Pte 22995 Thomas Farrell

• Age: 24
• From: Prescot
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 6th March 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.G.18

Thomas Farrell was born in Whiston, Lancashire, in the March quarter of 1892 and was the youngest of seven children, (two of whom died in infancy) born to James Farrell, born in Wolverhampton and employed as a stationary engine driver, and his wife Catherine, born in Liverpool. His parents James Farrell and Catherine Nadin were married 26th November 1877 at West Derby Registery Office. Thomas had siblings Clara, Daniel, George Joseph (who died at 10 months), John, Joseph, and Catherine Veronica (died aged 3 months), all born in Wavertree. His father had one son, James Edward, to Jane Kelly, his first wife. They married in 1872 but she died young in 1876 aged 26).

In 1881 James and Catherine, with their three children James, Clara, and Daniel, lived in Heygreen Road, Wavertree.  

In 1891 the family lived at 1 Stanks Lane, Whiston, with four children. Thomas would be born here in 1892.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Paradise Lane, Whiston, Prescot, Lancashire. Thomas' father, James, is not present in the household and his wife Catherine is listed as head of the household. She is aged 46, born 1855 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. She is living with her four sons, Daniel aged 21, born 1880 is a brakeman in a colliery, John aged 17, born 1884 is a machine minder in a wire works, Joseph aged 16, born 1885 is a dealer coal miner and they were all born in Liverpool. Thomas is aged 9.
Clara is married and living in Whiston.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 4 Picton Road, Liverpool, Catherine now a charwoman is aged 55 and living at the address with her youngest son, Thomas, aged 19 who is employed as a a billiard marker in a public house.

Thomas married Mary Ann Burgess at Our Lady of Good Help, Chestnut Grove, Wavertree on 28th April, 1914. (Marriage record shows married at West Derby Registry Office). They had a son, Thomas Henry, born on 20th July 1915 and lived initially at 9 Holmes Street, Liverpool.

His father appears to have died in late 1913 aged 62  and his mother in August 1914, aged 58.

On 10th November  1914, Thomas enlisted at Liverpool,  joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22995. He gave his age as 22 years and 9 months and his occupation as ‘hotel assistant’. He was five feet seven inches tall, weighed 132lbs, with a 36" chest, and was of fresh complexion, with grey eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Roman Catholic. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals Battalions left Liverpool via Prescot for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain

In April 1915, he was convicted of being absent without leave on 27th and 28th April  and was sentenced to 4 days confinement to barracks. 

On 02nd October 1915 at Lark Hill Camp, he was again absent without leave for 2 days and received 4 days CB.

He sailed to France on 7th November 1915.

Thomas was killed in action by a bullet wound to his head on  06th March 1916, aged 24.

CWGC records his death as 06th March 1916. His original burial record at Maricourt shows 07th March 1916. However, the Battalion diary shows that there were 2 O.R. killed on the 07th March 1916, those being John Francis Bowler and Charles Henry Housden.

His death, showing 07th March1916, was reported in the Liverpool Echo dated 20th March1916:

Killed in Action                 

FARRELL – March 7 killed in France Private Thomas Farrell 4th ‘Pals’.  The dearly beloved husband of Mary Ann Farrell of 9 Holmes Street, Smithdown Road. R.I.P. (He gave his life for those he loved)

A letter from his wife dated 20th March 1916, informed the Army authorities that she had “had a letter from Captain Laird to say my husband was killed in action in France on Tuesday, 7th March. Do you have any further information?”

A note on his service papers dated 21st March 1916 says that Thomas had not yet featured on a casualty report but this was rectified when his effects, which included a rosary, prayer book, 61 letters and his false teeth were sent to his widow in May 1916.

She informed Infantry Records that she had not received the ring nor silver watch belonging to her husband. (She was by then living in Stevenson Street, her parents' address.)

In her sworn declaration, Mary Ann, Thomas had 3 surviving brothers - Daniel, 39 years; John, 36 years; and Joseph, 34 years - and a sister, Clara Sharples, 41 years.

Thomas was originally buried in Maricourt Military Cemetery and his grave marked with a cross showing date of death 07th March, the same date as the Graves Registration form. His CWGC certificate gives his date of death as 06th March. After the war, when graves were concentrated, his body was removed and reinterred in CerisyGailley Military Cemetery.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme including:

MARICOURT MILITARY CEMETERY was at the South-East corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. 

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers Effects to widow Mary A. and child Thomas Henry. She was awarded a dependant's pension of 15 shillings a week for herself and her son.

Mary Ann also received Thomas' outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £3 in 1919, with a supplemental £2 in 1920.

Thomas was remembered in the Liverpool Echo dated 07th March 1917:

- Roll of Honour –

FARRELL In loving memory of my dearly beloved husband Private Thomas Farrell (KLR) killed in action March 7 1916 R.I.P.  (Sadly missed by his devoted wife and son) 2 Chestnut Grove, Wavertree.

And on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In sad and loving memory of my devoted husband, Thomas Farrell (Private, K.L.R.), killed in action March 7, 1916. (R.I.P.) - Never forgotten by his devoted Wife and Son and all at 2, Chestnut Grove."

Thomas is commemorated in Liverpool's Hall of Remembrance, Panel 64, and on the Prescot Roll of Honour.

In her sworn declaration in 1919, Mary Ann, advised that Thomas had 3 surviving brothers - Daniel, 39 years; John, 36 years; and Joseph, 34 years - and a sister, Clara Sharples, 41 years.

Mary Ann is found on electoral rolls living with her parents at 2 Chestnut Grove until at least 1933.

On the 1939 register she is found at 23 Southdale Road with her mother. It is not known when she died.

In 1939 his son Thomas Henry was newly married and living in Colville Street, employed as a general labourer. He died in 1977 aged 71.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Farrell. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.