FARMER, William

William Farmer was the son of Henry Farmer and married to Eliza of 44 Bromley Street, Lye. He was an early volunteer for the Worcesters in 1914 and joined the 11th (Service) Battalion which was sent to Salonika in the campaign to defend Greece. This was another hard-fought campaign with most of the fighting taking place around Lake Doiran. After the severe winter of 1916-17 the Allies attempted to drive the Bulgarian army out of Greece. The opening battle was at Doiran on the 24th April but it failed to break the stalemate of trench warfare. Private David Farmer was killed on the next day and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial. He was 25 years of age and is also commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials. He had served with his older brother, David, who was killed in the same battle.