The Farraday Medals
Captain William Charles John Farraday TD* Royal Artillery
The Man William Charles John Farraday was born on Sunday 24th September 1893, at 48 Ramsay Road, Wanstead, London. Son of James William an Engine Filler’s Assistant and Elizabeth Mary nee Robbins. He appears to have one sister, Doris born in 1904 in South Africa.
In 1901 William was living at 46 Brougham Road, Hackney with his mother and the Jackson family. His father does not appear on the census although Elizabeth is shown as married.
William attended Hague Street School, Bethnal Green (still operating as Hague School in 2021) and on 3rd September 1900 was admitted to St Paul’s School in London where he remained until 8th November 1901.
By 1911 William aged 17 is shown as living at 12 Wellington Road Exeter with his Mother and Sister Doris and working as a Joiner and Ecclesiastical Art Worker. It is unknown why his Father James is still not shown as Elizabeth claims to still be married and have been for for 20 years. It also appears that Elizabeth had travelled to South Africa between 1901 and 1911 where Doris was born, possibly as James was working there?
In any event, William enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery Territorial Force in about 1910 with service number 325. He was promoted to Corporal and Acting Sergeant, volunteering to serve overseas in the event of the inevitable conflict that was looming in Europe.
During World War I William was mobilised and served overseas. His service number was later changed to 865048 and following the Armistice on 11th November 1918 he was awarded the 1914-18 British War, Victory and Territorial Force War Medals. These were followed by the Territorial Efficiency Medal awarded in Army Order 423 of 1923.
In 1901 William was living at 46 Brougham Road, Hackney with his mother and the Jackson family. His father does not appear on the census although Elizabeth is shown as married.
William attended Hague Street School, Bethnal Green (still operating as Hague School in 2021) and on 3rd September 1900 was admitted to St Paul’s School in London where he remained until 8th November 1901.
By 1911 William aged 17 is shown as living at 12 Wellington Road Exeter with his Mother and Sister Doris and working as a Joiner and Ecclesiastical Art Worker. It is unknown why his Father James is still not shown as Elizabeth claims to still be married and have been for for 20 years. It also appears that Elizabeth had travelled to South Africa between 1901 and 1911 where Doris was born, possibly as James was working there?
In any event, William enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery Territorial Force in about 1910 with service number 325. He was promoted to Corporal and Acting Sergeant, volunteering to serve overseas in the event of the inevitable conflict that was looming in Europe.
During World War I William was mobilised and served overseas. His service number was later changed to 865048 and following the Armistice on 11th November 1918 he was awarded the 1914-18 British War, Victory and Territorial Force War Medals. These were followed by the Territorial Efficiency Medal awarded in Army Order 423 of 1923.
Between April and June 1919, he Married Annie Cornish in Holsworthy, Devon and in the same year enlisted into the Regular Army, still in the Royal Artillery with the 27th Brigade and a new service number of 289440, later 1017322.
By 1931 he was based at Edinburgh Castle and living in Married Quarters with Annie at 13 Johnston Terrace and in 1933 at Piershill Barracks, Portobello Road, Edinburgh. Interestingly the barracks that had been built in 1793 in response to the threat of the French Revolution, were vacated in 1934 and demolished in 1935.
William was promoted through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class II and in Army Order 224 of 1937 awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, one of the early recipients of the George VI bust.
William retired from the Army in 1939 aged 46 but was Commissioned on 1st May into the Territorial Army as Quarter Master Lieutenant, still Royal Artillery and service number 87228. His rank was made substantive on 24th August and he was promoted to Captain on 1st November 1942.
He was again mobilised during World War II seeing service in North West Europe following D-Day on 6th June 1944. He was awarded the 1939-1945, France and Germany Stars, Defence and War Medals 1939-45.
On 2nd July 1949 aged 55 he retired from the Territorial Army having exceeded the age limit and retaining the rank of Captain (Quartermaster). He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ and clasp in the London Gazette of 20th July 1954.
In later life, William lived with Annie at 22 Laburnum Grove, Kingsway, Derby, but he did not enjoy his retirement for long as he sadly died on 8th August 1961 in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary aged 67 of Hodgkins Disease. He left no will and probate was granted in 1961 and again in 1974 to Annie. He left £1812.00 (£41,000.00 approximately in 2021).
By 1931 he was based at Edinburgh Castle and living in Married Quarters with Annie at 13 Johnston Terrace and in 1933 at Piershill Barracks, Portobello Road, Edinburgh. Interestingly the barracks that had been built in 1793 in response to the threat of the French Revolution, were vacated in 1934 and demolished in 1935.
William was promoted through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class II and in Army Order 224 of 1937 awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, one of the early recipients of the George VI bust.
William retired from the Army in 1939 aged 46 but was Commissioned on 1st May into the Territorial Army as Quarter Master Lieutenant, still Royal Artillery and service number 87228. His rank was made substantive on 24th August and he was promoted to Captain on 1st November 1942.
He was again mobilised during World War II seeing service in North West Europe following D-Day on 6th June 1944. He was awarded the 1939-1945, France and Germany Stars, Defence and War Medals 1939-45.
On 2nd July 1949 aged 55 he retired from the Territorial Army having exceeded the age limit and retaining the rank of Captain (Quartermaster). He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ and clasp in the London Gazette of 20th July 1954.
In later life, William lived with Annie at 22 Laburnum Grove, Kingsway, Derby, but he did not enjoy his retirement for long as he sadly died on 8th August 1961 in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary aged 67 of Hodgkins Disease. He left no will and probate was granted in 1961 and again in 1974 to Annie. He left £1812.00 (£41,000.00 approximately in 2021).
The Story The medal group awarded to William Charles John Farraday were acquired from the Dix Noonan Webb auction on Wednesday 17th February 2021 and of interest because of the treble long service combination.
Some research came with the medals, including copies of his birth, death certificates and Army Orders. The usual trawl of Ancestry.UK helped flesh out his biography.
Another ‘time served’ soldier who spent most his adult life in uniform going from the Territorials to Regular and back to Territorial.
Some research came with the medals, including copies of his birth, death certificates and Army Orders. The usual trawl of Ancestry.UK helped flesh out his biography.
Another ‘time served’ soldier who spent most his adult life in uniform going from the Territorials to Regular and back to Territorial.
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 325 A.SJT W.C.J.FARRADAY. R.A.
- Victory Medal: 325 A.SJT W.C.J.FARRADAY. R.A.
- Territorial Force War Medal: 325 CPL W.C.J.FARRADAY. R.A.
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- France and Germany Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: 1017322 W.O.CL.II. W.C.J.FARRADAY. R.A.
- Efficiency Decoration: 1954 Clasp: 1954
- Territorial Efficiency Medal: 865048 CPL CPL. W.C.J.FARRADAY. R.F.A.
Provenance
- David Lloyd Collection
- DNW 17 Feb 21
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This page last updated 4 Apr 21
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