Oliver Farrance
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Oliver Farrance was born in 1896 at High Halden Kent and was the son of the late John a potter and Florence Farrance née Brandon of High Halden Kent. His father John was born in 1856 in High Halden , he died in 1907 at Tenterden aged 50 yrs and his mother Florence Brandon was born in 1868 at Sissinghurst, Kent, she died in 1896 aged 28 yrs at Tenterden, they were married in 1889 at West Ashford, Kent. They went on to have the following children , Alice b1891, Hugh b1894 and Oliver b1896 all were born in High Halden. In the 1901 census the family are living at High Halden, Kent however following the death of his parents by the 1911 census Oliver is living at Dr Barnados Home at 30 Stepney Causeway, Commercial Road East, Stepney, London, he is shown as being 15 yrs of age and an apprentice carpenter. He was in service to a family at Newark prior to enlistment
Private Oliver Farrance enlisted at Newark on 20th November 1915, he gave his age as 19 yrs and 253 days, he gave his occupation as that of a waggoner and stated his religion was that of a Presbyterian His address was Hillside, Newark. He gave his next of kin as his brother Hugh Farrance care of Army Service Corps. He joined the 8th battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) at their depot at Maidstone on 23rd November 1915. He landed in France on 29th June 1916 and was attached to the 22nd battalion Manchester Regiment on 9th July 1916 . He was killed in action on 15th July 1916 and having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Article published 13th September 1916 in the Newark Advertiser :- Son of late John & Florence Farrance. Former Dr. Barnado boy, he had lived in the service of a Newark family nearly four years and had endeared himself to all its members. Joined the West Kents in Nov. 1916 as a free volunteer. He had obtained a first class certificate in machine gunnery and was attached to a machine gun section.
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