His parents lived in Plumstead, London, but he lived with his grandparents in Anchor St, Chatteris (which was renamed Clare St in his honour). His VC is held by the 16/5th Lancers, at Aliwal Barracks, Hampshire. A stained glass window was placed in the south side of Chatteris parish church in his honour, depicting Christ rewarding a faithful soldier; it was dedicated in Sept 1918. Clare had served in the Beds Imperial Yeomanry for eight years, then registered for the National Reserve in January 1914. As a result he was called up when war was declared and placed in the Remount Dept, before going into the 5th Lancers.

From Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour Volume 1, Part 1, Page 129, the following:

FARRAR, Sir George Herbert 1st Bart D.S.O. Colonel and assistant Q.M General - Central Force, Union Defence Forces, late Hon. Col South African Light Horse.

Son of the late Charles Farrar, of Chatteris, co Cambridge, M.D. , by his wife Helen, ( The Crescent Lodge , Bedford ) , sister of Sir Frederick Howard and dau of John Howard. Born Chatteris 17-6-1859, educated Bedford Modern School and on leaving there entered the engineering business of his Uncle Sir Frederick Howard going in 1879 to South Africa to the Port Elizabeth and East London branches. Eight years later he and his brothers established themsleves at Johannesburg, where in a few years he became one of the leading men in the mining industry of the Witwatersrand. His cheif enterprise was the formation of the East Rand Proprietary Mines, of which he was chairman from its inception to the day of his death. He was for some time a member of the Legislative assembly of the Transvaal and Leadre of the opposition. For his share in the Jameson raid he was tried for treason and sentenced to death, but the sentence was remitted on payment of a fine of £25000.

When the South African war broke out he raised two Regiments of South African Horse, and was appointed Major , Kaffrarian Rifles, 1-12-1900 and served in this campaign as major on the staff of the Colonial Division 1899-1900. He took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, including the defence of Wepener, operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, aug to sep 1900, operations in the Orange River Colony 1900 including actions at Wittebergen 1-29 July) and in Cape Colony, south of the Orange River. His services were mentioned in despatches ( London Gazette 16th April 1901 ) and he was awarded the Queens medal with 4 clasps and the D.S.O (1900).

After the conclusion of peace in 1902 he took an active part in the work of re-organisation, and when responsible government was granted to the Transvaal , he was unanimously elected leader of the progressive party in the house of assembly, in opposition to the inistry of General Botha. In 1903 he was elected president of the Witwatersrand Chamber of mines , and took a leading part in the negotiations which led up to formation of The Union of South Africa.

He had been knighted in 1902 and on 2-2-1911 was created a Baronet for his services on this occasion.He was M.P. for Georgetown in the first parliament of the Union of South Africa 1910-11 but in dec 1911 business demands in connection with the east rand co compelled him to retire from political work in order to devote his whole energies to the re-organisation of that enterprise.

When the European war broke out he was in England on a visit and was about to join General Sir Hubert Hamiltons staff with the army in Belgium , but the day before he was to have left he was ordered by the authorities to South Africa. On arrival he was appointed to General McKenzies Force with the rank of Colonel and was despatched to German South West Africa as Assistant Q.M-General.

Proceeding to Luderitz Bay in advance of the main force he was engaged in the organisation of the base camp , and subsequently had charge of the restoration of the railway and of providing the water supply to the force, an operation of primary importance in that country.

On 19th May 1915, he was returning from a tour of inspection when the motor trolley in which he was travelling collided with a construction train at Kuibis , near Gidson, German South West Africa, and Sir George succumbed to his injuries early next morning.

Sir George Farrar was one of the best known men in South Africa to whose advancement he had, by legislative work, by attention to mining process, and to practical sympathy with agricultural, powerfully contributed.

He married at Johannesburg 2-6-1893 , Ella Mabel ( Chicheley Hall, Newport Pagnell,Bucks & Bedford Farm , near Johannesburg , Transvaal), dau of the late Charles William Waylen, I.M.S. and had six daus , Helen Mabel b 2-10-1894, Muriel Frances b 6-4-1896, Gwendeline b 14-7-1897, Georgina Marjorie b 17-8-1901, Kathleen Elizabeth b 9-5-1907 and Ella Marguerite b 28-4-1911.

Also buried in Chatteris

Photograph Copyright © Martyn Smith 2002

Inside the church is w ooden plaue to the men who died in the Second World War

1939-45

Private 5831135, 4th Suffolk Regiment. 26-5-43, age 24, Prisoner of War. Son of Mr & Mrs Herbert Arnold, of West Park Street, Chatteris; husband of Mrs Arnold, 14 West Park St, Chatteris. Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

Private 5783986, 5th Northamptonshire Regiment. 26-2-43, age 20. Son of Ebenezer & Minnie Ash, of 43 Huntingdon Rd, Chatteris. Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia.

Sgt (Drill instructor), 5826144, 70th Suffolk Regiment. Died at Ipswich 6-4-41, age 27. Son of Mrs & MRs F W Barnes, 27 Burnsfield Estate, Chatteris; husband of Mrs Barnes. Chatteris Parochial Cemetery, Cambs.

Private 5783546, 7th Royal Norfolk Regiment. Died of wounds 9-7-44, age 21. Son of Sidney & Daisy Elizabeth Beeby, of 22 Burnsfield Estate, Chatteris. Cambes-En-Plaine War Cemetery, Calvados, France.

Ord Seaman, P/JX 296532, HMS Airedale, Royal Navy. 15-6-42, age 18. Son of Charles & Caroline Bull, of 1 Willey Terrace, Chatteris. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

L/Sgt, 5933705, 2nd Cambridgeshire Rgt, Suffolk Regiment. Died of beri-beri 4-9-43, age 40, Prisoner of War. Son of Harry & Katherine; husband of Bessie Louiza Burkett, of 21 High St, Chatteris. Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand.

Dvr, T/274379, Royal Army Service Corps. 5-6-42, age 21. Son of Cecil & Ethel Carley, of 105 Huntingdon Rd, Chatteris. Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Libya.

[Kavanagh in CWGC] Stoker 2nd Class, HMS Cabot, Royal Navy, d 28/5/1940, age 33. Son of James and Mary Kavanagh, of Kilmacow. Lived High St, Chatteris. Buried: KILMACOW CATHOLIC CHURCHYARD, County Kilkenny, Ireland, Republic of.

Third Officer, HMS Braganza, Women's Royal Naval Service. 19-1-46, age 30. Daughter of Charles & Catherine Cole, of Chatteris. Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. The Cambs Times of Friday, 1/2/1946 carried a small front page story which says that Margaret Cole had been found dead in a locked hotel room in Karachi on the day that she was due to return to England after 3½ years in India. She had been in the WRNS for five years. It also mentions that the story was reported by the national press the previous Saturday. Some of her things had already been sent home to her parents ahead of her expected return.

Pte 5780790, 7th Royal Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 8-7-44, age 29. Son of Mrs F Cooper, 19 West St, Chatteris; husband of Mrs Joyce Cooper, Smeeth Rd, near Wisbech. Cambes-en-Plaine War Cemetery, Calvados, France.

Private 5933072, 2nd Cambridgeshire Rgt, Suffolk Regiment. 18-1-42, age 21. Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

Private 5933042, 2nd Cambridgeshire Rgt, Suffolk Regiment. Died of cholera 16-7-43, age 34, Prisoner of War. Son of the late Mr & Mrs W J Dale, Swing Brow, Chatteris. Kanchanburi War Cemetery, Thailand.

Petty Officer, Airman, L/FX 523614, HMS Natcatcher, Royal Navy. 1-3-46, age 20. Son of Ernest William & Clara Desborough, of Chatteris. Lee-on-Solent Memorial, Hampshire.

Private 5933486, 2nd Cambridgeshire Rgt, Suffolk Regiment. Died at sea 12-9-44, age 23, Prisoner of War. Son of Mr & Mrs Frank Fisher, of 24 Willey Terrace, Chatteris. Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

L/Bdr 1107461, 11 (Honourable Artillery Coy) Rgt, Royal Horse Artillery. 22-11-42. Son of Mr & Mrs H Graves, Marina Villa, Wood St, Chatteris. Naples War Cemetery, Italy.

Leading Aircraftman, 1256573, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died of illness 23-1-44, age 23. Son of Aubrey & Florence Haylett, of New Rd, Chatteris. Imphal War Cemetery, India.

Flight Sgt, Pilot, 1260997, 18 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 12-10-41, age 23. Son of Charles & Lily Laws, of 16 Railway Lane, Chatteris. Chatteris Parochial Cemetery, Cambs.

Pilot Officer, Flight Engineer, Instructor. 182843, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 16-1-45, age 23. Son of Fred John & Mildred Florence Marritt, of Horseway, Chatteris. Awarded DFM in June 1944 after 45 operational flights. Chatteris Parochial Cemetery, Cambs.

Bdr, 1142787, 64 (The Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Rgt, Royal Artillery. 22-11-42, age 27. Son of Matthew Henry & Mary Ann Minett, of Chatteris; husband of Winnie, of Chatteris. Tabarka Ras Rajol War Cemetery, Tunisia.

Private 5779628, 5th Norfolk Regiment. Died of dysentery 3-1-44, age 31. Son of Mr & Mrs H Palmer, 46 Burnsfield Estate, Chatteris. Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan.

Private 5827869, 1st Cambridgeshire Rgt, Suffolk Regiment. Missing in action, 13 February 1942, aged 23. Son of Mr & Mrs W Paul, 72 High St, Chatteris. Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

Private 14592039, 1st East Lancashire Regiment. 2-3-45, age 22. Son of William & Caroline Payne, of Stocking Drove, Chatteris. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.

L/Cpl, 5831024, 2nd Suffolk Regiment. 19-5-44, age 24. Son of Celia Maria Pettit (later Mrs D Brown, 34 Wenny Estate, Chatteris) of Chatteris. Imphal War Cemetery, India.

Sgt, 5933070, 2nd Cambridgeshire Rgt, Suffolk Regiment. Died at sea 21-9-44, age 24, Prisoner of War. Son of Archie & Louisa Porter, of 17 New Rd, Chatteris. Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

Gnr, 1127976, 112 Medium Rgt, Royal Artillery. 8-2-45, age 23. Son of Mr & Mrs R Pritchard, of 17 Wenny Estate, Chatteris. Jenkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.

Extract from Ely Standard 1945:

CHATTERIS MAN'S
DEATH CONFIRMED

Lost at Sea While a
Prisoner

Official confirmation has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, of Grantham, formerly of New-road, Chatteris, that their eldest son, Pte. John Francis Richardson, 2nd Cambs. Regiment, who was recently reported missing at sea, must now be presumed to have died when the Jaanese ship on which he was travelling as a prisoner of war was sunk in the autumn of 1944.

Pte. Richardson, who would now have been 24, was a member of the Chatteris Territorials and was captured at Singapore. He was employed by Mr. F. Wilderspin until he joined the forces.

Amemorial service will be held at the Parish Church Chatteris tomorrow (Saturday) at 6 p.m.

Flight Sgt, Wireless operator air, 1337246, 48 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, flew Dakotas. Missing on flight between Meilktila & Chittagong 5-9-45, age 23. Son of Walter & Elizabeth Ann Ruston, of of 13 Delve Terrace, Chatteris. Had previously escaped from Holland after being shot down. Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmur.

Lt, 74455, 2nd Cambridgeshire Rgt, Suffolk Regiment. 18-1-42, age 33. Son of James A & Helen Rutter, Gaywood, King's Lynn. Employed at Barclay's Bank, Chatteris. Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

Private 5826522, Signal Section, 1st Suffolk Regiment. Wounded in retreat to Dunkirk, died of wounds at Bruges 18-6-40, age 23. Son of Robert & Margarite Salisbury, of Ryebury, Rosemary Lane, Chatteris. Bruges General Cemetery, Belgium.

Writer, P/MX 80371 HMS Tamar, Royal Navy. Died of pneumonia 11-4-43, age 29, Prisoner of War since January 1942. PoW at Osaka, Japan. Son of Vincent Joseph & Jane Scally, of Chatteris. Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan.

Private 5933397, 2nd Cambridgeshire Rgt, Suffolk Regiment. 30-5-43, age 23, Prisoner of War. Died of cholera at Takanun. Son of Charles Henry & Ella Blanche Sinden, of 21 New Rd, Chatteris. Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand.

Private 5830929, 5th Suffolk Regiment. 15-2-42, age 22. Son of Sidney & Sarah Elizabeth Sinden, of 13 Willey Terrace, Chatteris. Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

Private 5959719, 1/6 The Queen's Royal Rgt (West Surrey). 8-12-44, age 38. Son of Joseph & Sarah Steadman, of Bow, London: husband of Grace Steadman, of 110 High St, Chatteris. Sittard General Cemetery, Netherlands.

Flight Sgt, Air gunner, 1604859, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died in flying accident 10-1-45, age 22. Son of Frederick & Annie Margaret Vincent, of Mill House, Chatteris. Chatteris Parochial Cemetery, Cambs.

Sgt Pilot, 1468381, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 13-5-44, age 22. Son of Philip Moore Whitney & Florence Olive Whitney, of Station St, Chatteris. Chatteris Parochial Cemetery, Cambs.

Also listed for this parish in the Ely Cathedral Second World War Book of Remembrance:

[Also listed as BROOKES] 5932917, Private CCompany, 2nd Btn. Cambridgeshire Rgt, Suffolk Regiment. , died at sea, 21 September 1944, age 33. Husband of Prudence Brooks, Russell Square, Wimblington. Singapore Memorial, Singapore. Listed on the Wimblington memorial

Possibly: Pte. Joseph Leonard Rose, 2nd Bt. Cambridgeshire Reg., d 15/2/1942, age 23, commemorated: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Singapore. Son of William Rose, and of Annie Rose, of Dudley, Worcestershire.

Officially evacuated [from Singapore] on 13 February 1942 but included in the list of missing. In a report in the Cambridgeshire Times 27 March 1942 it is stated that Pte Albert Ernest Squires Cambs Regiment of Chatteris had sent a telegram to his wife stating that he had escaped from Singapore and was now safe in Ceylon. Mr Squires died in Chatteris in 1983!