Auction Catalogue

1 December 1993

Starting at 2:30 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Westbury Hotel  37 Conduit Street  London  W1S 2YF

Lot

№ 282

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1 December 1993

Hammer Price:
£760

A Great War D.S.O. group of nine to Lieutenant Colonel J.A.J. Farrell, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, late Leinster Regiment

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER, G.V.R.; BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS M.I.D. (Major); INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1908, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Capt., D.S.O., K.O.Y.L.I.); 1939-45 STAR; AFRICA STAR, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS, generally very fine or better (9)

D.S.O., London Gazette, 1 January 1918.

John Arthur Joseph Farrell was one of five brothers who served with the Leinster Regiment during the Great War. On 7 June 1917, the 7th Battalion, Leinster Regiment, were in the trenches awaiting the signal to attack. An enemy shell landed on Regimental Headquarters, killing or wounding every Regimental Officer. Captain Farrell, although badly shaken, took command of the battalion and led it out of the trenches to capture its objectives. For this action, he was awarded the D.S.O. He was later promoted to Major and made 2nd in command of the Battalion. In 1922 the Leinster Regiment was disbanded and Major Farrell transferred to the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He served with this Regiment in India on the North West Frontier during 1930-31. He retired from the Army in 1935 but in 1939 was recalled to duty as a staff officer with the Royal Air Force. He was later placed on Regimental Duty as Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and from 1941 till 1945, he served in the Middle East as G.S.O.2, Permanent President of Courts Martial, Middle East Land Forces, and as a Military Government Staff Officer.