John Wilfred Fisher

John was born in 1893, the son of Horace Arthur and Sarah Kate Fisher (nee Thackery) of Arno Vale, Daybrook, Nottinghamshire. He was educated at Malvern and Trinity College Cambridge. In the 1901 census he is shown living with his parents and his sister at The Hills, Coventry Road, Bramcote, Nottingham his father gives his occupation as lace manufacturer and 7 servants are also listed at the house.

He does not appear in the army lists until being commissioned as a Temporary Captain on 10th July 1915, and was posted to the 10th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters, going to France with them on the 14th July 1915. He was wounded when in Sanctuary Wood on the 30th October 1915, by a German sniper, re joining his battalion on the 11th December 1915, at Ypres when he took over the command of “D” Company. He was wounded for the second time on the 16th February 1916, when in the front line just south east of Ypres, and for the third time on the 3rd March 1916, he re joined the battalion on the 15th June 1916. He was again wounded when in the Quadrangle Support Line near Contalmaison on the 7th July 1916, he died from these latter wounds on the 8th July 1916. He is buried in the Heilly Station Cemetery Mericourt-L-'abbe, France John was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on the London Gazette of 30th March 1916, and his citation reads:- For conspicuous gallantry on 14th February 1916, near the Ypres – Comines Canal. When the enemy blew up a portion of the front trench, he drove off their attack and skilfully organised the defence. He continued fighting long after he was wounded, and set a fine example to all around him.

His elder brother Geoffrey Herbert Fisher of the 1/8th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters also served and died during the 'Great War' Article published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 29th October 1915:- “CAPTAIN J. W. FISHER WOUNDED. “Captain John Wilfrid [sic] Fisher, of the 10th Sherwood Foresters, son of Mr. H. A. Fisher, of Arnot Vale, Daybrook, was slightly wounded in the right hand on the 23rd inst. [October 1915] He is in hospital in France and is making satisfactory progress.” Above article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Huckanall 1914-1918.