nature." Power of organisation is another attribute owned by Sir George Farrar. Ceaseless energy is yet another. The knack of wasting time, "the delightful capacity to be idle," is something foreign to his nature and disposition. He showed grit, faith in the resources of the Witwatersrand, proved patient, never ceased to work, and prosperity was his reward. In 1892 he married, and a very happy married life has been and is his lot. Through the anxious political times of the 1895-96 he has the sympathy and help of his wife, when both his and her courage must have been taxed to the uttermost, but both by sheer pluck "won through." In his election campaigns, too, Lady Farrar championed his cause tellingly, and indeed spoke at several meetings at the last election. All who have visited Bedford Farm (an object lesson as to what can be done from bare veldt) know something of the happy family life led there. He has an English residence at Chicheley Hall, near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire; but his heart is in Bedford Farm, which is his permanent home, and which is a proof of his love of this country.

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