Armament Sergeant Major George Herbert Farlie, MSM, was born in Catford, London, England on March 17, 1880. His father was John Leonard Farlie. Prior to his enlistment in the First World War, Farlie had worked as a machinist, in addition to serving in the Active Militia and with past service in the Canadian Corps.

Farlie joined the Canadian Ordnance Corps at Valcartier, Québec, in September of 1914, and shipped to England aboard the SS Ivernia in early October. Following his arrival in England, the Attestation Paper in Farlie’s service record documents his enlistment at Salisbury Plains on December 28, 1914. He initially  served in both England and France with the 2nd Canadian Field Artillery Brigade, then subsequently with No. 26 Canadian Travelling Ordnance Workshop Unit (redesignated the 81st Canadian Ordnance Workshop Unit (Light) in November of 1918).

On January 1, 1917, Farlie was awarded the British Meritorious Service Medal. Following the end of hostilities, he returned to Canada where he was demobilized on August 17, 1919.

Content notes:
Included are two diaries kept by Farlie, beginning prior to his enlistment through to August 1917, in which he recorded details relating to his armament work along with personal observations. A content sample has been provided with a transcription of the diary’s entries for the month of April 1917. Photographs include both pre and post war military groups or individuals (date range 1893 to 1923).

External links:
S.M. George Farlie’s service record (Serv/Reg# 41669) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
The awarding of the Meritorious Service Medal to Farlie was published The London Gazette of January 1, 1917 (#29886, p.55).