Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mr and Mrs Farren. He was accidentally killed. The following particulars are given in ‘The London Gazette’, No.30876, dated Friday 30th August 1918. Of the acts for which the Albert Medal was awarded to Company Sergeant Major A. H. Furlonger, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Sapper J. C. Farren and Sapper G. E. Johnston who are buried in this Cemetery, as well as to Lance Corporal J. E. Bigland and Sapper J. H. Woodman, all of the Royal Engineers:- "In Flanders, on the 30th April, 1918, a train of ammunition had been placed at an ammunition refilling point, and after the engine had been detached, and was being run off the train, the second truck suddenly burst into flames. Furlonger immediately ordered Bigland, the driver, to move the engine back on to the train for the purpose of pulling away the two trucks nearest the engine. Bigland did so without hesitation, and the engine was coupled up by Furlonger, assisted by Farren, while the burning truck was uncoupled from the remainder of the train by Woodman. The two trucks were then drawn away clear of the ammunition dump, it being the intention to uncouple the burning wagon from the engine and the first wagon and so isolate it, with the object of localising the fire as far as possible. The uncoupling was about to be done when the ammunition exploded, completely wrecking the engine and both trucks, killing Furlonger, Farren and Johnston (a member of the train crew), and seriously wounding Bigland. Had it not been for the prompt and courageous action of these three men, whereby three of them lost their lives and one was seriously injured, there is not the slightest doubt that the whole
dump would have been destroyed and many lives lost."

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday May 17th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Sapper Joseph Collington Farren, of a light railway operating service in France, son of Mr Charles Farren, tailor of Carlton, Market Bosworth, is reported to have lost his life on April 1st in a heroic attempt to avert the explosion of an ammunition train. As far as can be ascertained, he was one of a party of three men on the engine of the train, which caught fire, and observing the danger of an explosion in a village, they rushed the train through, but all three were fatally burned or suffocated and were buried in the same grave. The deceased soldier had fixed his marriage for his next leave, his fiancée being in employment at the time at Bosworth Hall. He had been soldiering about twelve months, and before enlisting was in the service of the Midland and L. & N.W. Railway, being stationed at one time at Heather. A brother is serving in Egypt.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 1st, 1918

ALBERT MEDAL AWARDED CARLTON SOLDIER

Mr Charles Farren, tailor of Carlton, near Market Bosworth, has received the Albert Medal, awarded by the King of Belgium, to his late son, Sapper Joseph Collington Farren, of the Royal Engineers, who was killed in action last April. It is a bronze medal of pretty design and in a neat case. The inscription on the front is: “For gallantry in saving life on land,” and on the other side, “Awarded by His Majesty in recognition of the gallantry of Sapper Joseph Collington Farren, R.E. in saving life in Flanders at the cost of his own life, on April 30th, 1918.”

The gallant soldier, who was 25 years of age and formerly a guard on the London and North Western Railway, was in charge of an ammunition train which took fire, and he lost his life in trying to get the train to a place of safety.

Coalville Times article - Friday, April 29th, 1921

IN MEMORIAM

Farren – In loving memory of our dear son, Sapper Joseph Collinton Farren, who died April 30th, 1918, in France.

“Days of sadness still come o’er us,
Tears of sorrow often flow,
Memory keeps our loved one near us,
Whom God called three years ago.”

From his loving Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters and Kitty.
Carlton.


Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 15/2/2018
Photograph supplied by Christine Barbour-Moore 13/11/2018