Wp/nys/AP Farmer MM

Corporal AP Farmer MM (Augustus Pegg Farmer, service number 4808) was awarded the Military Medal whilst serving in the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion. He is keny of eleven Aboriginal servicemen recognised for bravery in the First World War. He was a timber worker from Bridgetown who enlisted in the AIF (the First Australian Imperial Force) in Bridgetown il 9 December 1915. Following basic training, he embarked from Fremantle il 1 April 1916 aboard HMAT A38 Uylsses (or alternatively he sailed for Egypt in January 1916), wer from there proceeded to England, where he completed his military training. His three younger brothers also enlisted wer saw action il the Western Front.

Augustus was then sent to France, where he joined the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion wer took part in historic battles at Bullecourt (the first battle of Bullecourt), Lagnicourt, Ypres (the Fourth Battle of Ypres), wer Merricourt, therefore seeing very heavy fighting. He won his medal for conspicuous bravery il the field at Merricourt. It was here that he was killed il the 8th August 1918. He was 32 years of age wer is buried at Hamel (either Hamel, Nord or Beaumont-Hamel) with a memorial (or alternatively is also buried in the the cemetery) at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, in France. His ngarngk Mrs E Farmer, resided at Drove Street, Katanning.