Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 117

Six: Lieutenant E. H. Farmer, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, later Royal Welsh Fusiliers, a rare Yeomanry group to an Officer reported by family sources to have been wounded three times, an assertion made entirely believable by the appearance his bullet-holed tin helmet in the Historical Records of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, notably Farmer was to serve in Ireland during the Easter Rising

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. E. H. Farmer); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Lieut. E. H. Farmer, Montgom. Yeo.); Coronation 1911, privately engraved, ‘294 R.Q.M.S. E. H. Farmer, Montgomery Yeo.’; Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (294 R.Q.M. Sjt. E. H. Farmer, Montgrmy. I.Y.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (294 Q.M. Sjt. E. H. Farmer, Montgom. Yeo.), the fifth with edge bruising and polished, good fine, the last with officially corrected number, otherwise overall very fine and rare (6)

Ernest Horatio Farmer was born in Welshpool, Montgomeryshire in August 1870, the son of William James Farmer, a local grocer. Educated at the local Welshpool grammar school, the younger Farmer was employed by the Imperial Livestock Insurance Company, having been around horses for much of his youth. Perhaps because of this he joined the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry around 1890 with the Headquarters Company before later joining 'C' Company.

Unable to get permission from his father to volunteer for service in the Anglo-Boer War he was married at St. Marys Church, Welshpool in 1902. Appointed an N.C.O., he was awarded the Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C. in February 1905. Farmer was serving at Regiment Quartermaster Sergeant in June 1909 when they sent a Colour Part to Windsor to receive new colours from the King, during the ceremony he was the standard bearer. Later he was to represent his regiment at the Coronation of George V.

Commissioned Second Lieutenant on 9 October 1915 he was attached to the Army Service Corps, with the Historical Records of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry stating: 'Lieutenant Farmer had completed 25 years of unbroken service in the Regiment and felt bitterly the idea of parting. However, it was not for long, as he remained to assist the 1st Line in preparing for embarkation and very soon obtained his transfer and re-joined in Egypt.'

Farmer joined the Regiment in Ireland in 1916 on a training exercise. Initially stationed in Marlborough Barracks, Dublin they were moved to Arbour Hill Barracks and found themselves caught up in the Easter Rising there. He led a detachment to hold the Viceregal Lodge which they did for the duration of 24 April, being relieved at 02:00 on 25 April. Returning to Arbour Hill they came under sniper fire which continued until the ceasefire on 29 April after which he was in charge of house searching, Farmer described it as 'very disagreeable work'.

Embarking for Egypt, his regiment was amalgamated with the 1/1/ Welsh Horse to form the 25th (Montgomery and Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Promoted to Lieutenant in July 1917 he was ordered to the Palestine campaign and likely embarked with the Battalion for France in May 1918. An illustration of his helmet in the Historical Records of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry is depicted with a bullet hole.

A typed career summary left by his family states:

'Wounded three times - he was entitled to a war wounds pension, and when he attended the Tribunals, the Chairmen, usually a General, and a different one very time, always asked what medal is that one, with the yellow ribbon?'

Farmer was transferred to the 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Defence Force) in November 1920 and upon the disbanding of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry in 1922 he attended the Grand Parade, laying the Colours at St. Mary's Church, Welshpool. He was placed on the Retired List in January 1924 and returned to his former employment with Commercial Union. Farmer died at Welshpool in 1936 and is buried at St. Mary's Church, his son also called Ernest Horatio Farmer served during the Second World War in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers; sold together with copied research and photographs as well as extracts from the Historical Records of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£800