Quick Facts
CancerBiography
James Thomas Farnan (12 July 1875 – 9 August 1916) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was killed in action in France in World War I.
Family
One of the five children of William Francis Farnan (1851–1891) and Bridget Winifred Farnan (née Kane; 1853–1912), he was born at Emerald Hill (now known as South Melbourne) on 12 July 1875.
Footballer
Recruited from Montague, he played one senior game for St Kilda, on the half-back flank, against Essendon, at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground on 8 July 1899 (round nine). Essendon won by 79 points, 11.19 (85) to 1.0 (6) (St Kilda did not score at all in the last three-quarters).
Soldier
He enlisted, aged 40, in the First AIF on 7 August 1915. He gave his occupation as packer and his status as single.
Death
Private James Farnan, of the 46th Battalion Australian Infantry was killed in action, in France, on 9 August 1916. He is buried at the Pozieres British Cemetery, at Ovillers-la-Boisselle, in France. His name is located at panel 141 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.