The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 10:11 am Post subject: Lt S Farish, Kirkmichael Church

UKNIWM Ref 44335

Location is inside Kirkmichael Parish church, Parkgate at OS Map Ref: NY 004 883

A lot of information for a researcher on this memorial and an especially detailed carving of the KOSB badge.

UKNIWM describes the church location as Townhead but it is in fact in Parkgate. In this area, Townhead is a term used to describe the top end of the village (in height or furthest from the main road) and Townfoot is the lower end. There are lots of Townheads and Townfoots (and Lochhead and Lochfoot). But the village name here is Parkgate.

This individual memorial is in Kirkmichael Church (where he was born) but he does not appear on the church memorial or local civic memorial at Nethermill. CWGC says he is from Tod-hill Muir, Lockerbie but his name does not appear on the Lockerbie memorial. Todhillmuir actually comes under Lochmaben and his name DOES appear on the Lochmaben memorial.

The memorial has him as a Lt but CWGC and SNWM both have him as Capt.

Name: FARISH, SAMUEL
Initials: S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 24/04/1917
Additional information: Son of Samuel Thomas and Annie Farish, of Tod-hill Muir, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire. Enlisted 4th Aug., 1914. Wounded at Tartali, Serbia, 8th Dec., 1915, and at Ypres 21st Aug., 1916.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 6.
Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 234 Location: nr Nottingham

From "The KOSB in the Great War", Capt. Stair Gillon, page 192:

[1st KOSB at Arras]

.... by 3am on the 25th-Gallipoli Day- the whole battalion were in the cellars of Arras.
The battalion had gone into action with 21 officers and 500 O.R. The casualties submitted by the G.O.C. in his report show that 3 officers were killed and 7 wounded, and that 20 O.R. were killed and 133 wounded, 19 being missing. 2nd Lieuts. L. Solomon and B.H. Roberts were killed on the 23rd, and 2nd Lieut. S. Farish on the 24th, the last named was one of the dwindling band who had formed the nucleus of the 9th Battalion. In Farish a promising and trustworthy subaltern was lost, as well as a charming companion.

[n.b. incorrect rank]
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