Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred Farmer, born on the 30th April 1869 in Bagworth, Leicestershire and baptised on the 22nd January 1871 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth (son of David Farmer and Emily Wain) and his wife Elizabeth Farmer (nee Bayliss, married on the 24th December 1892 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth), born on the 8th August 1871 in Nailstone, Leicestershire (daughter of George Bayliss). Bertie was born in the January quarter of 1894 in Ibstock, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 25th March 1894 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth. In March 1901 Bertie was absent from 19, Colliery Row, Bagworth, this being the house in which the family were boarding, residing there was his father, a coal miner, his mother and siblings, George Henry, born on the 11th July 1896 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire and baptised on the 6th September 1896 in St. Mary’s Church, Nuneaton, Alfred, born in the October quarter of 1897 and baptised on the 28th April 1901 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth and Percy, born in the October quarter of 1898 and baptised on the 28th April 1901 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester, Bertie meanwhile, was residing at Battram Lane, Ellistown, this being the home of his maternal uncle, George Bayliss, a coachman, born 1874 in Barlestone, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Bertie remained absent from the family home at 103, Station Road, Bagworth, residing there was his father, a coal miner, his mother and siblings, George, an underground colliery road man, Alfred, an above ground colliery worker, Percy, a schoolboy, Arthur, born on the 22nd August 1901 and baptised on the 22nd October in the Parish Church, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, David, born in the October quarter of 1902 and baptised on the 11th January 1903 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth and Doris, born on the 15th July 1904 and baptised on the 22nd January 1905 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth, the latter three siblings were all born in Bagworth, meanwhile Bertie was employed as a coal mine pony driver and was residing at Battram Lane, Ellistown, in the family home of his maternal uncle and aunt, George Bayliss, a colliery groom and his wife Louisa Bayliss born 1878 in Coalville, Leicestershire. Bertie also had the following siblings, Nora, born in the January quarter of 1900 in Leicester and who died in the January quarter of 1900 in Leicester, Norman, born on the 6th January 1907 in Bagworth and baptised on the 16th January 1907 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth and who died in the January quarter of 1907 in Bagworth and Sidney, born in the July quarter of 1910 in Bagworth and baptised on the 25th August 1910 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth and who died in the July quarter of 1910 in Bagworth.
Bertie enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 16th November 1914 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 3561. He gave his present address as Battram Road, Ellistown, Leicestershire
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 16th November 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 20 years 9 months, that he was 5 feet 7¾ inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37 inches and his physical development was described as good.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Mr. A. Farmer, 103, Colliery Road, Bagworth, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. 16/11/14.
Posted. 2/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 16/11/14.
Embodied service commenced. Pte. 16/11/14.
Transferred. 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 15/8/15.
Embarked. Southampton. 19/8/15.
Disembarked. Rouen. 20/8/15.
Attached. No.9 Entrenching Battalion. In the Field. 16/9/15.
Joined. 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 15/10/15.
Appointed. Lance Corporal (Paid). Vice Farmer S. to Hospital. In the Field. 5/2/16.
Admitted 1/3rd North Midland Field Ambulance. In the Field. 17/7/16.
Returned to duty. In the Field. 2/8/16.
Awarded. Good Conduct Badge. 2/1/17.
Allotted Service No. 200871. A.C.I. 2414/16.
Granted Leave. 13/8/17 – 23/8/17.
Promoted. Corporal. Vice Freer. 7/11/17.
Admitted. 1/1st North Midland Field Ambulance. Abscess. In the Field. 24/12/17.
Transferred. 1st Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 25/12/17.
Admitted. 14th General Hospital. Wimereux. 26/12/17.
Admitted. 1st Convalescent Depot. Boulogne. 2/1/18.
Transferred. 3rd Rest Camp. Boulogne. 3/1/18.
Joined. Training Battalion. In the Field. 13/1/18.
Joined. 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 20/6/18.
Killed in action. Place not stated. In the Field. 16/8/18.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 16/11/14 – 19/8/15. 277 days.
France. 20/8/15 – 16/8/18. 2 years 363 days.
Total Service. 3 years 274 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Bertie’s surviving service record amounts to a total of sixteen pages, and these are in poor condition, the hand written information in some cases is barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of service.
The War Diary records. 16 Aug-18 - Battalion in Brigade Support.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday September 20th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

News has been received that Corporal Bert Farmer, Leicestershire Regiment, eldest son of Mr and Mrs A. Farmer, of 103, Station Road, Bagworth, was killed in action on August 16th. He enlisted in November, 1914, and went to France in August 1915. A captain of the deceased’s regiment writes that Farmer was killed by a shell falling at his feet. The letter continues, “I cannot tell you how deeply I feel this, as he was a most promising N.C.O. and will be greatly missed by us all throughout the company. It is very poor consolation that I can give you for the great loss. Your son was killed instantly and the doctor says he could not have suffered any pain whatever. Please accept my deepest sympathy.”

A Wesleyan chaplain also writes conveying the sad news, and stating that he had buried the deceased in a quiet little village cemetery behind the lines. “He was manning his post at the time,” continues the letter, “during a short, but severe bombardment, and died instantaneously, being spared the pain and suffering that would have been his. I passed the very spot an hour or so afterwards and there was very great sorrow among his comrades at his loss. He was a brave boy, much respected and beloved, and as one of my own Nonconformist boys. I shall miss him very much. But to you brave ones at home who so generously gave him, the loss will be most terrible. I pray that God will richly comfort you in this dark hour. Your son gave his life in a very sacred cause, and fully realised all that was involved. Please accept my very deep sympathy.”

Corporal Farmer, before joining the Colours, worked at the Nailstone Colliery and lived with his uncle, Mr G. Bayliss, at Battram.

Research undertaken and submitted (with photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 2/6/2018