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30718 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Alexander Farrance, known as Alec was born in 1897 in Sudbury, the son of John and Ellen Farrance. He had three brothers: Reginald, David and Percy and six sisters: Bessie, Emma, Grace, Alice, Evelyn and Elsie. His father was employed as a mat weaver and the family lived at 34 Church Street, before moving to 3 Laundry Gardens, Bridgefoot close to Ballingdon Bridge. By the age of 14 Alec was employed as an errand boy for a local silk manufacturer.
Alec enlisted in Sudbury and served with the Suffolk Regiment. His three brothers also served during the war: Reginald lost his life serving with the East Surrey Regiment and is also remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial; David served in the army and Percy in the Royal Marines enlisting in 1917 and serving right through the Second World War to 1945.
The 2nd Battalion formed part of 76th Brigade, 3rd Division and saw action during the Battle of the Somme (1 July – 18 November 1916). The battalion was in the trenches from 6 November preparing for an attack in the final phase of the Battle of the Somme at the Battle of Ancre The attack was postponed twice and finally went ahead on 13 November. From ‘The History of the Suffolk Regiment‘ – ‘At 5am the first wave floundered forward into No Man’s Land – in reality a sea of mud in which movement was barely possible. Three-quarters of an hour later the attack began. The mist which hung about over low ground thickened as the smoke of the barrage increased, making direction extremely difficult to maintain. Within a very short time all the officers leading companies had fallen, and owing to a lack of leaders no real progress was made. In spite of atrocious weather conditions prevailing, portions of the leading Suffolk companies actually reached the German second line. But all was in vain and the battalion having been reorganised in its original front line remained there for the rest of the day’. The battalion suffered 272 casualties including Alec.
Alec was killed in action on 13 November 1916 and lies buried in Queens Cemetery, Puisieux, Pas de Calais, France. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid on by his grave in April 2009.
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