Private Harry Reginald Farquharson
| Date of Birth | c. 1874 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 41 |
| Date of Death | 8 June 1915 |
| Service Number | 951 |
| Military Service | 2nd Battalion 3rd County of London Yeomanry |
| Merton Address | |
| Local Memorial | Streatham Park Cemetery |
Additional Information
Harry was born c. 1874 in Westbury, Wiltshire. He was officially baptised “Reginald Harry” but used a shortened version of his name from his teenage years onwards. The son of Richard and Jessie Farquharson, Harry had at least seven siblings. His parents seem to have been from a comfortable background, as they were able to support their growing family using income derived from land ownership. By 1891 the family was living on Knowle Lane in Brixton.
After working as a groom – caring for horses, Harry found employment as a lithographer, producing posters and book illustrations through a specialised form of printing. He then became something of a career soldier, despite never achieving high rank. He initially joined the army on 9 September 1892 and became a private in the 4th Battalion, Royal Hussars. At this stage he was described as 5 feet, 5 1/2 inches tall and weighing 124 lbs. Having deserted for a period of three months in 1894, Harry was imprisoned for a month and had his pay withheld for a year and a half by way of punishment.
Following his return to duty he served in India from 1896-1902, before joining the Army Reserve for a further eleven years. During his early career, Harry was less than a model soldier; in addition to desertion, he was disciplined for using threatening language to a superior office, disorderly conduct in town and losing his clothing! He was regularly pronounced fit for service, despite suffering from gonorrhea and being infected with syphilis on at least two occasions – which necessitated treatment with mercury. (Sexual diseases of this type were actually quite common amongst contemporary British troops, especially single men posted away from home for lengthy periods.)
On 7 July, 1906, Harry married Minnie Fellowes at Lambeth Registry Office. In 1912, he requested an extension on his time in the Army Reserve. He was discharged on 3 July, 1914 but re-enlisted a month later following the outbreak of war. He became a member of the 3rd battalion, County of London Yeomanry – this was chiefly a territorial unit involved with home-based training and the supply of reserves to other units in the regiment.
Harry died of heart failure at his Brixton home (9 Arlingford Road, Brixton) on 8 June 1915. He was 41 years old. He is buried at Streatham Park Cemetery in Rowan Road, Mitcham.