Victoria Cross: J. J. Farmer

JOSEPH JOHN FARMER

Provisional Lance-Corporal, Army Hospital Corps

Born: 5 May 1855, Clerkenwell, London
Died: 30 June 1930, Northwood, Middlesex

Citation: For conspicuous bravery during the engagement with the Boers at the Majuba Mountain, on the 27th February, 1881, when he showed a spirit of self-abnegation and an example of cool courage which cannot be too highly commended.
While the Boers closed with the British troops near the wells, Corporal Farmer held a white flag over the wounded, and when the arm holding the flag was shot through, he called out that he had "another." He then raised the flag with the other arm, and continued to do so until that also was pierced with a bullet.

[London Gazette issue 24973 dated 17 May 1881, published 17 May 1881.]


Note: Majuba Hill is near Volksrust, South Africa. This was the main battle of the First Boer War, and was a decisive victory for the Boers.