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2203 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Henry Farrant, known as Harry was born in 1893 in Sudbury. He was the eldest of six known children of James and Sarah Farrant (née Bigmore). His father was a ‘foreman weaver’ for a hat trimming manufacturer and the family lived at 73 Cross Street before later moving to 22 Burkitts Lane.
Before the war Harry was employed as an ironmonger’s assistant. He enlisted in Colchester to serve with the Suffolk Regiment. Harry served alongside other Sudbury men including his Commanding Officer Lt. Col. William Armes, CSM William Hunt, Albert Byham, Bertie Felton, Percy Hume, Bertie Martin and David Pettit.
The battalion landed at Suvla Bay in early August 1915 and saw action against the Turks, advancing through heavy enemy fire without any artillery support from their own side to gain 1,300 yards. The battalion was garrisoned at Hill 60 and had to endure disease, swarms of flies, heat, water shortage and lack of transport. The battalion suffered 186 killed or wounded and a further 160 sick, the majority suffering with dysentery.
Harry was killed in action aged 21 in Gallipoli on 25 August 1915. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
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