| Description | This collection comprises the papers of Private William Thomas Fairbanks, 23127, 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. Includes a copy of his marriage certificate (1916), a copy of his death certificate (1918), his memorial scroll issued to him from Buckingham Palace (circa. 1918), a fragment of a letter concerning a payment from Army Funds to Bertha Fairbanks on the death of William Thomas Fairbanks (1918), letters and papers concerning the purchase of grave space at Masbrough Cemetery (1918), receipt for payment recieved by Masbrough Cemetery (12 September 1938), order form for cemetery registers, with entry relating to William Thomas Fairbanks issued by the Imperial War Graves Commission (2 September 1930), and a letter concerning William Thomas Fairbanks headstone being replaced with one from the Imperial War Graves Commission (n.d.), a photograph of William Thomas Fairbanks in uniform (circa. 1916-1918), and a print out on William Thomas Fairbanks taken from the website of the Commonwealth War Graves Committee (circa. 2022).
Accompanied by a typescript document titled 'titled 'The tale of two Rotherham soldiers and two Rotherham sisters', relating to William Thomas Fairbanks, and his brother-in-law, Benjamin Abson of Masborough, Rotherham, written by (2022). There is also a photograph of Benjamin Abson in uniform taken during the First World War. Benjamin was born in Rotherham, and married Charlotte Wiles. He is commemorated on the war memorial in Clifton Park Museum.
William Thomas Fairbank, the son of Arthur and Alice Fairbanks was born in Dresden, Staffordshire in 1887. He worked as a miner at Silverwood Colliery, and married Bertha Wiles in 1916. He served with the 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment during the First World War. He died of pneumonia at a temporary military hospital on Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield aged 30 on 31 August 1918. He was buried at Masbrough Cemetery. As he died of pneumonia rather than wounds received while on active service, he was not automatically eligible for a headstone provided by the Imperial War Graves Commission. Bertha reportedly fought to ensure his headstone was replaced with one from the Imperial War Graves Commission, recognising his service with the York and Lancaster Regiment in 1938. Bertha Fairbanks lived at 10 Chemist Lane, Masbrough and then later moved to 11 Holland Street, Masbrough. |