Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edward Leo Farrell, known as Ted, was born on 4th April 1887 at Balaklava, South Australia, the youngest of 6 children born to his parents Nicholas and Bridget Farrell.  He had 2 older brothers and 3 older sisters.  Upon completing his education at Balaklava School he undertook an apprenticeship with the local Chemist, Mr W Upton, and became fully qualified.  

When WW1 broke out Ted was one of the first to enlist on 21st August 1914 at Morphettville Camp SA aged 28.  His service number was 120, his rank Private and he was assigned to the 3rd Field Ambulance B Section.  He’s described as being 5ft 9ins tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark hair.  He completed his training at Morphettville Camp and was promoted to Lance Corporal before embarking from Adelaide on HMAT Medic on 20th October 1914 and sailed from Fremantle on 2nd November 1914 as part of the 1st Convoy. 

Upon arrival in Egypt he proceeded to Mena Camp where he remained till 3rd March 1915 when he embarked from Alexandria on HMAT Malda.  The ship anchored in Mudros Bay off Lemnos Island 3 days later.  The troops remained on board the ship in the bay for a month in preparation for the  Gallipoli landings.  Captains Fry, Buchanan and McWhae, and 114 other ranks were transhipped to HMT Ionian then on 19th April they were transhipped to HMAT Suffolk and then later to HMAT Devanha which was anchored off shore of the Gallipoli Peninsula.  At 10.30pm on 24th April they were transhipped to the destroyer HMS Ribble from which they disembarked into 2 boats and were towed ashore at 5.00am, landing under heavy shrapnel and gun fire.  Several casualties occurred.  The Unit took shelter under the sand banks on the beach and it was some time before they were able to commence collecting the wounded and attend to their needs.  Later in the day they were able to move to a position below the Sphinx near Fisherman’s Hut where they remained for the rest of the day.  Casualties for their Unit for the first day were 2 killed, 18 wounded and 4 missing.

In late June 1915 Ted was admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station (1ACCS) at Gallipoli with pleurisy.  He was evacuated to Malta on HMHS Gloucester Castle and admitted to St George’s.  He remained there till early October 1915 when he embarked for Egypt on HMHS Karoa.  Twelve days later Ted embarked from Alexandria for Gallipoli where he re-joined the 3rd Field Ambulance (3FA).  He remained on the peninsula for the remainder of the campaign and was evacuated with the troops on 23rd December 1915 on HMT Caledonia and disembarked at Alexandria 4 days later.  He then proceeded to Tel-el-Kebir Camp and was appointed as Temporary Corporal.  In late January 1916 he was admitted to the 4th Australian Auxiliary Hospital (4AAH) at Abbassia with mumps and re-joined his Unit in early February 1916.  He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in early March 1916.  

Ted and whole of the 3FA embarked for France from Alexandria on 27th March 1916 on HMT Kingstonian and disembarked at Marseilles a week later.  On the voyage one of the men of his Unit was lost overboard whilst sleepwalking. 

In July 1916 the Unit participated at Pozieres then moved to Belgium in August.  While the unit was serving at the Corps Rest Station at Buire, France, on the 11th November 1916, an air raid on the station killed one of their men outright with another 2 subsequently dying from their wounds and 3 more were wounded and evacuated.  This excerpt from the Unit Diary describes the event: “At 00.40 this morning an enemy aeroplane flying low, dropped 6 bombs on the 1st Anzac Rest Station.  Five patients were killed outright, thirty three wounded more or less seriously and three slightly.  Of the personnel at this station one was killed, four seriously wounded and one slightly wounded.  All of these belonged to No. 3 Australian Field Ambulance.  One bomb was dropped on the Orderly Room, destroying a number of the records of the station and of the unit.  Damage was done to four marquee tents and eight bell tents.  The distinguishing lamps were burning brightly at the time the attack was made.” 

Ted took leave to Scotland from early December 1916 to late January 1917.  Two weeks later he went absent without leave for 4 days and the punishment for this was his rank was reduced to Private.  Four days later he was admitted to hospital with influenza and 10 days later admitted to 32nd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux, France.  A week later he was transferred to 1st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne and then to the Rest Camp before re-joining his Unit in mid-June 1917.  In September 1917 he took 2 weeks leave to the UK and after re-joining his Unit was detached for duty to the 12th Australian Infantry Battalion.  Two months later he re-joined the 3FA, then in early 1918, he was detached for duty to 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade for 3 weeks. 

On 7th March 1918, whilst serving in the field with the 3FA at Voormezele, Belgium, Ted was gassed…along with 11 Officers and 144 other ranks.  He was admitted to 2ACCS and transferred by Ambulance Train to Wimereux where he was admitted to 8th Stationary Hospital.  He was evacuated to England on HMHS Pieter de Coninck and admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital at Birmingham.  A week later he was transferred to 1AAH at Harefield and in late March was discharged and proceeded to No. 3 Convalescent Camp at Hurdcott Camp.  In mid-June he proceeded to Parkhouse Camp in preparation for his return to France in early July 1918.  He re-joined the 3FA on 13th July 1918.  A month later he was admitted to 6th General Hospital at Rouen with scabies.  In early September he was discharged and proceeded to the Australian General Base Depot at Le Havre.  He was granted Special 1914 Leave for return to Australia and embarked from there for England on the 13th September 1918.  Ten days later he embarked from England for Australia on HMT Durham and disembarked in Melbourne on 23rd December 1918.  He then proceeded to Adelaide and was discharged on 21st February 1919. 

Ted had ongoing issues with his health after being gassed in the field and as a result of complications from this, he passed away at Adelaide Hospital on 20th October 1919 aged 32…exactly 5 years to the day from when he embarked for WW1 from Adelaide in 1914.  He was buried in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide SA.  Ted is commemorated on the District of Balaklava Roll of Honour. 

Edward Leo Farrell was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Anzac Commemorative Medallion.   

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 30th November 2022.