Personnel Index - Detail
Lieutenant V A Fair began training as an Observer with 49Sqn in August 1918 and, following an accident on the 5th September he was posted to 211Sqn where he was killed on the 29th September 1918.
Both images and the following service details are with the kind permission of "British Medals".
In 1915 he joined the Army as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers and after a short period was promoted to Lance Corporal and then Corporal.
He was later commissioned and posted to the 6th King's Royal Rifle Corps as a Second Lieutenant on the 30th May 1917.
For his actions during the German offensive in March 1918 Victor Fair received the Military Cross. The award was announced in the London Gazette on the 26th July 1918 and his citation was recorded as follows:-
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during recent operations.
As the only surviving officer of his company, he organised and assumed command of a composite company, consisting of his own and other units, and commanded it with great ability. He held on to positions against heavy odds, and delayed the enemy’s advance at a most important point”.
His regiment was posted back to the UK and disbanded in June 1918.
Following the disbandment Lt Fair joined 49Sqn on August 1st 1918 where he began training as an Observer.
He was onboard a DH 9 serial D3198 which crashed near Beauvois on a practice flight on the 5th September 1918. Sadly, the pilot Lt W H Stone was killed.
Following the crash, Victor Fair joined 211Sqn, which was based at Petit Synthe, near Dunkirk (a location once used by 49Sqn earlier in the war).
The burial record for Lt V A Fair.
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Surprisingly, his Medal Record gives no further details of his MC award.
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