The AIF Project

Samuel Ferdinand FAIRHALL

Regimental number502
Place of birthSuva, Fiji Islands
SchoolMarist Brothers (Catholic) School, Suva , Fiji
Age on arrival in Australia20
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBoilermaker
AddressHigh Street, East Maitland, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 8"
Weight162 lbs
Next of kinFather, S Fairhall, Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji
Previous military serviceServed in the Fiji Defence Cadets
Enlistment date9 September 1914
Place of enlistmentRoseberg Park Camp, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name13th Battalion, E Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/30/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A38 Ulysses on 22 December 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll13th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 2 May 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Date of death2 May 1915
Age at death22
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 37), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
69
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Samuel and Josephine FAIRHALL, The Post Office, Suva, Fiji Islands. 37
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked from Melbourne on HMAT "Ulysses" for Alexandria, 22 December 1914.

Reported wounded and missing in action, Gallipoli, 2 May 1915.

Court of Enquiry held at Serapeum, 28 April 1916, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 2 May 1915'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 1030705G, Sergeant W.J. FITZGERALD, 13th Bn (patient 4th Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 8 March 1916: 'Informant knew this man well, and made enquiries when he was reported missing, and was told by men who were with Fairhall that he was not badly wounded, but had to be left, and the ground could not be recovered. The general opinion of those taking part was that he was a prisoner.'

Second statement, 560 Sergeant E. STEPHENSON, 13th Bn (patient, 4th Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 15 May 1916: 'Informant knew "Darkey" Fairhall well - remembered his number. On the 2nd May between Quinn's Post and Pope's Hill at the top of the gully, informant saw Fairhall lying wounded. Fairhall never rejoined his unit between 2nd May and December 14th, when informant left.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, FAIRHALL Samuel Ferdinand
Red Cross File No 1030705G

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