The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'AUBREY FARMER'.
Aubrey George Farmer was born at Homebush in Sydney, NSW, in 1892. He was educated at Colston's School, in Bristol, England, but returned to Australia in 1908, and was employed as a jeweller before enlisting in the AIF in August 1914. Abbreviating his name to 'Aubrey Farmer', he became an original member of B Company, 3 Battalion, with the service number 325. The unit sailed for Egypt aboard HMAT A14 Euripides in October 1914.
At the Gallipoli landing, and in the following days, Farmer distinguished himself by his bravery and leadership, and was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his 'very great courage' between the landing at Anzac Beach and 27 April. He is believed to have been killed, together with Sergeant Sydney Dargin, on 29 April, in an attempt to recover the body of Captain Charles Edward Leer, commander of C Company. The bodies of all three men were not located until the May Armistice. Although Farmer was buried at the time, by the end of the war the site of his burial had been lost and his name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial for the missing.
The 3rd Battalion's history 'Randwick to Hargicourt', published in 1935, relates that: 'Farmer was one of the most extraordinary men in the battalion. He made no secret of the fact at Mena, when the battalion was training, that everything that savoured of war was abhorrent to him, and he elected to remain in the Q.M.'s store during that period. But during those first days on the Peninsula he proved himself to be a man of quite unexpected calibre - the great crisis developed another man, and Farmer's work throughout those first three days was of such a nature that he was awarded a posthumous D.C.M.'
Farmer's elder brother, Lieutenant Reginald William Bartlett Farmer Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR), also died during the war. While serving in the Mediterranean in HMAS Torrens he contracted influenza. He died at the Messina Military Hospital in Italy on 9 October 1918. Aubrey Farmer's widowed mother, Clara, received this commemorative plaque in January 1922.
1914-15 Star. Impressed on reverse with recipient's details. Aubrey George Farmer was born at Homebush in Sydney, NSW, in 1892. He was educated at Colston's School, in Bristol, England, but returned
British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Aubrey George Farmer was born at Homebush in Sydney, NSW, in 1892. He was educated at Colston's School, in Bristol, England
Distinguished Conduct Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Aubrey George Farmer was born at Homebush in Sydney, NSW, in 1892. He was educated at Colston's School, in Bristo
Victory Medal with Mentioned in Despatches oakleaf. Medal impressed around edge with recipient's details. Aubrey George Farmer was born at Homebush in Sydney, NSW, in 1892. He was educated at Colsto
1914-15 Star. Impressed on reverse with recipient's details. Aubrey George Farmer was born at Homebush in Sydney, NSW, in 1892. He was educated at Colston's School, in Bristol, England, but returned
Victory Medal with Mentioned in Despatches oakleaf. Medal impressed around edge with recipient's details. Aubrey George Farmer was born at Homebush in Sydney, NSW, in 1892. He was educated at Colsto
British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Aubrey George Farmer was born at Homebush in Sydney, NSW, in 1892. He was educated at Colston's School, in Bristol, England
Distinguished Conduct Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Aubrey George Farmer was born at Homebush in Sydney, NSW, in 1892. He was educated at Colston's School, in Bristo
Bronze next of kin plaque in cardboard box of issue. The plaque shows Britannia and a lion together with the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR'. The name of the dead soldier, 'WILLIAM JOHN WILSON'
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.