A Collection of Medals to the Norfolk Regiment

Family Group:

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Private B. E. Farrington, 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 15 April 1918
Military Medal, G.V.R. (29883 Pte. B. E. Farrington. 9/Norf: R.); British War and Victory Medals (29883 Pte. B. E. Farrington. Norf. R.); Memorial Plaque (Bertie Edward Farrington) in card envelope, extremely fine

Three: Private W. Farrington, Norfolk Regiment, who was killed in action during the attack at Longueval during the Battle of the Somme on 27 July 1916, in which action the Battalion suffered 429 casualties over three days
1914 Star (3-6972 Pte. W. Farrington. 1/Norf: R.); British War and Victory Medals (3-6972 Pte. W. Farrington. Norf. R.); Memorial Plaque (William Farrington) in card envelope, extremely fine

Pair: Private P. Farrington, Royal Marine Light Infantry
1914-15 Star (Po.17742, Pte. P. Farrington, R.M.L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Po.17742. Pte. P. Farrington. R.M.L.I.) good very fine (10) £800-£1,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Norfolk Regiment.

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M.M. London Gazette 19 July 1917.

Bertie Edward Farrington attested for the 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment (Territorial Force) at Norwich on 28 October 1914, and served with the 9th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 3 December 1916. Promoted Lance-Corporal on 5 January 1918, he was killed in action on 15 April 1918; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

William Farrington was born in Horstead, Norfolk, and attested for the Norfolk Regiment at Norwich. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 9 October 1914, and the following year, whilst home on leave, on 8 December 1915, ‘he was injured in a plucky attempt to stop a runaway horse in Tombland, Norwich. The horse was one of some animals which had been unloaded at Thorpe Station. In some unaccountable way it slipped its bridle and ran away at great pace along Prince of Wales Road and across Tombland. Here it was that Private William Farrington made his courageous but ineffective effort to stop the horse. The runaway knocked him over and Farrington had to be taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Eventually the horse was stopped in Botolph Street, and with the exception of the misfortune to the soldier, neither the horse nor any other person was injured (Eastern Daily Press, 9 December 1915 refers).
Recovering from his injuries, Farrington returned to the Western Front, and was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 27 July 1916. Moving up to the front line on 26 July, for the next three days the Battalion was involved in the action at Longueval. They came under heavy bombardment while forming up for the attack, with their Commanding Officer noting that “A” Company could barely muster 1 platoon, most of the rest having been buried by the shelling. Nevertheless, the attack started punctually and the Battalion on the right of the attack pushed well forward inside the western edge of Delville Wood. They were finally relieved on 29 July, having suffered a total of 429 casualties during the three-day action. Farrington was amongst those killed; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Sold with an outer O.H.M.S. Medal envelope addressed to ‘Mr. R. Farrington, Crostwick, Norwich’.