Farmer, James Honeyman 418544 (1892 - 1916)

Private, 42nd Bn. Canadian Infantry

Buried at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

Commemorated at Scottish National War Memorial

Born in Glasgow on 3rd July 1892, James Honeyman Farmer signed up for service with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. What little is known about him comes from his attestation papers on the day he went to Montreal to enlist. It was the 3rd September 1915 and he was 22, a fit young man of medium build, with blue eyes, fair skin and brown hair. He was just short of 5 feet 10 inches and, invited to declare his religious affiliation, ticked the box that said he was a Presbyterian. He was as yet unmarried. At that time he was a farmer, perhaps a new life for a young Glaswegian whose next of kin, his mother, Elizabeth Hannah Farmer (known as Jessie), still lived at 1358 Duke Street. James's father, George Honeyman Farmer had died.

James Farmer was a new recruit, but not a raw recruit, having served for eighteen months with the Territorial Army in Scotland, and probably with the University of Glasgow OTC. His uniform now, however, was that of a Private in the Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment). Less than a year later he was killed in action in what was the Canadian Infantry's first planned attack of the war at Mount Sorrel. Well-planned and successful it ended with the Canadian recapture of this important strategic point between Hill 60 and Hooge, close to Ypres. Sadly, the victory was with the sacrifice of many lives between 2nd June and 14th June. James Honeyman Farmer died on 2nd June 1916. He is commemorated on the Ypres Memorial at the Menin Gate.

Reproduced with permission from the University of Glasgow Roll of Honour: http://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/ww1-intro/