Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Henry Farmer, a paper bag maker, born 1865 in Hoxton, Middlesex and his wife Norah (Aurora), a laundry worker, born 1863 in Shoreditch, Middlesex. Thomas Henry was born in the 2nd quarter of 1891 in Hoxton, his siblings were, Walter James, born 1890 in Hoxton, William Joseph, born 1896 and Sydney Mafeking, born 1900, the latter two siblings were both born in Shoreditch, in March 1901 the family were residing at 43, Lyndoch Street, Shoreditch, London, this being the family home of C. S. Ogborn, a furniture dealer, born 1850 in Bethnal Green, Middlesex, his wife and family. In the 1st quarter of 1904 in the Holborn, Middlesex district, Thomas’s mother died aged 40. On Thursday 19th May 1904 Thomas was recorded together with his brother’s Walter and William to have been admitted to the Holborn Union Workhouse. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a labourer and was residing as a boarder at Tur Langton, Leicestershire, this being the family home of Thomas Burrows, an old age pensioner, born 1840 in Tur Langton and his wife Elizabeth Burrows, born 1844 in Foxton, Leicestershire and their son Harry Burrows, a groom, born 1884 in Tur Langton. Thomas nominated Mrs Elizabeth Burrows to be his sole legatee of all his personal and financial effects in the event of his death.
Thomas attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours) on the 13th August 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Islington, Middlesex, his age as 22 years and 99 days and his trade or calling as hosiery hand. He gave his present home as lodgings in Tur Langton, Leicestershire. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Thomas Henry farmer, address unknown and Mrs E. Burrows of Tur Langton, Near Kibworth, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4¾ inches in height, weighed 118 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, he had brown hair and blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 13th August 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 10077 on the 13/8/14. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 19/8/14. Posted to Aldershot on the 24/8/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Admitted to the 48th Field Ambulance suffering from a bullet wound to the shoulder, in the field on the 5/2/16. Transferred to the 29th Casualty Clearing Station suffering from a gunshot wound to the spine 3.3 dorsal vertebrae, on the 6/2/16. Died in 29th Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action on the 7/2/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 13/8/14 – 28/7/15, 350 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 7/2/16, 194 days. Total service 1 year 179 days. Thomas was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Mrs E. Burrows of Tur Langton, Kibworth, Leicestershire on the 2nd May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by T. H. Rofs, Rector, Church Langton, Market Harborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Mother of soldier, dead. Mrs Burrows then wrote the following information relating to her knowledge of the family background of the deceased. 10077, Pte. T. Farmer, deceased came to live in the village when a boy to work for a farmer and had lived with me for about 8 years prior to joining up. I know of no relations, only that his mother is dead, who was living in London until her death. Thomas’s surviving service documents are in a poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 5 Feb-16 – BERLES. The Battalion was relieved by the 8th Battalion. No. 10077 Private Farmer T., “A” Company was badly wounded by a ricochet in the morning about 8am. He died later. Lieutenant CARTER rejoined the Battalion from the sick list.
On Friday February 25th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – TUR LANGTON CASUALTIES. Mrs. E. Burrows of Tur Langton, has been officially notified that Pte. Tom Farmer, of 7th Leicesters, has died from wounds received in action in Flanders. He was the first Tur Langton man to join Kitchener’s Army. He was an old Kibworth S.S. footballer, also a member of the West Langton C.C., and by his genial disposition, had many friends in this district. Mr. Crisp of Tur Langton, has received notification that his son, Trooper Harry Crisp, R.F.A., has been wounded and is now in hospital.