Donald Charles Fairbairn was born on the 11th of February 1895, the second son of Andrew Constant Fairbairn and Mary Ellen (née Clark) of "Arundel", 6 Upper Brighton Road, Surbiton.

He was educated at Shrewsbury House Preparatory House and was awarded Honours in 1909. From Shrewsbury, he attended Oundle School, which he left in 1912.

He served in The Royal Garrison Artillery during the war. The 1917 King's Birthday Honours show that Donald Charles Fairbairn was awarded the Military Cross by King George V. It appears that he survived the war.