Farr, Gertrude (Oral history)

British civilian widow of Pte Harry Farr, 1st Bn West Yorkshire Regt, executed for cowardice on Western Front, 16/Oct/1916. Also includes comments from daughter and granddaughter

REEL 1: Story of receiving news of death of husband; allowance; rent; living conditions; communication with husband on Western Front; description of letter from War Office giving circumstances of husband's death; question of pension being stopped; reaction of family; question of war widow's pension being stopped and reliance on charitable organisations; evicted from lodgings; description of employment as house maid in Surrey and London; memories of Lord and Lady Arkwright; story of letters from nurse in Le Havre about husband's shell shock; intervention of Lord Clarendon over pension; remarriage after war; attitude to execution of husband and question of secrecy; story of daughter receiving news of father's death; question of location of husband's grave; letter from chaplain and description of execution; story of first meeting Harry Farr. REEL 2 Continues: description of Harry Farr and attitude of parents to marriage; recreational activities; living conditions; husband's employment and army service; marriage in London; memories of husband's enlistment and last meeting, 1914; attitude to campaign to gain posthumous pardon; circumstances of death; opinion of sentence; attitude to Armistice Day celebrations. Gertrude Farr (daughter): reaction to news of father's death; upbringing with Lord and Lady Arkwright; memories of father and uncles; opinion of obtaining pardon; attitude to treatment of ex-servicemen . Janet Farr (granddaughter): support for campaign to obtain pardon; question of secrecy over execution; attitude to trial and verdict; opinion of granting pardons; attitude to Armistice Day; question of shame and effects on family.