South Staffordshire War Memorials

Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.

A Farmer

Arthur Farmer was born at Onibury, Shropshire in 1885, the son of Thomas and Eliza. By 1901 the family had moved to Wednesfield and Arthur was living at Wood End, Wednesfield, where he was working as a farm carter.

Arthur married Sarah Jane Lane at Wednesfield Parish Church on 24 May 1908. The couple moved to Brewood where they lived in Hyde Mill Lane before moving to Newport Street. They had two children, Dorothy Margaret and Arthur John.

Arthur was almost 31 when he enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment in December 1915. He went to France in May 1916 and joined the 1st Battalion. He was wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and sent back to England where he spent some time in a Military Hospital at Devonport.

When Arthur returned to France in September 1916 he was transferred to the 7th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. On the 9th April, 1917 he was badly injured with gunshot wounds to the knee, leg and shoulder. He was taken to the 7th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples where he died on 28th April, 1917. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery.

Private Arthur Farmer 40584 Norfolk Regiment (previously 20623 South Staffordshire Regiment) was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.