William John Farris

Story:
William John Farris was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd June 1898 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 3rd July 1898, the son of Charles Farris and Celia Jane Hoskins Farris (née Mayo).  He lived his early life with the family at 17 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury.   William enlisted on 2nd June 1916 and served with, in succession, the Dorsetshire Regiment, the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport Reserve), the Essex Regiment (Service No. 39586) and the Yorkshire Regiment (Service No. 33829).  He became in time a Lance Corporal and during his time served in France as well as a short period after the armistice in Russia.  He was discharged on 3rd July 1919, being physically unfit to serve due to debility and defective vision.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  By the 1921 Census he was living in Victoria Street, Shaftesbury described as an Engineer working to John Farris & Sons (the local foundry).  He married Olive Rachel Hanney in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, in 1923.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 19 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as an Agricultural Engineer (Works Manager) as well as being a volunteer with the local Fire Brigade.  He died in Shaftesbury on 1st October 1975.