Private William Edward Fisher Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
1914-15 Star. 1914-18 British War Medal (missing). Victory Medal (missing).
The Man William Edward Fisher was born during the second quarter of 1896 in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. He was one of three children, Frederick Charles born in 1894 and Florrie Ellen 1903.
His mother was Mary Jane Smith, but she didn’t marry her husband Fred, a Labourer until 27th May 1901 in Birmingham. It is therefore uncertain if Frederick junior and William were born out of wedlock, or by a previous husband of Mary’s and adopting Fred’s surname.
The 1901 censuses, however, show Fred living with Frederick junior at 4 Vincent Street, Leamington with the Adams family, whilst Sarah is at 20 Binswood Avenue working as a Domestic Servant. There is no record of William. By 1911 the whole family are shown living at 59 Queen Street with Florrie aged eight and Ellen Smith, Mary’s mother. William is now working as an Errand Boy for a local Grocers and aged 14.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 William, now aged 18 enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a Private with service number 3/10042. Following his training he was posted to the Western Front entering France on 26th May 1915. E was transferred to the 2nd GB Northumberland Fusiliers with a new service number 53812.
William served throughout the war and survived; he was discharged on 7th January 1920 and shortly afterwards developed Tuberculosis. During WW I, pulmonary tuberculosis, also known as consumption or the "Great White Plague," saw a sharp increase in civilian populations, particularly in the Central Powers and those countries under their influence, although it was not a major military problem. Over 55,000 men returned from the war however, suffering from it and by 1922, 18,000 had died.
William was awarded his 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The 1921 census shows the family still at 59 Queen Street, and William listed as a Stores Labourer at the Siddeley Deasey Motor Car Co in Coventry, but also as ‘sick – out of work’.
William’s condition deteriorated to the extent he was admitted to the Bramcote Sanatorium, later Bramcote Hospital near Nuneaton. It was built in the early 20th century and originally functioned as a sanatorium, a medical facility for long-term illness, particularly tuberculosis.
Here, he sadly passed away on 1st February 1924 aged just 27.
His mother was Mary Jane Smith, but she didn’t marry her husband Fred, a Labourer until 27th May 1901 in Birmingham. It is therefore uncertain if Frederick junior and William were born out of wedlock, or by a previous husband of Mary’s and adopting Fred’s surname.
The 1901 censuses, however, show Fred living with Frederick junior at 4 Vincent Street, Leamington with the Adams family, whilst Sarah is at 20 Binswood Avenue working as a Domestic Servant. There is no record of William. By 1911 the whole family are shown living at 59 Queen Street with Florrie aged eight and Ellen Smith, Mary’s mother. William is now working as an Errand Boy for a local Grocers and aged 14.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 William, now aged 18 enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a Private with service number 3/10042. Following his training he was posted to the Western Front entering France on 26th May 1915. E was transferred to the 2nd GB Northumberland Fusiliers with a new service number 53812.
William served throughout the war and survived; he was discharged on 7th January 1920 and shortly afterwards developed Tuberculosis. During WW I, pulmonary tuberculosis, also known as consumption or the "Great White Plague," saw a sharp increase in civilian populations, particularly in the Central Powers and those countries under their influence, although it was not a major military problem. Over 55,000 men returned from the war however, suffering from it and by 1922, 18,000 had died.
William was awarded his 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The 1921 census shows the family still at 59 Queen Street, and William listed as a Stores Labourer at the Siddeley Deasey Motor Car Co in Coventry, but also as ‘sick – out of work’.
William’s condition deteriorated to the extent he was admitted to the Bramcote Sanatorium, later Bramcote Hospital near Nuneaton. It was built in the early 20th century and originally functioned as a sanatorium, a medical facility for long-term illness, particularly tuberculosis.
Here, he sadly passed away on 1st February 1924 aged just 27.
William Fisher's Medal Index Card
The Story The 1914-15 Star awarded to William Edward Fisher was acquired in a private deal on the British Medal Forum and of interest as William was a Leamingtonian – a sub-theme of this collection.
Some basic information was provided with the medal enabling a brief biography to be pieced together from Ancestry and revealing that William had sadly died very young from Tuberculosis in 1924.
A short life cut short, having survived the horrors of World War I.
Some basic information was provided with the medal enabling a brief biography to be pieced together from Ancestry and revealing that William had sadly died very young from Tuberculosis in 1924.
A short life cut short, having survived the horrors of World War I.
Reverse of William's 1914-15 Star.
|
|
Queen Street, Leamington Spa 1910s and 2025
Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Star: 3. 10042 PTE.W.FISHER. OXF.& BUCKSK. L.I.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: missing
- Victory Medal: missing
Return to: The Collection
Go to Previous Page: John Forster FISHER
Go to next Page: Frederick William FLEGG
Go to Previous Page: John Forster FISHER
Go to next Page: Frederick William FLEGG
This page last updated 7 Apr 25
24
