Harry Farr

Private Harry T. Farr (1891 – 18 October 1916) was a British soldier who was executed by firing squad during World War I for cowardice at the age of 25. Before the war, he lived in Kensington, London and joined the British Army in 1908. He served until 1912 and remained in the reserves until the outbreak of World War I. During the war, Farr served with the West Yorkshire Regiment on the Western Front. In 1915 and 1916 he was hospitalised multiple times for shell shock, the longest period being for five months. On 17 September 1916, Farr did not comply with an order to return to the front line, and was subsequently arrested and charged with cowardice. Unrepresented at his court martial, Farr was found guilty under section 4(7) of the Army Act 1881 and was sentenced to death. He was executed on 18 October 1916.

Farr's family initially suffered from shame and financial hardship following his execution. After discovering details regarding the circumstance of his death—particularly that he suffered from shell shock and did not have a fair trial—his family began a campaign in 1992 to have him posthumously pardoned. They brought a legal case against the Ministry of Defence, which led the government to grant posthumous pardons via the Armed Forces Act 2006, not only to Farr, but to 305 other men who were executed for cowardice, desertion and similar crimes in World War I.

Harry T. Farr was born in 1891. He was not highly educated and lived in poverty. Before World War I, Farr lived in Kensington. He had joined the British Army on 8 May 1908, aged 17, and served until 1912. He remained in the reserves and worked as a scaffolder. Farr and his wife, Gertrude, had a daughter also named Gertrude or "Gertie", who was a young child when Farr left to fight in World War I.

At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, Farr was mobilized with the 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. During his time serving in the war, Farr was hospitalised multiple times for shell shock and related symptoms. On 9 May 1915, shortly after Farr's battalion fought in the Battle of Aubers Ridge, he was removed from his position at Houplines and spent five months in hospital in Boulogne to recover from shell shock. His wife Gertrude recalled that while he was in hospital, it was evident he was suffering and nurses had to write letters on his behalf:

He shook all the time. He couldn't stand the noise of the guns. We got a letter from him, but it was in a stranger's handwriting. He could write perfectly well, but couldn't hold the pen because his hand was shaking.

Farr was discharged from hospital and sent back to the front; he was transferred to the 1st Battalion in October. Farr reported himself to the medical station several times over the following months. In April 1916, he suffered a "nervous collapse" and was treated at a dressing station for a fortnight. On 22 July he spent the night at a medical station for the same complaint and was discharged for duty the next day.

On 17 September 1916, Farr's battalion was due to move to the front line of the Battle of Flers–Courcelette as part of an assault on the German 'Quadrilateral'—a fortified area of German soldiers. To reach this position, the battalion travelled through the so-called 'Chimpanzee Valley' near an ongoing British artillery bombardment. On the morning of the 17th, Farr informed the regimental sergeant major, RSM Hanking, that he was unwell and unable to fight. Farr was instructed to seek the help of a medical officer, but Farr did not appear to be physically wounded and the medical officer did not record anything wrong with him. Farr was ordered to report for duty with a ration party transporting goods to the front line at around 8 P.M., but went missing shortly afterwards. That evening, Farr was still not at the front line. Hanking discovered Farr at 11 P.M. that evening at the transport lines with a brazier. He was ordered to join his battalion but said he "could not stand it". Hanking is recorded to have said in response "You are a fucking coward and you will go to the trenches. I give fuck all for my life and I give fuck all for yours and I'll get you fucking well shot". Hanking also threatened to shoot Farr if he did not follow orders, saying "I will blow your fucking brains out if you don't go". Hanking arranged an escort and a corporal to try and force Farr to return to the front. A physical confrontation between the men ensued and Farr escaped, running back to the transport line where he was later discovered.

The following morning, 18 September 1916, Farr was arrested for disobeying orders and was charged with cowardice. Farr later testified that he could not recall any of the events which followed him struggling against the escort and corporal until after he was put under guard. He was taken to Ville-sur-Ancre on 25 September where his court martial was arranged a week later, on 2 October. He was formally accused of 'misbehaving before the enemy in such a manner as to show cowardice'. Farr underwent a medical examination, and was reported to have "satisfactory" physical and mental faculties. The court martial was presided over by Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Spring, the Commanding Officer of the 11th (Service) Battalion of the Essex Regiment. Farr was unable to call a witness; the medical officer who had previously attended to him was injured and unavailable at the time of the trial. Farr also did not have a "prisoner's friend", so he defended himself. The timeline and details of Farr's alleged offence was recounted by four soldiers, including Hanking, and Farr did not deny their account. Acting Sergeant Andrews spoke in support of Farr, recounting his past medical complaints of nervousness. Farr was asked why he had not sought any further medical attention since he was arrested; Farr responded that he felt better when he was away from shellfire. Farr's military record prior to his offence was almost entirely faultless. His company commander wrote that, even though Farr did not perform well under fire, "his conduct and character are very good".