Private
Farrell, Chester
Unit
Royal Canadian Regiment
Branch
Infantry
Service Component
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Service Number
478589
birth
1891/12/11
Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada
death
1917/04/09
Vimy, France
grave
La Chaudière Military Cemetery, Vimy, France
Gender
Male
Chester Farrell was born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, on 11 December 1891.
Before joining the military, Farrell was employed as a miner. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, on 29 September 1915. After initial training in Canada, he was shipped to England with his unit on SS Olympic on 1 April 1916, arriving 10 days later. Upon arrival in England, he was briefly transferred to the 11th Canadian Infantry Battalion at West Sandling Camp, which was part of the Canadian military complex at Folkestone, Kent. He was then sent to the RCR and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Depot at East Sandling Camp, which was also part of the complex at Folkestone.
On 6 June 1916, Farrell was shipped to France as a reinforcement for the RCR. On 20 July 1916, he was temporarily attached to the 2nd Canadian Tunnelling Company because of his mining skills and experience.
Farrell returned to the RCR on 28 October 1916. He was one of the six officers and 50 men of other ranks serving in the RCR who were killed in action at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917. An additional six officers and 159 men of other ranks were wounded, and 65 men were reported missing.
Chester Farrell is buried in La Chaudière Military Cemetery, Vimy, France.
