Watercolour painting by James Farrar

Small watercolour of landscape, signed by Farrar.

James Farrar (1923-1944), poet and airman, was born on 5 October 1923 at Woodford in Essex, the second son of a father who had served in the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. He matriculated at fourteen years of age, and soon after began to write poetry and prose. Despite his youth, his work was of an exceptional maturity and skill. Tragically, he was killed in a RAF mosquito aircraft trying to destroy a V1 flying bomb at the end of July 1944. He was twenty years of age. His work was later discovered by Henry Williamson, who published an edition of the works in 1950, with the title 'The Unreturning Spring'.

Usual EUL arrangements apply.

Donated by John Trubshaw, son of Alwyn Trubshaw, school teacher of David and James Farrar. Alwyn Trubshaw was given the painting by James Farrar's mother.

Description compiled by Sue Inskip, 23 Jul 2009

Usual EUL restrictions apply.

Other papers of Farrar's are also held at Exeter University Library (EUL MS 51, EUL MS 260, EUL MS 287, EUL MS 361, EUL MS 368).