Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website

please scroll down to send a message

218219 Pte. Edward Fairburn Canadian Expeditionary Force 18th Btn. (d.2nd Mar 1918) Edward Fairburn was executed for desertion 02/03/1918 age 23 and buried in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-au-Bois, France. He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario on 21 September 1895. After enlisting in November 1915, Fairburn was sent to France as part of a reinforcement for the 18th (Western Ontario) Battalion. Following a period of charge-free conduct, Fairburn went missing during the period 9–16 April 1917 and he remained missing for 10 months, before being arrested just north of Arras. During his period of absence, Fairburn had missed the major battles at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70 and Passchendale (Third Battle of Ypres), which made his desertion appear even worse in the eyes of the Army authorities, and it came as no surprise that Fairburn was court-martialled for desertion, found guilty and sentenced to death by shooting. Please type your message:      We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit. Your Name:             Email Address:       @ **Please put first part of your email, (before the @ sign) in the first box, and the second part in the second box. Do not include @, it is automatic. Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**