Enlisted at Maryborough 20/10/1916 age 31 years. His address, Wetheron, Gayndah. His next of kin (NOK), Mother, Mrs Mary Ann Fairbairn, Scotland. On enlistment he was 5ft 9, weighed 154 lbs and stated his occupation as a Labourer. He left Australia for service overseas.

He was wounded 13/08/1918. He returned to Australia and discharged 19/06/1919. Thomas Fairbairn immigrated to Australia from Linlithgow, Scotland in 1907. He settled near Wetheron on the Gayndah line enlisting in the AIF in 1916. While on leave in Scotland, Thomas married Isabella Williamson, a lass from his home village of Linlithgow, in the Church of St. Giles in Edinburgh 7th May 1919.

Tom went back to soldiering and returned home to Australia on the 26 June 1919. Bell joined him after travelling to Australia on a war bride ship in 1920. They settled at Bon Accord, Wetheron. They had 3 children William, Isabella and James. Thomas’s two sons both enlisted in WW2 and his youngest son James (Jim) was killed in action in PNG on Boxing Day of 1942.

His eldest son, discharged early due to health reasons, was able to return to assist with the farm due to Tom’s failing health. Tom had suffered mustard gas poisoning while serving in France which had also weakened his health over the years. Thomas grew cotton, crops and diary farmed with the assistance of his family until his death (Information sourced by great grandson Ken Melchert and granddaughter Margaret Farrell).