Name
Edward Joseph Fairbank
10 March 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266422
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 89 and 90.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, St Mary & St Joseph Roman Catholic Church Memorial, Boxmoor
Pre War
Edward Joseph Fairbank was born in Moreton Place, Pimlico, London on 10 March 1897, the son of Edward James and Alice Ruth Fairbank (nee Thorn), and baptised at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Horseferry Road, London on 18 April the same year. He was one of five children, the others being, Frederick, Albert, Winifred and Philip.
On the 1891 Census his father was working as a domestic butler and living in Westminster with Edward's mother and his brother Frederick who was just over a day old. Sadly his brother Albert died soon after birth in 1892 and his father died suddenly in 1899, aged 34, leaving his mother with a young baby, Philip George, born earlier the same year, and four young children. His mother then took Philip to live at Wigginton, near Tring to be close to her parents home, but sadly Philip also died in 1907 aged 8 years old. Frederick, Winifred and Edward then lived with their paternal grandparents in West Hampstead and were at school there until 1910 when they came to Hemel Hempstead where his mother had bought a Stationery and Tobacconist shop in St John's Road, Boxmoor. Edward was then educated at Boxmoor School until he finished his education in March 1912, when he started work with his mother in her shop.
On the 1911 Census, he was living with his widowed mother and sister Winifred and brother Harry at St John's Road, Boxmoor, where his mother ran the tobacconist and stationer shop located next door to St Mary & St Josephs Roman Catholic Church which it is believed the family attended.
The family were hit by further sadness when his sister Winifred died in 1913, aged 20, leaving just Edward and his older brother Frederick.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Hertford and initially served with the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment (Private 4580), later being transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment. He served in France from 17 August 1915, although not having reached the age of 19 which was required to serve overseas, suggesting that he had falsified his age.
He soon saw action in the trenches and took part in the Battle of Ancre Heights in October 1916 and in the following year, he fought at Pilckem Ridge, Langemark, Menin Road and Polygon Wood, as well as Passchendaele in October 1917. Unfortunately he was one of five men gassed in early November, which resulted in repatriation to hospital in England followed by extensive convalescence. He eventually returned to France on 6 May 1918.
Edward was killed in the German Spring Offensive of 1918 during heavy fighting. According to the war diary, at 9.35 p.m. on 30 June the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment, in conjunction with others, attacked the enemy trenches on the Bouzincourt spur north west of Albert. The attack was carried out under a smoke screen and barrages and was entirely successful, all objectives being gained. A large number of the enemy were killed, three machine guns captured and about 20 prisoners taken. In addition, a number of dug-outs in the sunken road which were full of the enemy were successfully bombed. Actual casualties during the assault were one Officer and 35 Other Ranks. However, the enemy responded and drove them back, but another counter attack by the Beds and others succeeded in regaining the posts but they were again lost at 4.30p.m. after a long bombing contest. At 8.50p.m. the enemy delivered a heavy counter attack on the whole front and succeeded in driving the British Forces from their advanced position.
Edward's death was assumed on 1 July 1918. He was 21 years old and has no known grave, but his name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £16 and pay owing of £5 3s 3d. She also received a pension of 5 shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, parish.rcdow.org.uk/St-Mary-and-St-Joseph-WW1, www.hemelheroes.com
