George Edwin Farmer was born at Oswestry in 1890. He was the second son of Jane and George Farmer with siblings John and the youngest, Martha Letitia. His father worked as a general labourer and later became a time keeper at the Railway Works. The family lived at 35 (25) Orchard Street, Oswestry. George’s father died in September 1909. After leaving school George had taken an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker and worked for Messrs S Lloyd antique dealers in Oswestry. He enlisted at the outbreak of war joining 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, Oswestry Pals. He left Oswestry with the first draft on 9 September 1914 and, after training, went over to France on 24 July 1915. He was for a time, along with other men from 6 Bn KSLI, attached to 83 Company Royal Engineers. This was at Ypres when they were employed on road building and improving fortifications.

George died of wounds at a CCS at Meallte on 8 October 1916. He had been wounded in the right thigh probably during the previous 2-3 days when the battalion were stationed in the reserve lines near to Les Boeufs. They were on working and carrying parties digging assembly trenches for the forthcoming attack on Transloy during the Somme Offensive. There was persistent shelling by the enemy. Over 5-6 October casualties were 3 ORs KIA and 39 wounded – 2 of these were self-inflicted. George is buried in Grove Town Cemetery at Meallte. He is also commemorated at St Oswald’s and Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry.

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