Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Maitland Weekly Mercury Saturday 12 May 1917 p. 8
RECRUITING.
LOCAL ENLISTMENTS
Since Monday the following volunteers have been examined at the local - depot;~James
Yorke, Lorn, E. Tange W. Maitland, Hector Horace Fairleigh, West Maitland, Richard Franklin, Singleton; James M'Cardell, Cessnock- , Thomas Boyd, Casino and James Alfred Hooker, Singleton. Sydney James Paterson, West Maitland, Thomas Richard Pendlebury, Cessnock and John Monmouth son, Newcastle, also applied but require their parents consent,

Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force 5 April 1917, aged 19 y 2 m.
Occ: Striker Address: Belmont Rd, Lorn, NSW
Height 5' 4"
Chest 32-34 1/2"
Complexion fair, Grey eyes, fair hair
Religion: C of E
Mole left arm
scar above right knee.
Trooper
Disembarked at Suez 10 Dec 1917.
23 Jul 1918 to Hospital
Qualified as 1st Class Gunner,
2nd LH Machine gun squadron.
Court Marshall in the field on 25 Nov 1918 for disobeying a comand on active service at Wadi Henion when he did not walk when ordered to by Lt F B Stafford on 16 Nov 1916, he was sentenced to 60 days.
Feb 1919 Measles
Returned to Australia 28 June 1919

[FAIRLEIGH Hector Horace : Service Number - 3536 : Unit - 2nd Australian Machine Gun Squadron, Australian Imperial Force : Date of Court Martial - 25 November 1918]

7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Embarkation Roll, 31st Reinforcement
3536 Private Hector Horace FAIRLEIGH, a 19 year old Blacksmith from Lorn, New South Wales. He enlisted on 8 May 1917; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 28 June 1919.

The Maitland Weekly Mercury Saturday 16 August 1919 p. 4
Trooper H: H. Fairleigh, on his return to West Maitland, was given a magnificent welcome : The Salvation Army band played ''Home Sweet Home' as the young hero mounted the railway steps, and rousing cheers were given. On behalf of tho Lorn Welcome Home Committee, Mr. W. C. Johnston welcomed Trooper Fairleigh back to West Maitland. 'Adjutant Reeves also joined in the welcome, after which a procession was formed headed by the Army band, which escorted him to his home at Lorn. The house had been tastefully decorated and illuminated by ladies of Lorn the tables being decorated with the returned soldier's squadron colours. --'Another large crowd had assembled, here cheering the soldiers who acknowledged the welcome. Assambling inside the house. Rev. A. Kilworth, proposed the toast of the guests. it being supported by Adjutant Reeves, both of whom congratulated the young soldier on his return.
Mr. Harold Fairleigh responded on behalf of his brother and Mr. Fairleigh, senr., in responding to the toast of the parents also thanked the many friends for the kind welcome given his son. Trooper T. Davies, who had recently returned, was welcomed with Private Fairleigh. The two soldiers were friends and served together in Egypt, Palestines, Syria, and Arabia. During the evening, musical items were rendered by Misses Godfrey, Moore, Eade, Fairleigh, Richards, K. Clulow, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs H Carrington, Roy York and Eric Fairleigh.

Trooper Fairleigh sailed with the. 7th Light Horse but was subsequently transferred to the 2nd Australian Machine Gun Squadron with which he served up to the armistice. He was twice, stricken with malaria fever.

Hector passed on 21 May 1927 in what is believed to be an industrial accident.

The Maitland Daily Mercury Wednesday 25 May 1927 p. 4
Late Mr. Hector Fairleigh
The funeral of the late Mr. Hector Fairleigh left his late residence, Old Rose-street, for St. Paul's Churoh of England, thence to Campbell's Hill cemetery, on Sunday afternoon last, and was largely attended, The service at the church was conducted by Rev; Canon Drake, who also conducted. the service at the graveside.
The chief mourners were: Mrs. Fairleigh, Amy (sister) ( Harold and Thelma (brother and, sister-in-law); Eric (brother), Mr, and Mrs. Akers (father and mother-in-law), .Herbert and Thelma Akers ; (brother-In-law and sister in law), Doris (sister in law), Mesdames Hinman and Coulton (aunts), Messrs Herb, and Vic Carrington, May and George Coyle, Alma and Cecil Woods, Harold Hinman, Horace Coulton, Alfie Coulton, Perce Moore and Roger Kennedy (cousins).
The pall-bearers were; Harold and Eric Fairleigh, Perce Moore, and Roger Kennedy. Wreaths were received from the following: Wife and children, Mr, and Mrs. Akers and family, Thelma and Herbie Akers, Gordon and Walter Akers, Auntie Mabel and Uncle Will, and family, Uncle Harry and Auntie Ethel and family, May and George Coyle, Alma and Cecil Woods, Mr. and Mrs. Perce Moore, mother and father and family and Tom Archer, the Carrlngton family, Glen and Thel, and family, Mr, and Mrs. Search and Norman, Mr, and Mrs, H, L Search, jun„ Mr,. A, Cook and family :(Woodville), Mr, and Mrs, Sargent, Mr, and Mrs, .R. Walker, and family, Mr. and Mrs, Norman, and family, Mr. and Mr P. McLeod and family, residents of Old Rose-
street, Numerous expressions of sympathy were also received.