Name
Harold Edward Fish
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/30809
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ESQUELBECQ MILITARY CEMETERY
II. G. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Sawbridgeworth Town Memorial, Great St Mary’s Church Memorial, Sawbridgeworth
Pre War
Harold was born on the 13th March 1899 in Sawbridgeworth, Herts. and was the son of Albert John and Julia Hanna Fish (née Rattee). He was baptised on the 7th May 1899, in Sawbridgeworth. He was their only son, one of six children.
In 1901 Harold was 2 and living with his parents, and 3 sisters, in Barkers Lane, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. By 1911, Harold was at school and the family had moved to 4 Barkers Lane, (Station Road), Sawbridgeworth, and he now had 4 sisters. His parents were recorded as still living there after his death.
Wartime Service
Harold enlisted in Hertford. Formerly with the 10th Battalion, Royal West Surry Regiment, with the Service No 29420. Then posted to the 10th Battalion, Queens Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment.
This transfer may have taken place in early 1918 when the 10th West Kents returned to France from a period in Italy.
The date of Harold’s death is given as 23 August 1918 and it was recorded that he ‘died of wounds’. The Battalion diary shows no major action immediately prior to this date, but there was some fighting on 17 and 18 August. Unless Harold was a part of the daily attrition, it must be then that he was mortally wounded.
Harold Fish is buried at Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France. He was aged 19.
Additional Information
His headstone reads “Rest in peace”, as requested by his father.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne, Douglas Coe
