David Eric Fairbairn KBE DFC (1917 - 1994)

Born 3 Mar 1917 in Claygate, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Ruth Antill (Robertson) Fairbairn — married 1 Dec 1945 in Albury, New South Wales, Australia

Died 1 Jun 1994 at age 77 in Woden, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

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Biography

David Fairbairn KBE DFC is Notable.

Contents Early life

Fairbairn was born in Claygate, Surrey. His grandfathers both served in the Parliament of Australia—Sir George Fairbairn served in the House of Representatives seat of Fawkner from 1906–13 and in the Senate from 1917–23, and Edmund Jowett was the federal member for Grampians from 1917 to 1922. His uncle, James Fairbairn, was one of three ministers in the Menzies government who were killed in the 1940 Canberra air disaster.[1]

Fairbairn was educated at Geelong Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge. In 1939, took control of Dunraven, a pastoral property at Woomargama, Riverina, New South Wales and was referred to as the home of "Dun-nothing" by locals, given Fairbairn's lack or action while the member Farrer.[citation needed]

World War II

David Fairbairn KBE DFC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Air Force 1941-1945

Sir David Fairbairn KBE DFC was wounded at Nw Guinea during the Second World War.

During the Second World War, he served in the 21st Light Horse Riverina Regiment (Militia) from 1939 to 1941 and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941. He served both in Britain, where he located the first V-1 flying bomb launching site, and in the New Guinea campaign. In 1945 he was badly wounded and discharged with the rank of Flight Lieutenant.[1] Fairbairn had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.

Political career

In the 1949 election, Fairbairn was elected to the House of Representatives as the federal member for Farrer. He was appointed Minister for the Air in 1962 in the ninth Menzies Ministry. In 1964, he became Minister for National Development. After the 1969 election, he challenged John Gorton unsuccessfully for the leadership and then resigned from the ministry, saying: "I have given deep thought and consideration to this decision. I have made it reluctantly. My sole concern in coming to it is the future of the Liberal Party, the Government and the Nation." According to Ian Sinclair, he was opposed to Gorton's centralism and in particular, his attempt to claim of sovereignty over Australia's territorial waters and continental shelf for the Commonwealth.[2]

Fairbairn became Minister for Education and Science in March 1971 in the McMahon Ministry and Minister for Defence from August 1971 to the government's defeat in 1972 election. He retired from Parliament at the 1975 election.[1]

From 1977 to 1980, Fairbairn was Australia's Ambassador to the Netherlands.[3][4] Media reported that the posting "deeply perturbed" staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which came at a time when the department was being forced to reduce its overseas representation significantly.[5]

Fairbairn died in Woden Valley Hospital in Canberra on 1 June 1994, survived by his wife, Ruth and three daughters.[6][7]

Honours

Fairbairn was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944,[8] and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1977.[9]

Notes

^ a b c Howe, Brian (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2008. ^ Sinclair, Ian (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2008. ^ "Netherlands envoy posted to Geneva". The Canberra Times. 5 January 1977. p. 8. ^ "Staff of embassy gets involved". The Canberra Times. 27 April 1980. p. 16. ^ Juddery, Bruce (18 December 1976). "Posting upsets staff". The Canberra Times. p. 7. ^ Fischer, Tim (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2007. ^ Downer, Alexander (6 June 1994). "Condolences: Fairbairn, Hon. Sir David Eric, KBE DFC". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2008. ^ "Fairbairn, David Eric". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2007. ^ "Fairbairn, David Eric". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2007. Political offices Preceded by Les Bury Minister for the Air 1962–1964 Succeeded by Peter Howson Preceded by Bill Spooner Minister for National Development 1964–1969 Succeeded by Reginald Swartz Preceded by Nigel Bowen Minister for Education and Science 1971 Succeeded by Malcolm Fraser Preceded by John Gorton Minister for Defence 1971–1972 Succeeded by Lance Barnard Parliament of Australia New division Member for Farrer 1949–1975 Succeeded by Wal Fife Diplomatic posts Preceded by Frederick Blakeney Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands 1977–1980 Succeeded by James Cumes

DAVID ERIC FAIRBAIRN ^[1]

BIRTH. 1917

Name David E Fairbairn

Event Type Birth Registration

Registration Quarter Apr-May-Jun

Registration Year 1917

Registration District Kingston

County Surrey

Event Place Kingston, Surrey, England

Mother's Maiden Name (not available before 1911 Q3) Jowett

Volume 2A, Page 698, Line Number 2

BIRTH NOTICE. FAIRBAIRN.—On the 3rd March, at Calgate House, Calgate, Surrey, England, the wife of Clive Prell Fairbairn, of a son. (By cable.)

Sources

1. ↑ Fairbairn, Sir David Eric (1917–1994), by John Farquharson: http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/fairbairn-sir-david-eric-1561

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Fairbairn_(politician)#

• Birth: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2FY6-58Z

• Birth Notice: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wed 7 Mar 1917, Page 1: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1601959