JOHN ERIC FARROW
John’s portrait and profile will be displayed at a V.J. Day exhibition, “Be Ye Men of Valour“, from Saturday, 9th August to Monday, 25th August (Bank Holiday) 2025, at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich, IP4 2BT.
John is not remembered on the war memorial at Christchurch Park.
Image from the Evening Star – 12th February 1942.
Extra information courtesy of Petra.
Born: 13th April 1917, Ipswich.
Died: 22nd May 1941; age: 24; M.P.K. during an air raid off Crete.
Residence: 56, Rayleigh Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: on the staff of the Prudential Assurance Company, Princes Street, Ipswich.
Rank: Stoker 2nd Class; Service Number: P/KX. 109124.
Regiment: Royal Navy, H.M.S.’Greyhound.’
Memorial Reference:
Panel 56. Column 1.
Hampshire.
Father: Arthur Farrow, born April 1881, Walton-on-Naze, Essex.
Mother: Grace Farrow (nee Luff), born August 1889, St. Clement’s, Ipswich.
Farrow family home at 284, Bramford Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1921 284, Bramford Lane, Ipswich.
John was 4 years and 2 months old and lived with his mother and siblings.
Grace Farrow, 29 years & 10 months old, Home Duties.
Grace Alice Farrow, 11 years & 6 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
Gladys May Farrow, 9 years & 5 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
Arthur Edward Farrow, 7 years & 9 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939
John was employed as an Insurance Clerk. He lived with his parents and siblings at the family home – 284, Bramford Lane, Ipswich.
Arthur Farrow, a Capstan Lathe Hand.
Grace Farrow, unpaid Domestic Duties.
Gwendolen Eileen Farrow, a Telephone Operator, born November 1923, Ipswich.
Kenneth Terence Farrow, born 1934, Ipswich.
Greta Gloria Farrow, born 1936, Ipswich.
In 1939, in Ipswich, John married Marie Emily Dines, a hairdresser, born May 1916, Ipswich – daughter of the late Percy Thomas Dines, a baker and confectioner (for his father Robert Thomas Dines business), and Leonie Marie Garnham (nee Fyson/Fison (1st marriage Dines)), and later stepdaughter of William Garnham, of Brockenhurst, Whitton, Suffolk.
Probate to Marie Emily Farrow – widow.
22nd May 1941
H.M.S.’Greyhound‘ was a G-class destroyer ordered in March 1934 by the Royal Navy, and built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Laid down 20th September 1934, at Yard 699. Launched 15th August 1935, and commissioned 31st January 1936.
On the 12th May 1941, H.M.S. ‘Greyhound’ was released from the Tiger convoy, and deployed for support of operations in the defence of Crete, from the German sea-borne invasion force. On the 22nd May 1941, during the Battle for Crete, H.M.S. ‘Greyhound’ was heavily dive-bombed from German Stuka – Ju-87, in the Kithera Strait, Southern Greece. She sank within minutes.
Commander Walter Roger Marshall-A’Deane DSO, DSC, R.N. and 79 crew were killed. H.M. Destroyer’s Kandahar and Kingston rescued 44 men, and 4 other sailors were taken prisoner.
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