George Henry Farrant ©
| Date of birth: | 1892 |
| Place of birth: | Southampton |
| Service No.: | Not known |
| Rank: | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Regiment: | The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment |
| Battalion: | 6th |
| Died: | 9th February 1917 aged 24 years |
| Death location: | Basra, Iraq |
This photograph is © Richard Taunton Sixth Form College. Southampton Cenotaph Families and Friends Group have received permission to reproduce this photograph and extracts from the narrative on the Old Tauntonians’ online War Memorial:http://www.ota-southampton.org.uk/memorial/index.html
Please do not reproduce the photograph or any wording from this page. If you want permission to use this photograph or narrative please contact the College on email@richardtaunton.ac.uk.
Life before the War
George’s father, Alfred, was born in Oxford in 1853, dying in 1925. His mother Rosa Maria, nee Stew, was from Frome, Somerset and born in 1853, passing away in 1931. They were parents married in 1882 in Oxford but had moved to Southampton by 1891. George was the youngest of four children:
Alice May b.1883 and d. 1965. Never married.
John Alfred Percival b.19th November 1884 and d.1971. Married Mona Lilian nee Falconer in 1916.
Winifred Lucy b.1891
From 1891 to 1911 the family lived at 94 St Andrews Road, Southampton. Alfred was an employed Ironmonger Manager in 1901 but by 1911 he was an employer, and in the census gives his trade as Ironmonger Stationary and Fancy Goods and General dealer. Alice started as a Pupil Teacher in School in 1901 and in 1911 had become a Certified Elementary School Teacher. John was employed as an Electoral Engineer; Winifred, aged 20, was a Student whilst George was a Clerk.
War Service
Old Tauntonians’ Memorial Roll
Time at Taunton’s School: 1901 – 1909
Education and Employment: George was born in Southampton in 1892. He earned a silver medal at Taunton’s School for a record 8 ½ years without a break in punctuality. After leaving school, George worked as a clerk.
Life during the war: George served with the 6th Battalion of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. He was a second Lieutenant and was fighting in Basra in 1917 with his regiment, defending trenches won earlier that day, when the Turkish Army attacked the British Army’s barricade. George led a gallant attack in return, which resulted in the retaking of the barricade by the King’s Own, but also in the loss of George’s life.
George died on 9th February 1917 aged 24 years.
Basra Memorial, Iraq
He is Remembered with Honour on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. The memorial register reads:
“Farrant, 2nd Lt. George. 6th Bn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt. 9th Feb., 1917. Age 24. Son of Rosa Maria Farrant, of 6, Portswood Park, Southampton, and the late Alfred Farrant”
George is also remembered on Southampton’s Cenotaph and Memorial Wall.
| Researcher: | Becky Lonergan |
| Published: | 19th July 2015 |
| Updated: | Insert dates here |
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