Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: Kenneth Holmes Fairey
Service Number: 701
Place of Birth: Keyneton
Date of Birth: 1 May 1895
Place of Enlistment: Sydney, NSW
Date of Enlistment: 24 August 1914.
Age at Enlistment: 19 years 3 months
Next of Kin: Mother – Mrs. F.B. Fairey / Mittagong NSW
Occupation: Accountant
Religion: Congregational
Rank: Corporal
On 4 October 1916, his brother Corporal Ken Fairey was awarded in
the field the Military Medal for Bravery and Devotion to Duty. A
little over a month later, on 12 November, Ken was killed in action.
At the time of Ken’s death the Faireys were living in Mittagong, NSW
and it was here Ken’s personal effects were sent. Ern spent a
significant part of the following year with recurring trench fever yet
rallied as the year closed to assume vice positions for senior ranks
indisposed to illness. It appears however, the Gallipoli experience,
the loss of his brother, the relentless bombardment noise and
misery of trench warfare were taking psychological toll on the
seasoned soldier.
On 25 March 1918, Reverend Fairey wrote to (then) Commander -
in-Chief of the Australian Imperial Force, General (Sir William, later
Lord) Birdwood, regarding the shock and strain of his younger son’s
death on the elder surviving brother, and the strain and fear
suffered by Mrs. Fairey at the expectation of receiving news of the
loss of the other. Reverend Fairey, concerned for his wife’s weak
heart, implored the General to reassign Ernest to a post behind the
front line for the sake of the soldier’s mother. He reminded General
Birdwood his son had spent long years serving King and Country and
this action could not be considered as shirking duty. The advice
received from Fairey’s Commanding Officer respectfully
recommended the soldier return to Australia and noted “ he will
never be fit to go up to a Battery again nor even be promoted ....he
lacks control of men”. Corporal Ernest Fairey returned to Australia
and his parents, and was discharged on 5 October 1918.
Corporal Kenneth Holmes Fairey was buried forty yards south-west
of Factory Corner Burial Ground north of Flers, which is 3 miles
south of Bapaume in the Somme region of France. The brothers
Fairey were awarded the 1914-1915 Star Medal, the British War
Medal and the Victory Medal with Ken’s posthumous awards sent to
his parents. In due course, Mrs. Fairey received a Memorial Scroll
from the King in honour of her dead son’s sacrifice and a Memorial
Plaque.
The circumstances of Kenneth being awarded the Military Medal are
outlined in “WW1 Memorial Window: 701 Cpl Kenneth Holmes
Fairey – a Reverend’s son”, which states, “On 9 September 1916,
Corporal Fairey and two comrades, Bombadiers Edward Tanner and
George Horan were recommended for Military medals for their
devotion to duty during the defence of Pozieres which read: “At
Pozieres, France, throughout the period 22nd to 27th July 1916 these
NCOs assisted to maintain Battery and Right Battalion liaison
officers’ telephone lines. They were constantly under heavy shell
fire and a splendid example to the men working with them as
without their devotion to duty the work of the Field Artillery on this
flank would have been impossible to carry out. Bdr Tanner was
finally severely wounded while these NCOs were endeavouring to
bring in a wire in a crowded communications trench on the night
26th / 27th July 1916 under very heavy fire.”1
Cpl Ken Fairey was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery and
Devotion to Duty in the field on 4 October 1916.
During the Battle of Baupame east of Flers on the morning of 12
November, Cpl Fairey was with several from his Battery in a
telephone pit and observation post. At 3am “a pip squeak came
over”2
and the pit took a direct hit. Alongside Cpl Fairey was a fellow
recipient of a Military Medal from the Pozieres campaign, Brigadier
Edward Beeks. Both were asleep and killed instantly.3
Twenty – one
year old Fairey and twenty – year old Beeks were buried side by side
in Plot 1, Row A, Graves 3 and 4 and were among the first in what
was to become the fifth largest British war cemetery on the
Somme.4
Kenneth Holmes Fairey’s sacrifice is honoured in stained glass in the
Keyneton Independent Chapel and his name is located on panel 11,
Roll of Honour, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial,
Canberra. Source: NAA; B2455; Fairey EW; Barcode3546734
NAA; B2455; FaireyK; Barcode3546736llan Edward Beeks.
1 www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awm28/1/awm28-1-6-
0034.pdf[10/2/2012].
2 www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/flers/sommewinter.html[10/2/2012].
3
3127 Pte Roberts quote from Australian Red Cross Wounded and
Missing. Enquiry Bureau file, Bdr Allan Edward Beeks.
4 www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/1dr10428/2/31/9/1drl0428-2-31-9-6.pdf[10/2/2012].
WW1 Memorial Window: 701 Cpl Kenneth Holmes Fairey – a
Reverend’s son : courtesy of Carolyn Lillecrapp