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13th Brigade, Australian Field Artillery 4178 |
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Date/Place of Birth: 1888, Mainstone, England
Date/Place of Death: 21 August 1917, Ypres Belgium
Biographical details: Richard Christopher Farrington was born about 1888 at Mainstone England, the son of Charles and Jane Elizabeth Farrington. After being educated at the Bishops Frome School in Herefordshire, Farrington worked as an engineman on the Great Western Railway until about 1910 when he left England for Australia. On enlistment, Farrington stated that he had served an apprenticeship of 5 1/2 years and was a locomotive engine driver.
Service details: Farrington enlisted on 18 January 1915 and was allocated to the 5th Divisional Field Artillery reinforcements. After initial training, Farrington left Sydney aboard A20 HMAT Hororata on 10 April 1915 and after a brief period in Egypt, joined the Australian forces on Gallipoli on 26 July 1915 when he was transferred to the 2nd Battery. Farrington remained on Gallipoli until the Australian forces were withdrawn from the peninsula and on 3 January 1916, Farrington disembarked from the Tunisian at Alexandria. On 26 February 1916, Farrington was transferred to the 5th Division artillery at Tel-el-Kebir. On 10 March 1916 Farrington was transferred to the 25th Australian Field Artillery (Howitzers) and then posted to the 113th Battery. Farrington was promoted to bombardier on 20 May 1916. In June 1916, Farrington and his unit were transferred to the British Expeditionary Force serving at the Western Front in France and Belgium. His unit left Alexandria aboard the HT Canada on 19 June 1916, arriving in Marseilles on 25 June 1916. On 9 July 1916, Farrington transferred to the 13th Field Artillery Brigade, part of the 5th Division AIF taking part in the battles of Fromelles. On 7 September 1916 Farrington was promoted to Corporal. During 1917, Farrington’s unit took part in the capture of Baupaume during the general retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Battle for Bullecourt in April. Farrington took a furlough between 12 May and 29 May 1917 before returning to his unit which took part in the 3rd Battle of Ypres. On 20 August 1917, Farrington suffered gunshot wounds to the right leg, arms and chest. He was admitted to the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station the following day where he died as a result of his wounds.
Memorial Details: Farrington is commemorated on Memorial Panel 17, 8 Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No 3, Vlamertinghe, Belgium.