Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
ff
H/6139   Lance Corporal William Andrew Fairbairn
Save as PDF
Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 28/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: "B" Squadron, 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars (British Army)
Died: 13/06/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age: 28
Summary      
William Andrew Fairbairn was the son of Thomas and Margaret Fairbairn, of McKee's Terrace, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. He was born about 1892.Thomas was a butter and egg merchant. Lance Corporal William Andrew Fairbairn was serving with "B" Squadron, of the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars when he was killed on 13th June 1915, aged 28.
Further Information
William Fairbairn was the son of Thomas and Margaret Fairbairn. Thomas Fairbairn and Margaret Charles were married on 1st June 1885 in the district of Dungannon.
William Andrew Fairbairn was born on 26th December 1891 in Dungannon. He was one of ten children, six surviving.
Thomas was a butter and egg merchant. He was born in Kirkoswald, Cumberland.
Known family: Thomas Fairbairn, Margaret Fairbairn, John Charles Fairbairn (born 5th July 1886), Joseph Fairbairn (born 9th April 1887, died 22nd September 1892, age 5), Thomas Walker Fairbairn (born 17th August 1889), William Andrew Fairbairn (born 26th December 1891), Margaret Fairbairn (born 1st February 1893, died 1st February 1893), Sara Edith Fairbairn (born 5th July 1894), James Harrison Fairbairn (born 2nd November 1895), Fred Roberts Fairbairn (born 25th March 1900), Annie Fairbairn (born 30th July 1901, died 29th August 1902, age 1).
The 1901 census records William Andrew as 9 years old. William and the family were living at house 1 in Ballygawley Road, Dungannon. They had 3 servants.
The 1910 Ulster Towns Directory lists Mrs Fairbairn as an egg dealer at William Street, Dungannon.
William Street, Dungannon
By the time of the 1911 census, William was not living with the family.
Around 1911, William Fairbairn joined the Hussars and served in India.
Medal card
William was considerably over six feet in height, and was acclaimed to be one of the best swordsmen in the regiment.
1914
In late 1914, Lance Corporal Fairbairn was sent from India to the front in France.
1915
Lance Corporal William Andrew Fairbairn was serving with ‘B’ Squadron of the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars when he was killed in action on Sunday 13th June 1915.
Lance Corporal Fairbairn was instantaneously killed early in the morning by a shell which burst close beside him.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 23rd June 1915:
Mr John Fairbairn, Park Road, Dungannon, received an intimation from the squadron commander that his brother, Corporal William Fairbairn, 8th Hussars, had been killed by shell fire in Flanders. The deceased soldier was the third son of Mr Thomas Fairbairn, Dungannon and was 23 years of age.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 24th June 1915:
Lance Corporal William Fairbairn, 8th Hussars, who was killed in action in Flanders on the 13th June, was 23 years of age, and had six years' service. His mother resides along with his sisters and brothers at Milford Street, Belfast; another brother, Mr John Fairbairn, lining at Dungannon.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 24th June 1915
Mr J Fairbairn, Park Road, Dungannon, received an intimation from the adjutant on Monday that his brother, Corporal William Fairbairn, of the 8th Hussars, had been killed by shell fire in Flanders on Sunday, 13th inst. The deceased soldier was the third son of Mr Thomas Fairbairn, Dungannon and was 23 years of age. He had been four years in the army and on the outbreak of hostilities had been stationed in India, and was sent from there to the front. His mother resides in Belfast
The adjutant of the regiment, Captain Anderson, wrote to his brother, stating that he had been most popular with everyone in the regiment and was a most promising non-commissioned officer.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: Corporal William Fairbairn
Much sympathy is expressed with Mr John Fairbairn, Park Road, Dungannon, owing to the death of his younger brother, Corporal William Fairbairn, 8th Hussars, who was killed in action in France on Sunday 13th June. Corporal Fairbairn, who was 23 years of age, spent his early days in Dungannon. He joined the Hussars four years ago and had served in India. He was considerably over six feet in height, and was accounted one of the best swordsmen in the regiment. He had been on active service in France for the past seven months. The sad news was communicated to Mr Fairbairn in a letter received on Monday morning from Captain Anderson, adjutant of the regiment, which state4d that Corporal Fairbairn had been instantaneously killed early in the morning by a shell which burst close beside him. Captain Anderson further stated that he had been most popular with everyone in the regiment and was a most promising non-commissioned officer.
Lance Corporal William Fairbairn is buried in Perth Cemetery (China Wall). The cemetery is located three kilometres east of Ypres town centre.
The CWGC record Lance Corporal William Andrew Fairbairn as the son of Thomas and Margaret Fairbairn, of McKee's Terrace, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
Read more
Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Ballygawley Road Dungannon Central Census listing in 1 Ballygawley Road 54.502894 -6.775221
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
01/06/1885 M Charles Margaret Parent M/1885/T1/1418/3/80 Margt
01/06/1885 M Fairbairn Thomas Parent M/1885/T1/1418/3/80 Fairbaine
05/07/1886 B Fairbairn John Sibling U/1886/112/1012/16/83
09/04/1887 B Fairbairn Joseph Sibling U/1887/112/1012/16/397
17/08/1889 B Fairbairn Thomas Sibling U/1889/112/1012/17/405
16/12/1891 B Fairbairn William Casualty U/1892/112/1012/18/453
22/09/1892 D Fairbairn Joseph Sibling D/1892/112/1012/17/160 died age 5
01/02/1893 D Fairbairn Margaret Sibling D/1893/112/1012/17/272 died age 0
01/02/1893 B Fairbairn Margaret Sibling U/1893/112/1012/19/200
05/07/1894 B Fairbairn Sarah Sibling U/1894/112/1012/20/65
02/11/1895 B Fairbairn James Sibling U/1895/112/1012/20/430
25/03/1900 B Fairbairn Fred Sibling U/1900/112/1012/23/38
30/07/1901 B Fairbairn Annie Sibling U/1901/112/1012/23/347
29/08/1902 D Fairbairn Annie Sibling D/1902/112/1012/21/494 died age 1
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Fairbairn family Lists William Andrew as age 9 at house 1 in Ballygawley Road, Dungannon, Tyrone
2 1910 Ulster Towns Directory - Dungannon Fairbairn, Mrs, egg dealer, William Street, Dungannon
3 1911 Census lists Fairbairn family Does not list William Andrew at house 3 in Milford Street, Smithfield, Antrim
4 FindAGrave.com Photo of W. A Fairbairn's gravestone
5 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
6 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Lance Corporal William Fairbairn gravestone can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023