Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (Major H. J. W. Farrell, 75/By. R.F.A.) very fine £800-1000

Henry John William Farrell was born on 25 December 1867. As a Subaltern in the Royal Garrison Artillery, he served in India, September 1887-January 1898. Promoted to Captain in October 1897, he served as 2 i/c of the 8th Company Western Division R.G.A. in Mauritius, 1898-99. Posted to South Africa in September 1899, he served as 2 i/c of the 75th Battery R.F.A., serving with distinction at Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg and Johannesburg. He was wounded at Belmont and again at Modder River, being mentioned in despatches for the latter action (Methuen’s despatch (London Gazette 26 January 1900)) -

‘Captain Farrell, wounded a second time, continued to do his duty, having first placed a wounded man on one of the gun carriages. Wounded gunners and drivers continued at their duty.’ Farrell was wounded in the foot on this last occasion.

In action at Buffelspoort, 3 December 1900, the Official History of the Boer War records -

‘The guns - finely commanded by Captain H. J. Farrell RA, an intrepid officer, who when many of his men were down, armed the rest with rifles taken from the slain, and laid the field-pieces himself - were run trail to trail, and with depressed muzzles shattered the front of the Boer charge at only forty yards distance with case shot and shrapnel fused to zero.’

For his services he was awarded the Brevet of Major in November 1900, being appointed to that rank in May 1902. Farrell then served in India, November 1901-May 1910, as Officer Commanding the 75th Battery. In November 1902 he changed his name to ‘Farrell-Palliser’. With copied research.