FARRELL, Claude
| Service Number: | 3306 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, January 1897 |
| Home Town: | Port Pirie, Port Pirie City and Dists, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 23 May 1972, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3306, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3306, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3306, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 11 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Apr 1918: | Imprisoned Villers-Bretonneux |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Before the war
Claude Farrell was an 18 year old man born in Adelaide when he enlisted. He lived in Solomontown, Port Pirie with family. Claude was not married; therefore he had no children. Claude was 5 feet and 3 inches, he weighed 123lbs, had a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He also followed the Roman Catholic religion. Claude’s next of kin was his mother, Mrs Catherine Farrell, meaning that she was his closest loving blood relative. Claude’s occupation before the war was a labourer and he also served in Senior Cadets.
During the war
Claude like all soldiers had to sign a form agreeing to truly serve in the Australian Imperial Force from the 26 of July 1915 to the end of the war. This was subscribed and taken in Keswick in South Australia for processing. He also had to have medical examinations before being enlisted to ensure that he had no diseases and that he was fit and strong enough for the duty of a solider in war. Claude Farrell was enlisted on the 26th of July 1915 and was assigned to the 10th battalion, 11th reinforcement along with many other young men. The 10th Battalion was formed shortly after the war started in 1914. His regimental number was 3306; each soldier receives a number which is unique to each regiment. From the 26th of August to the 1st of September 1915 Claude was part of the D group, 3rd training battalion where he undertook intensive physical training. For new recruits like Claude, this consisted of three months’ worth of basic training where physical fitness and confidence had to be built as well as fundamental military skills, discipline and obedience. On the 26th of February 1916, in Egypt, Claude was allocated to join the 50th battalion.
On the 29th of March 1916 Claude was admitted to hospital for Dyspepsia and was discharged on the 4th of April. He was then again admitted to hospital for Dyspepsia and 2 days later he was discharged from hospital. The general hospitals were large base hospitals that usually had around 250-1000 beds however the field hospitals were small medical services which temporarily took care of casualties on-site.
While Claude fought in France, he was granted leave for 10 days from the 8th to the 18th of June 1917. When soldiers were ordered to attack, they had to climb out of the trenches carrying all their equipment and weapons which were quite heavy, and travel through the field of the enemy. The goal was to reach the enemy’s front line where defending troops would be defending their own trenches. The trenches were ditches that were dug into the ground where soldiers lived. They were long, narrow and very muddy and these conditions sometimes caused medical problems for the soldiers. On the 25th of April 1918, at the battle of Villers-Bretonneux, Claude was reported missing in France. Claude was captured and sent to a detention camp. He was later reported to be prisoner of war in German hands on the 13th of June.
After the war
Claude was repatriated from Germany to England and arrived in London on the on the 28th of November. From there he was granted an extension of leave from the 30th of November to the 3rd of January. Claude returned to Australia by H.T Nevasa which was a troopship containing 660 hospital beds and was first launched in 1912. He returned back home on the 5th of March 1919 after a total service of 3 years and 328 days of hard work. Claude died on 23rd of May 1972.