Help with Private William Fairlee 30224

[Emma123]

Hi everyone,

I am currently researching my family tree and I am desperate to find any stories or extra info about my great great grandad William Fairlee. Here's what I know so far:

He was born in Broughton October 1883 to Joseph Fairlee and Elizabeth Ratcliffe. He married Bertha Platt who was born December 23rd 1883. They had four kids, Ivy 1908-2000, Percy 1909-1984, William (my great grandad) 1910-1961 and Joseph 1914-1983. He signed up to the army in Grimsby (which I found really odd as he lived in Manchester) on the 16/12/15 and he died on the 7th July 1916 in Flanders, France. He was a private and his number is 30224. So I have a lot of basic facts and one picture of him in his military uniform, but I was just wondering if there was any mention of him in other peoples stories? Or if anyone had other pictures or if anyone knew how he actually died. It just says assumed killed on his military record. I've been fortunate enough to have been in touch with a relative on ancestry who has his medals and shared his picture and a picture of his medals with me, as well as some incredible postcards from him to his wife. I just want to find out anything extra I can about him. I appreciate any info.

Thank you,

Emma.

[mack]

william was killed in the 12th manchesters assault on quadrangle support trench,he was in D.company,C+D companies were in the first waves and were cut to pieces by machine gun and rifle fire,over 200 officers+men were killed.

the bandolier hes wearing is unusual and he looks younger than 32,could the photo have been taken before the war

mack

[Wendi]

Hi Emma and Welcome to our forum 

You may like to click on this link for more information on the 12th Battalion and the assault on the Quadrangle Support Trench mack is talking about.

http://www.themanchesters.org/12th%20batt.htm

Wendi 

[sphinx]

Emma,

The 16.12.1915 is not the date he joined up, its the date he landed in France.
He must have joined quite a bit earlier that that.

As for the medals, only 3 are his.  The 1915 Star at the top with red/white/blue ribbon, and the two bottom right the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The other two belong to someone elsee, one of which is a WW2 medal.

regards

[george.theshed197]

I am inclined to agree with Sphinx,
The one on the lower extreme left hand I would believe to be The WW2 Defence Medal and the one next to  it a KGV  one of the later period and as it seems to me to be struck in Silver I would consider it to be Palestine or similarly issue of that era.
George.

[george.theshed197]

I am inclined to agree with Sphinx,
The lower set, the extreme left one I would consider to be WW2 -The Defence  Medal and the next one to be a KG V and, as it appears to be set in Silver may well be the Palestine one, could you show us the obverse side please,
George.

[Wendi]

Just for clarification (I'm sure you won't mind George  )

LGV = King George the Fifth

Wendi

[george.theshed197]

No problems there Wendi.
G

[Emma123]

Hi everyone, thank you so much for the replies. I'm currently looking into the other two medals. I think they must have belonged to my great grandad who fought in WW2. Also called William Fairlee (after his father), however, I wasn't aware he received any. I shall consult the lady who sent me the images further.

And a big thank you for the info on the 12th regiment, the death toll that day is unbelievable. Such a mistake to attempt to take Quandrangle Trench that day, so many men lost that day.

Regards,

Emma