Richard Fairbrother

Richard Fairbrother (Service No's 3281 & 4540) was born in Liverpool England about 1889 and attended Marsh Lane School. He came to Australia when he was 17 and at the time of enlistment he was a 27 year old miner at Coledale. He enlisted in July 1916 but was reattested on 22nd November 1916, reason unknown.

He embarked on HMAT A72 Beltana with 8th Reinforcements, 45th Battalion on 25th November 1916. After arriving in England on 29th January 1917 Richard had further training and was sent to France with the 45th Battalion on 9th July 1917. On 31st January 1918 he was evacuated to England for treatment after being wounded in action by exposure to mustard gas. Richard returned to France on 13th May 1918, but was again wounded in action on 18th June 1918 with a gun shot wound to his right hand. Richard returned to his unit on 27th July 1918.

On 18th September 1918 he was involved in a successful attack and was digging in to the new position when he was hit by a shell and killed instantly. Richard is buried in Bellicourt British Cemetery Plot IV, Row D, Grave 7.