Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George and Ada Farmer. Roland was educated at Ashby de la Zouch Grammar School, and became assistant clerk to the Ashby Board of Guardians prior to the outbreak of war. He embarked for France in late February 1915, and quickly rose to the rank of Captain commanding “C” Company, in early 1916 the company had just taken over the line at Vimy Ridge, France, and were being heavily mortared by the Germans when Roland was killed by a mortar bomb that had landed near to him. The War Diary for today records. TRENCHES. An enemy mine being suspected on left of C Coy and right of A Coy, a new trench had been dug by the 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT about 10 yards in the rear of the original. This was subsequently almost entirely destroyed by enemy trench mortars and was not held. After a quiet night enemy began firing trench mortars on our line on C Coy and A Coy commencing at 12.00 midday. This continued for 4 hours. We retaliated with 6 rounds from a Field Battery which had no effect as retaliation. Casualties:- Captain R. D. Farmer killed by a trench mortar which dropped in communication trench between A Coy’s front and second line.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday September 10th, 1915

DO YOU KNOW

That Lieut. R. D. Farmer, of the 5th Leicestershire Territorials, son of Mr George Farmer, clerk to the Ashby Board of Guardians, returned to the trenches on Sunday after seven days’ leave of absence, during which he attended the meeting of the Guardians last Saturday, and was cordially received by the members?

Coalville Times article - Friday October 1st, 1915

Lieut. R. D. Farmer, of the 5th Leicesters, has been gazetted captain. He is the son of Mr George Farmer, of Tamworth Road, Ashby and clerk to the Ashby Board of Guardians. Capt. Farmer being assistant clerk to the Board. He began his military career as a private in ‘A’ (Hastings) Company, of which he was some time, colour-sergeant. When he obtained his commission he was posted in the Shepshed Company, and went out with his battalion if February. Lieut. Lawton, whose promotion is also announced, is the son of Mr R. W. Lawton, the chairman of the Hartshorne and Seals Council.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 31st, 1916

CAPTAIN R. D. FARMER KILLED

POPULAR ASHBY TERRITORIAL OFFICER

It is with much regret that we learn of the death of Captain R. D. Farmer, of the 5th Leicestershire Territorial Regiment, who was killed in action in France, on March 22nd. The sad news was rumoured in Ashby on Saturday and hopes were entertained that it might be only a rumour, but a letter to the bereaved parents from Colonel Jones, received on Monday morning proved it to be only too true.

Captain Farmer was extremely popular with all the men under his command. Being attached to a local company many of the soldiers in his regiment were from this immediate locality, and in letters home they have referred to him in terms indicating affection and have described him as a fearless and splendid officer.

This was fully borne out in the letter received from his Colonel, which stated that at the time he was killed by a bomb, he had completed the task allotted to him and had gone to the assistance of some comrades who were hard pressed in another place.

Before the war he had served for several years in the local Territorials, and had the rank of Lieutenant, being promoted to a captaincy while at the front. He was an excellent shot and in peace times had carried off many cups and prizes in the shooting competitions. His genial disposition and gentlemanly bearing made him very popular with everybody he came in contact with, and quite a gloom has been cast over his native town of Ashby by the news of his death.

Captain Farmer was the eldest of the three surviving sons of Mr George Farmer, the esteemed clerk to the Ashby Board of Guardians and Rural District Council, for whom, and Mrs Farmer and the family, much sympathy is felt. Mr and Mrs Farmer a few years ago through illness lost a son who had just qualified as a solicitor. Another son recently joined the forces, and is now being trained somewhere in England.

The late captain was his father’s assistant in the clerkship to the Guardians and when he was on leave at Christmas, he attended one of the meetings of the Board and was given a most cordial reception by the members.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 14th, 1916

THE LATE CAPT. R. D. FARMER

TRIBUTES BY ASHBY GUARDIANS

Eloquent tributes to the late Captain R. D. Farmer were made by members of the Ashby Board of Guardians at the meeting on Saturday.

The chairman, (Mr T. Varnham) in moving a vote of condolence with Mr and Mrs Farmer and family, said he thought it was about the most painful duty that had ever befallen a chairman of the Board. Members who had been on the Board for several years had watched Mr Roland Farmer grow up and had hoped that when Mr George Farmer relinquished his office they would have an excellent and worthy successor. But it appeared that things had been differently ordained. When the war broke out, there was no question of appealing, but Mr Roland Farmer shouldered his rifle with the greatest pleasure to go and fight for his country, and they all knew how ably he had done so. Although they read sometimes of young officers losing their heads, and leading their men wrong – which was perhaps excusable – that never occurred in regard to Captain Farmer. They had been led to understand that he had been a most capable, and a most careful and cool-headed officer. He knew that Capt. Roland Farmer led a clean life when at home and felt sure that he would do so as a soldier (hear, hear). He was an ornament to the district from which he went, and it would be a consolation to his parents that he died in the best cause that any young man could die in (hear, hear).

Mr W. Andrews, seconding, said he was sorry to have to associate himself with this vote, but he would not like to leave that meeting without having done so. The late officer was a very amiable young man, and he (Mr Andrews) had often thought what a splendid successor he would make to his father. All who knew him were aware of his good qualities, and it was with great sorrow that he (the speaker) heard of his death.

Mrs Pratt said they all knew Captain Farmer there as a very bright and promising poor law officer (hear, hear). They knew also what an excellent officer he was in the army, and were very sorry for his father and mother. She thought that sometime they would have pride in knowing that he died doing his duty, and they could not have a nobler example.

Mr Bullen said that during the last twenty months many tragic incidents had occurred but there was nothing he had felt more keenly than the loss of their assistant clerk, Captain Famer. Before he left to take up his military duties, he had attained the highest respect and regard of everyone connected with the Board, (hear, hear) and he was sure that every member of the Board would readily understand why it was that Capt. Farmer was idolised by the men under his charge. He hoped that Mr and Mrs Farmer would find some consolation in their son’s gallantry and devotion to duty which he possessed and practiced to such a high degree, and also the fact that he gave his life for a cause than which none more honourable has been waged by nations at war.

Mr J. W. Fowler said he would like to associate himself with the vote of condolence to Mr and Mrs Farmer. He knew of no young fellow who led a cleaner and better life than Roland Farmer. He was a very nice gentleman when he was amongst them and he proved a good soldier fighting for his country.

Mr A. Riley said that through all his connection with the late Captain Farmer, he always found him a straight-forward, honest man; a man who attended to his business, and was not afraid of going into the minutest details in carrying out the work he had to do. Personally, he felt that he had lost a friend. He was quite sure that the Guardians of Ashby had lost a good and valued servant, and the country had lost a valiant soldier (hear, hear).

The Rev. C. T. Moore said he had known Captain Farmer for a considerable time and deeply regretted his death. He had received letters from boys in the trenches which told how Captain Farmer was loved by his men, how well he led them, and what a pleasant companion he was. Speaking with evident emotion, the reverend gentlemen continued: “My own son was out there with him. They have been great friends together, and in his letters home he used to tell me what a nice, good fellow Captain Farmer was.” In civil life they also deeply deplored his loss, because as the chairman rightly said, the day might have been coming when they would have seen him doing useful work for that Board. Their hearts went out to Mr and Mrs Farmer in their sorrow and grief. He received a letter from his son only the previous day saying how unfortunate it was that Captain Farmer should have been killed in such an extraordinary way. His son went on to express how deeply grieved they all were, and said that in a large sense they would not be able to replace him. No one regretted it more than him (the speaker), and he hoped that the war would soon be brought to a successful conclusion (hear, hear).

Dr. Atkinson said he had always received the greatest kindness from Captain Farmer, who possessed the kind and courteous manner of his father to the full. During the last few weeks they had had a new postman at Osgathorpe, who formerly served in the Shepshed Territorials, the company to which the late Captain Farmer, before the war, was attached, and when he told the man that Capt. Farmer had been killed, the tears ran down his face. It only showed how the late officer was beloved by his men.

Mr T. Frith said that as a schoolmaster he could add his testimony. Over 200 of his old boys were serving at the Front, and many had expressed the same sentiments to him as mentioned by Dr. Atkinson in regard to the death of Captain Farmer. They were all struck by his kindness, his geniality, and thoughtfulness for the men under his care. All he had spoken to about the late officer had expressed themselves like this: “To know him was to love him.” That expressed a great deal more than one could say.

The Rev. T. W. Walters said they were cut to the heart when they read the great lists of splendid young lives that were being lost in this war, and when they found it was one connected with someone they knew, it touched them a great deal more. He had not the pleasure of knowing Captain Farmer, but he knew his father, and wished most sincerely to associate himself with this vote.

The members silently passed the resolution by rising from their seats.

THE LATE CAPT. FARMER

At the monthly meeting of the Ashby sub-committee in connection with the old-age pensions, held on Thursday evening, Mr J. W. West, J.P., who presided, made suitable reference to the loss of the clerk had sustained by the death of his son, Captain Farmer, who had been killed in action in France. He proposed that a vote of sympathy from the committee be conveyed to Mr Farmer and the members of the family. This was seconded by Mr G. Brown, J.P. and carried in the usual way.

Coalville Times article - Friday July 18th, 1919

ASHBY BOARD OF GUARDIANS

PROPOSED MEMORIAL TO THE LATE CAPTAIN R. FARMER

The chairman read a letter from Mr J. W. Bowley (relieving officer) stating that the officers who were associated with the late Capt. Roland Farmer (assistant clerk) were desirous of placing an enlarged photograph of him in the Board room as a memorial and asking the permission of the Board to do so and also whether any of the members who knew the late officer would care to subscribe. If the proposal met with approval, the formation of a small committee was suggested.

The chairman said there was no need for him to remind the old Guardians of the good qualities of the late Captain Roland Farmer and he thought this would be a suitable recognition (hear, hear). If it was carried out in a proper way, it would not only be an ornament to the room, but would be an appreciation of one of their officers who volunteered on his own account, and was, unfortunately, killed by the Germans. He (the chairman) had mentioned it to Mr and Mrs Farmer and they would be quite willing and pleased for it to be done.

Mr Blakesley endorsed what the chairman had said, remarking that there was no young man for whom he had greater respect than Roland Farmer. He always did his work in the No. 2 Committee Room in a most able and pleasant manner. He was sure all the Guardians would be glad to associate themselves with this memorial.

Mr Frost said he knew the late Capt. Farmer from a boy and endorsed all that had been said about him. He would be pleased to subscribe. The Rev. T. W. Walters said new members as well as the old, would like to join this, and he moved that Mr Blakesley and Mr Frost, with the two officers named be a small committee to see it through, Mr Bowley to act as treasurer. Mr Soar seconded, and it was unanimously carried.

Coalville Times article - Friday 2nd January, 1920

ASHBY BOARD OF GUARDIANS

THE LATE CAPTAIN R. D. FARMER

The chairman called the attention of the members to a large framed portrait, in uniform, of the late Captain R. D. Farmer, 1/5th Leicesters, son of the clerk, and formerly deputy clerk to the Guardians, who was killed in action, which had been hung up in the Board Room. Every Guardian, said the chairman, who had any connection with the late Roland Farmer could not help but appreciate his great kindness and great ability. He (the chairman) had hoped that the time might come when the clerk, having laid down the tools of office, it would have been his great pleasure to propose Mr R. Farmer, as his successor, but that was not to be. They were all very pleased to see that photograph hanging there, and if it would be any help to Mr and Mrs Farmer to hear their loss he was sure they would be all very glad that they had done this. Their special thanks were due to Mr Bowley, the relieving officer, for the trouble he had taken in procuring that beautiful picture. When it was mentioned to the Guardians they took it up whole-heartedly. He hoped that Mr Farmer would be with them yet for many years and that every time he came into the Board Room it would be some gratification to him to know that the services of his late son were appreciated by them all. (Cheers).

Mr Blakely said that no young man in Ashby was more highly respected than the late Mr R. Farmer. He was an honour to the town and to that Board of Guardians. If a Guardian required information at any time, he was most willing to give it and was one of the most pleasant young fellows he had ever met. (Applause).

Mr Andrews said that as a Labour representative on the Board he would like to say that the late Mr Farmer always acknowledged him the same as any other member and he appreciated him for that. He felt that the Board had suffered a great loss in the death of Mr Farmer.

Mr Jones added his tribute and Mr Pargeter said he had never known a nicer or more obliging young man. Till the war broke out, he had hoped that Mr R. Farmer would be the future clerk to the Board. They all felt it a great loss and sympathised with the parents.

The clerk, speaking with some emotion, said he hoped they would excuse him not saying much. He appreciated very highly their kind expressions regarding his son and would be very pleased to convey them to his mother and other members of the family.

Mr Bowley, invited to speak, said he was pleased that what he had done in connection with the matter had given satisfaction to the Board.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 09/09/2017