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John FARRELL DSO
| Rank | Reg/Ser No | DOB | Enlisted | Discharge/Death | Board |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lieut Col | 20 Mar 1883 33y1m | 1 Apr 1916 | 6 Oct 1919 | 2 |
Major John Farrell (1883-1955)
Family background and early life
John Farrell was born in Hamilton, Scotland on 20 March 1883, the son of Joseph Farrell and Mary (née McLaughlan). Joseph Farrell migrated to Australia in 1886 and his wife and three children joined him during the following year at Eidsvold in Queensland. John attended Eidsvold State School, completing his primary education and becoming a Pupil-teacher.
Teaching
In 1901, the Farrell family moved to Howard where John taught first as a Pupil-teacher then from 1903 to 1911 as an Assistant Teacher. He also began his military service there, joining the Wide Bay Infantry Regiment as a Private. He was commissioned in 1905, promoted to Lieutenant in 1908 and Captain in 1910.
John Farrell was transferred to teach at Rockhampton Central Boys State School in 1911. He joined the Port Curtis Infantry Regiment as Quartermaster, then Company Commander and Adjutant. He married May Watson Williams, a teacher, at Rockhampton on 19 December 1912. In 1914, he acted as Head Teacher at Millchester, Charters Towers, taught at Leichhardt Ward State School and was appointed Head Teacher, Macknade State School in 1915.
Released from duties to serve at Enoggera Training Camp
In September 1915 John Farrell was released from the Department of Public Instruction for full-time military duties. He was a Company Commander at Brisbane Training Camp, then Quartermaster and Assistant Adjutant at Enoggera before his appointment as Captain in the Australian Imperial Force on 1 April 1916. He was promoted to the rank of Major in May and appointed second in command when the 42nd Battalion was formed.
Overseas service
Major Farrell embarked from Sydney on HMAT Borda on 5th June 1916 and reached Armentières, France in November.
In 1917 he fought at Ploegsteert Wood, the battle of Messines and at Warmeton and in October commanded the battalion in its successful attack at Zonnebeke. He again held high command from December to 12 January 1918 at Bois Grenier and Le Biset.
In February 1918 John Farrell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and transferred to the 43rd Battalion as Commanding Officer, a post he held until the end of the war. Under his leadership the 43rd distinguished itself in actions at Sailly-le-Sec and Villers-Bretonneux, in the battle of Hamel in June, and in the August offensive at the capture of Méricourt-sur -Somme.
Mentioned in despatches and awarded DSO
On 1st and 2nd September 1918 the battalion saw action near Mont St Quentin and captured Haut Allaines. Farrell was mentioned in despatches in December and awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership in the capture of Hamel.
John Farrell wrote about incidents of the life in France, each one with an interesting title such as His Donk, Their All, La Petite Madame.
In The Spirit of the Men, Farrell’s regard for the men he commanded is evident. He was a leader who took a strong personal interest in their welfare. He wrote:
“Who will ever forget that first winter in Armentiéres when we were learning the game, those freezing nights on watch, those working parties at all hours in the darkness and in every state of weather? Just think of sleeping in your clothes, getting up at two am, a hurried breakfast by candle light, and then the trudge in gum-boots through the silent shell-wrecked streets and along the seemingly endless miles of duckboards to the line.”
Post war
In August 1919 John returned to Australia and resumed teaching at Wooloowin State School, Brisbane. After transfer to Ascot as an Assistant Teacher he was promoted to Head Teacher at Woodford then Head Teacher at Barcaldine in 1921 to 1923.
Link to Saint Andrew's
At this time the rolls at Saint Andrew’s Church showed Mrs Farrell’s name on the Roll of Communicants Living at a Distance while John Farrell was on the Adherents’ Roll. They were transferred to Mount Morgan in 1924. Mr J Farrell commenced duties as a District Inspector in 1926. He was based in Brisbane from 1934.
He retired in 1949, but in 1950-53 he was made Officer-in-Charge of special schools for recent migrants.
Passing
Survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter, he died on 9 December 1955 at Windsor, Brisbane.
Compiled by Noel Adsett, 2014. ©
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