From 28 South Crescent, Northcote, Phillip Fargher senior did not enlist, but played a significant role in the war effort as the local Area Commander of for Northcote training after a somewhat controversial law declaring compulsory home training was introduced by Australia’s first Labor Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, on July 1, 1911.
Like many Area Commanders under the compulsory legislation, Fargher probably spent more hours in Northcote Court chasing up many of the unwilling local teenagers who preferred a few hours either in sporting pursuits or perhaps just “hanging around” rather than in drill sessions!
Fargher died on October, 1916; the cause of his death was not given, but reports in the Northcote Leader suggested it was “sudden”.
Born on the Isle of Man in 1859, Fargher arrived in Australia when a young man, and commenced rifle shooting with the Bendigo militia in 1885. His first important win in open rifle matches was in 1892, when he won the Queen’s Prize at the annual matches of the Victorian Rifle Association at Williamstown. He was widely regarded as the best rifle shooter in Victoria, later representing Australia twice in international competitions in England.
The family moved to Northcote around 1897, Fargher in his “civilian” life being an engineer with the Melbourne Tramways Company. He became the secretary of the Victorian Rifle Association in 1906, a position he still held at the time of his death.
His eldest son, Phillip junior enlisted in July, 1915 and was serving as Company Sergeant Major with the 6th Infantry when he was admitted to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station on 7 July, 1918 suffering from gas inhalation; he died at the station a week later.
Fargher senior is one of three servicemen in our Darebin In Memoriam Roll to be interred in the Northcote General Cemetery, the others Alfred Edgar Barker, died 10/05/1915 from cerebro-spinal meningitis), Base Hospital, Melbourne, and Frederick William Ryan (died Caulfield Repatriation Hospital of pneumonia, 25/02/1921. The Cemetery opened on one acre of land in 1861 and was closed for general use in 1908, although burials still continued until 1971 in lots that had been pre-purchased by families.
Link to the history of Phillip Fargher (senior)
Link to the history of Phillip Fargher (junior)
Link to ozsportshistory.com downloads for WW1
