Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Richard Farmer. The War Diary for today records. 300 men for work parties. “D” Company in morning did Company platoon arm saluting drill, and practised fixing of smoke helmets. “D” Company in afternoon marched off with band to Divisional theatre. Men of “C” Company not on work parties fired on the range under Lt. WARNER. The same men practised the same work as “B” Company did in the morning. No. 16 platoon received grenade instruction in the morning and the new band was playing in the courtyard near canteen. The enemy heavily shelled the village for about ½ an hour, all troops and civilian inhabitants were ordered to caverns and caves. One shell fell and exploded near gateway of courtyard killing and wounding, several other men killed and wounded in other parts of the village. 20 were killed and 13 wounded. 3 of the latter died on admittance to Field Ambulance. 9 of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were killed in all, and 2 officers and 6 other ranks wounded. 1 ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS officer was killed, 7 other ranks of the ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY and 1 ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY. One civilian inhabitant was killed and one wounded. The Divisional Commander arrived in the village from the trenches shortly after the bombardment had ceased. Most parts of the village including the FRENCH quarter was shelled.