Fairbank John Thomas Pte 4453325
Personnel Entry
Name Fairbank John Thomas
Army number 4453325
Rank Private.
Decorations
Date of birth Born Hull 1919/20.
Age 20 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in The Durham Light Infantry, noexact enlistment date, but probably early 1939. Posted ? 6th Battalion DLI. Posted 10th Battalion DLI - probably 1/9/1939. Served in Northern France with the B.E.F. Posted Missing 11 - 31/5/40, presumed KILLED in ACTION 20/5/40 with 10th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry.
Company/Battery HQ Company, 10th Battalion.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role
Joined Brigade Probably 1/9/1939.
Promotions
Wounded Not so far as is known, other than his mortal injuries.
Prisoner of War Not so far as is known.
Died/Killed in action 20-May-40. Buried Sp. Mem. Plot 8, Row A, Grave 5, BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY, Ficheux. No family inscription on his headstone.
Home address Resident of Hull. Son of Henry Harrison and Daisy Ellen Fairbank, Hull.
Source table 10DLIi
Private Fairbanks was included on the War Office "missing" list circulated to PoW Camps, without success. His fate was unknown for many months.
The Hull Daily Mail carried a news item on 10th December 1941 which read:-
'Anxiety is felt for the safety of a Hull soldier who was last heard of in May of this year, when in France. He is Private J T Fairbank of the Durham Light Infantry. Private Fairbanks' parents, whose home is at 32 Freemantle Avenue, Sutton Trust Estate, Marfleet, would be grateful for any information regarding their son's whereabouts.'
