FARMER,
REGINALD WILLIAM BARTLETT BORN 27 JUNE 1888
Reginald William Bartlett Farmer was born on 27 June 1888 in
Petersham, New South Wales, Australia, son of William, (b 1807 in Middlesex), and Clara Farmer (née Buck, b 1855 in Kingsbridge, Devon). Clara was one of eight children to parents Henry William Buck and Elizabeth (Betsey) Buck. Originally from Kingsbridge, the family moved to Stoke Damerell, Devon and by 1871 to Truro, Devon. In 1881 Clara was a certified teacher living with her sisters Alice and Emily Buck in Hastings Villa, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol; this being the home of her married brother Thomas J, his wife Sophia and their two daughters. Clara married William Farmer in St Werbergh’s church on 4 June, 1881.
ston’s School. In about 1904 Reginald entered the merchant navy as an apprentice and joined the sailing ship 'Invergarry' on
The following description of his life comes from the Australian War Memorial Collection. Reginald was born in Sydney as was his sister Kathleen Josephine (b1887) and brother Aubrey George (b 1892). After their father died, their mother moved the family back to England around 1895. Reginald was educated in Devon before securing a scholarship to Bristol Grammar School.
a voyage to Sydney. From there he transferred to steamers, signing on with the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, which operated passenger ships. His mother, brother and sister returned to live in Sydney in 1908.
The school records show that Reginald entered the School on 18 September 1900, aged 12. At this time, he was living with his widowed mother, Clara, at 115 Cotham Brow, Bristol. The census of 1901 show Clara, Reginald, Kathleen and Aubrey living on Cotham Brow. Reginald left the School in April 1903, aged 14. Aubrey attended Col-
Reginald was 26 years old, serving in the 7,000 ton SS Makura, and already an experienced officer, when he was appointed a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve on 15 December 1915. After training at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria, he was appointed navigator of the newly commissioned River Class torpedo boat destroyer
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