John Herbert Fair1

#1253, (1897 - 1917)
FatherDavid Fair1,2 (1862 - 1936)
MotherChristina McLean1,2 (1865 - 1946)
RelationshipGreat-grandson of Hector McLean
Extended Family
ChartsHector McLean & Mary McGillivray - 5 generations of descendants
John Herbert Fair
1897 - 1917

Life Events

BirthJohn Herbert Fair was born on 17 Sep 1897 in Bruce Township, Bruce County, Ontario.
Information from the register: son of David Fair & Christena McLean, father a Farmer, informant David Fair, registered 22 Nov 1897 [CEF attestation paper says born Paisley].1,3 
(with Mother) 1901 CensusJohn appeared on the 1901 Census of Paisley, Bruce County, Ontario with his mother. He was 3 years old and was born 6 September 1898 in Ontario.4 
(with Parents) 1911 CensusJack appeared on the 1911 Census of Victoria, British Columbia with his parents. He was 14 years old, born in September 1897 in Ontario, and attended school 8 months that year.5 
CEFHe volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 23 Jan 1917 at Victoria, British Columbia. The attestation papers included the following information: present address 1615 Camosun St, Victoria, born Sept 17th 1897 in Paisley Ontario, Carpenter, next-of-kin mother Mrs. Lena Fair of 1615 Camosun St. Victoria;
Description on enlistment: age 19, 5' 4 1/2", expanded chest 36", fresh complexion, hazel eyes, med fair hair, Presbyterian.3 
DeathJohn died on 22 Aug 1917.
Private, No. 827190, 47th Bn., Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regt.), Age 19, Son of David and Christina Fair, of 1615, Camosun St., Victoria, British Columbia. Cemetery: VIMY MEMORIAL Pas de Calais, France.2 
ObituaryHis obituary was published on 7 Sep 1917 in the Victoria Times.

FALLS IN ACTION
Pte. John Fair, of This City, Pays Supreme Sacrifice on European Battlefield.

Pte. John Fair was killed in action August 22, according to information contained in a telegram received by his father, David Fair, of 1515 Camosun Street, yesterday afternoon. No details as to the manner in which the young Victorian met his death are given in the brief communication.
Pte. Fair, who was nineteen years of age, was a native of Paisley, Ontario. He came to Victoria in company with his parents fifteen years ago and was educated at the Boys' Central School, this city. Following the outbreak of war he joined the 143rd Battalion, British Columbia Bantams, and went overseas with that unit in February last. Not long after his arrival in England he crossed to France, being attached to the 47th Battalion, and had been actively engaged at the front until he met his death.
He was a member of the Senior Boys' Class of the First Presbyterian Church Sunday School and was a regular attendant up to the time that he left the city. In the last letter which he wrote home from the front he asked particularly to be remembered to the members of the class and the pastor and teacher.
Besides the parents, there survive a sister, all living at Camosun Street, and a brother, who lived at Swift Current, Sask.6
 
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in David Fair's 1936 obituary as son John who predeceased him in the Great War.7 
Last Edited22 Sep 2013

Citations

  1. Ontario Canada Birth Registration. John Herbert Fair, #007131-97.
  2. Website Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register (http://www.cwgc.org/).
  3. Canadian Expeditionary Force Attestation Papers & Enlistment Forms. Library and Archives Canada, (http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020110_e.html), online images, John Herbert Fair, Regimental Number 827190.
  4. 1901 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Bruce North (49) Paisley (h-2), page 8, line 40.
  5. 1911 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. British Columbia, Victoria (13), subdistrict a-8, page 10.
  6. Victoria [British Columbia] Times. Newspaper clippings of births, marriages and deaths. City of Victoria Archives, British Columbia, Canada. Image viewed at FamilySearch, "Falls in Action", 7 September 1917, page 13.
  7. Obituary of David Fair in Victoria Daily Times, 10, 11, 12 Feb 1936.