Name
Harry Fisher
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
50236
Royal Army Medical Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Harry Fisher was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Abbots Langley in Autumn 1918. He was initially identified from the Absent Voter Records and was not recorded elsewhere in the Abbots Langley Parish records, although he was listed in the Leavesden Parish Records. In the Absent Voter Records Harry was listed serving with the Provisional Company of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), and his address was given at 10 Tanners Hill, Abbots Langley.
Harry’s Service Record has survived and showed that he enlisted for the first time on 10th November 1897 at London. He joined up with the 1st Border Regiment at Shorncliffe on 12th November 1897. He gave his address as 10 London Road, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, where his parents Robert and Sarah Fisher also lived, and indicated that he had been born at Boxmoor in 1879.
On 12th March 1898 he arrived at Malta, and stayed there until 7th September. He was admitted to hospital suffering from Gonorrhoea between 12th August and 3rd September 1898. He then relocated to Crete and remained there between 8th September an 7th November, before returning to Malta. He was re-admitted to hospital on 7th February 1899 and remained there until 20th February 1899, once again suffering from Gonorrhoea.
On 27th September 1899 he sailed for South Africa and served through the South African Campaign (Boer War) until 21st September 1902. He passed classes in Mounted Infantry, gained the South African Medal with five clasps, and fought at Tupela Heights and at the Relief of Mafeking. From 22nd September 1902 to 30th December 1904 he served in India before returning to South Africa on 31st December 1904. He returned back in England on 11th November 1905 and was posted to the Army Reserve at the end of his period of service on 9th November 1909.
In 1910 Harry married Florance (sic) Harding at Cirencester. In April 1910 the couple lived at Abbots Langley and their daughter was born and baptised there. In the 1911 Census the family lived at 1 Tanners Hill, Abbots Langley, and Harry was employed as an Attendant at the Asylum. He possibly had worked at the Asylum from an earlier date, and probably came to the village after his marriage in 1901.
On 1st September 1914 Harry attested for a second time. He was just over 34 years old, and gave his occupation as an Attendant at the Asylum. He attested to the Bedfordshire Regiment, and undertook a Medical on 2nd September, where he was pronounced fit for service. On 23rd November 1914 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), and on 4th January 1915 attained the rank of Acting Sergeant. On 11th May 1915 Harry sailed from Southampton to France with 29th Field Ambulance on SS “Connaught”. He arrived the next day and spent almost three years British Expeditionary Force (BEF). On 8th July 1915 Harry was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant. He was granted ten days leave on 19th June 1916, and on 21st July he was transferred to 53rd Field Ambulance. Harry was wounded in a gas attack on 20th November 1917 and on 13th February 1918 he returned to England where he remained until he was demobilised to 10 Tanners Hill, Abbots Langley on 22nd February 1919. He had been promoted to the rank of Quarter Master Sergeant on 1st June 1918.
Harry Fisher survived the War.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
