Corporal David Fairbairn

Corporal David Robert Fairbairn, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots. He died in the 56th General Hospital, Etaples, France on 27th May 1918, aged 29 from mustard gas poisoning received in action during the German Spring Offensives on the River Lys and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, Pas de Calais, France. He had been born in Crailing and was the son of the late Robert and Mary Fairbairn of Crailing, Jedburgh.  Before enlisting in December 1915 he had been employed as a mole and rabbit catcher.  He had originally been posted to the 6th K.O.S.B. but had been transferred into the Royal Scots. The photographs show Allied troops in rather makeshift defences preparing to resist the advancing Germans.

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