Private M/41329 Henry William Fairbrass of the Royal Army Service Corps was born 1895, the son of Henry and Helen Mary Fairbrass and the husband of Louisa Hockham of Shoreham Sussex, where the couple married on the 25th of October 1917 and resided there at 10 Church Street.

The 1911 census records him living with his family at Main Road, Northiam. Henry (senior), aged 59 was a grocery dealer on his own account and an army pensioner, born in Kent. Helen Mary, aged 45, was born in Lancashire. The couple had been married for eighteen years and had produced seven children, all surviving childhood. Those recorded, all born at Northiam, are Henry William, aged 16, “assist at home”, Edward Victor, aged 14, “farm cattle”, Gladys Helen, aged 13, Frederick S, aged 12, Helen Mary, aged 9 and George Charles, aged 7.

At Rye, on the 25th of April 1911, Henry enlisted into the 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, service number 1356, and joined the regiment the same day at Chichester. His occupation is given as a farm labourer. The following day he attended his medical assessments at Eastbourne, where he was recorded as being 5ft 5 and a 1/2 ins tall and fit for service.

He subsequently served at home until he was mobilised on the 8th of August 1914.

On the 10th of August 1917 he was posted to the regimental depot and on the 1st of October he was posted to the 3rd Battalion. 

On the 8th of January 1918 he was posted to the Base Depot, BEF from where he was posted three days later to the 12th Battalion.

On the 8th of February he was posted to the 11th Battalion and then to the Depot on the 11th of May and was gassed two days later.

Following his “gassing” he was evacuated back to the UK where he was examined at Queen Mart’s Military Hospital, Whalley, Lancashire and at the Kings Lancashire Military Hospital, Blackpool, Lancashire.

On the 8th of October he was noted as slightly improved but not cured and fit for light employment.

Following release from hospital, he was posted to the 5th Battalion on the 18th of October although it is unclear as to whether or not he returned to France but probably not, as due to his physical condition he was transferred to the Army Service Corps on the 3rd of November and posted to the Corps Depot at Sydenham.

He died on the 24th of October, 1919.