Pte
Robert Fairbairn
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 14/03/1896 |
|
Place of birth: Akatore, Nieuw-Zeeland, New Zealand |
General information
|
Last known residence: Puerua, Otago, New Zealand |
|
Profession: Farmer |
|
Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
|
Country: New Zealand |
|
Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 35010 |
|
Enlistment date: 23/08/1916 |
|
Enlistment place: Featherston, Wellington, New Zealand |
|
Units: — Otago Regiment, 3rd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
|
Place of death: Wimbledon, Passendale, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 21 |
Cemetery
|
Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXV Row: C Grave: 6 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) | ||
| #5 | Sterfteplaats |
My story
Robert Fairbairn was born on 14 March 1896 in Akatore, New Zealand. He was the son of Robert Houliston and Agnes Fairbairn. He worked as a farmer when he enlisted in the New Zealand Army on 23 August 1916. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion Otago Regiment and embarked at Wellington.
The Battles of the Menin Road (20 September) and Polygon Wood (26 September) had convinced Haig that a breakthrough towards the coast and victory were still possible. Therefore, another attack had to be launched on 4 October, although there was not enough time for proper preparations. As a result, there were complaints about the artillery support, which in some places proved inadequate. Nevertheless, the Battle of Broodseinde is considered a success, albeit at best a limited one. The cost was extremely high: many casualties were suffered, and the Germans still retained control of an important part of the ridge. It also became increasingly difficult to move artillery forward, causing artillery support to weaken further. Yet such support was an essential condition for the bite and hold tactic used during the Battle of Broodseinde.
The 3rd Battalion Otago Regiment attacked on the morning of 4 October. Their objective was the Red Line, which roughly followed the crest of the ridge near ’s Graventafel, and the battalion provided the moppers-up. Along the way, they captured Dochy Farm and Riverside. Much heavier resistance came from Otto Farm, but this position was eventually taken as well. They were heavily harassed by German shellfire, yet they succeeded in capturing several German machine guns and taking a number of prisoners. The Red Line was reached and consolidated. At that point, the attack was continued by the 3rd Canterbury Regiment and the 3rd Wellington Regiment. During the night of 5 October, the battalion was relieved by the 1/5th West Riding Regiment. Fifteen men of the battalion were killed during this attack.
Robert died on 4 October 1917 at the age of 21. He was killed near Wimledon, which lay between the start line and the Red Line. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
The Battles of the Menin Road (20 September) and Polygon Wood (26 September) had convinced Haig that a breakthrough towards the coast and victory were still possible. Therefore, another attack had to be launched on 4 October, although there was not enough time for proper preparations. As a result, there were complaints about the artillery support, which in some places proved inadequate. Nevertheless, the Battle of Broodseinde is considered a success, albeit at best a limited one. The cost was extremely high: many casualties were suffered, and the Germans still retained control of an important part of the ridge. It also became increasingly difficult to move artillery forward, causing artillery support to weaken further. Yet such support was an essential condition for the bite and hold tactic used during the Battle of Broodseinde.
The 3rd Battalion Otago Regiment attacked on the morning of 4 October. Their objective was the Red Line, which roughly followed the crest of the ridge near ’s Graventafel, and the battalion provided the moppers-up. Along the way, they captured Dochy Farm and Riverside. Much heavier resistance came from Otto Farm, but this position was eventually taken as well. They were heavily harassed by German shellfire, yet they succeeded in capturing several German machine guns and taking a number of prisoners. The Red Line was reached and consolidated. At that point, the attack was continued by the 3rd Canterbury Regiment and the 3rd Wellington Regiment. During the night of 5 October, the battalion was relieved by the 1/5th West Riding Regiment. Fifteen men of the battalion were killed during this attack.
Robert died on 4 October 1917 at the age of 21. He was killed near Wimledon, which lay between the start line and the Red Line. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Sources 4
|
'Robert Fairbairn’: New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives New Zealand, Wellington (ANZ), R21001782. https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
|
Koch, Koen. De Derde Slag Bij Ieper 1917 (Antwerpen: Uitgeverij Manteau, 2007), 204-207. Sources used |
|
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 113. Sources used |
|
War Diary van de 3rd Batallion Otago Regiment, oktober 1917. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (ANZ), R23697079. https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
More information 5
|
CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462708 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=6b93d33a-df1a-47ec-a988-664c9844e3fc |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7174264 |
|
The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=78109 |
|
Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C4655 |