Francis Edward FAIRWEATHER MC and Bar

FAIRWEATHER, Francis Edward

    Service Number: Officer
    Enlisted: 16 July 1915, Place of enlistment - Melbourne, Victoria
    Last Rank: Captain
    Last Unit: 38th Infantry Battalion
    Born: Moone Ponds, Victoria, Australia, 20 September 1891
    Home Town: Heidelberg, Banyule, Victoria
    Schooling: Rockhampton Grammar School, Queensland, Australia
    Occupation: Public Accountant
    Died: Killed In Action, France, 29 September 1918, aged 27 years
    Cemetery: Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery
    Plot II, Row F, Grave 41 Headstone Inscription "HE CAME NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE"
    Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Heidelberg War Memorial, Rockhampton Grammar School WWI Honour Roll
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    World War 1 Service

    16 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 38th Infantry Battalion, Place of enlistment - Melbourne, Victoria
    20 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 38th Infantry Battalion, Embarked on HMAT 'A54' Runic from Melbourne on 20th June 1916, disembarking Plymouth, England on 10th August 1916.
    30 Aug 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 38th Infantry Battalion
    22 Nov 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 38th Infantry Battalion, Proceeded to France from Southampton
    25 Aug 1917: Honoured Military Cross, Captain Francis Edward FAIRWEATHER
    'On the 7th and 8th June 1917 at MESSINES for most gallant conduct in the leadership of his company. It was mainly due to his skill that an enemy machine gun and its crew, which were inflicting heavy casualties on his company, was captured. Right through the operation extending over two days this Officer displayed fine qualities of leadership, and his cheerfulness greatly encouraged his men. He has on many other occasions exhibited great courage and ability.'
    17 Feb 1918: Transferred AIF WW1, Captain, 9th Infantry Brigade Headquarters, Detached to 9th Infantry Brigade Headquarters, rejoining 38th Infantry Battalion on 4th March 1918.
    3 Jun 1918: Honoured Military Cross and bar, Captain Francis Edward FAIRWEATHER, M.C.
    'For conspicuous ability and enthusiastic devotion to duty for the period from 22nd September, 1917, till 24th February, 1918.
    Prior to and on the 10th February, 1918, Capt. FAIRWEATHER displayed exceptional ability and marked efficiency in organising and carrying out a very successful raid at WARNETON, in which the Raiding Party was comprised 9 Officers and 195 O.R.'s. The attention to detail in the preparation of Orders, and the careful way in which every point in the training of the raiders was attended to, have marked this Officer as possessed of more than average ability. No point was too small for his personal attention, and the thoroughness of the preliminary reconnaissances carried out by him personally across No-Man's-Land, and by others under his direction, left nothing to chance, and the brilliant successof the raid was due in a large measure to his skill, personal courage and spirited influence.
    During the actual raid, he was personally in Command, and had during the its course to occupy, and operate from, a Command Station which placed him continuously in a position of danger. This in no way affected his cheerfulness, or the energetic way in which he enforced the enterprise and incited the whole party to inflict the biggest possible damage on the enemy, an important feature being the capture of 35 enemy prisoners, 3 machine guns and much smaller booty.
    His ability and energy in training have proved of very great value to his unit , particularly in the reorganisation after the offensive operations.'
    20 Jul 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 38th Infantry Battalion, Injured accidentally by bayonet to dorsal region. Treated at 47th Casualty Clearing Station then transferred to 20th Casualty Clearing Station. Rejoined unit on 1st August 1918.
    29 Sep 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 38th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 38th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1918-09-29

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    Biography contributed by Daryl Jones

    Son of John and Annie Mabel FAIRWEATHER, of Eaglemont, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.

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