George Farley was born at 44, South Parade, Belfast, Ireland, on 21st May 1895. In 1901, the family were living at 10 Kincarrathie Crescent, Kinnoull, Perth: Father, Thomas (Clerk, Inland Revenue), b. c1857, Ireland; Mother, Ellie, b. c1858, Ireland; Daughter, Nellie L., b. c1889, Ireland; and Son, George H., b. 1895, Ireland. Also living at this address was Maggie M. P. Cree (General Servant Domestic), b. c1884, Dunning, Perthshire. George Farley was admitted into the Perth Academy on the 30th August 1901 (aged 6). 

Later in 1911, with his father was living at 78, St Leonard’s Road, Ayr, Scotland. George was employed as a farming pupil and his father’s occupation was a Surveyor, Customs and Excise. 

He enlisted in Antrim, with the North Irish Horse (Regimental No. 1731) on 27th September 1915. George Farley embarked from Southampton on 18th May 1916 and disembarked at Rouen on 19th May 1916. 

George served with the Expeditionary Force in France until he was attached to No.2 Officer Cadet Battalion (OCB) on 18th December 1916. He was discharged from the OCB on appointment to a temporary Commission in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 29th May 1917. 

George Farley was killed in action on 16th August 1917, during the third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). He was 22 years of age.

George Farley’s Will, dated 14th August 1917 (written two days before his death), states simply: “Should I not see the end of this push I leave everything to my mother Mrs Ellie Farley, Benoni, Roy Road, Northwood, Middlesex”. The Farley family: father Thomas, aged 60; mother Ellie, aged 59; and sister V. L., aged 29; received the contents of his will on 6th December 1917, when living at Townhead, Antrim, Ireland.

George Farley has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Passchendaele. He is also commemorated on the Pathstruie Parish War Memorial, Forteviot and the Ayr War Memorial.