Born on the 9th March 1897 Hubert, or Tom as he liked to be known, was the son of Gertrude Fisher.  On the 18th January 1904 ‘John Hubert Fisher’ joined the Infants School.  Although older than his sister Winifred, she had already enrolled in the School on 25th May 1903.  No reason is known for his delayed start, but on the 1st July 1904 ‘John’ moved up from the Infants to the Boys School. All three records show their residence as the Union Workhouse in Shipston. Whilst it is known that the family were local at the time of both Winifred and Tom’s births, no trace can be found of them in the 1901 census. Tom left school on 25th February 1910 just two weeks before his fourteenth birthday.  At the time of his death Gertrude had moved to 5, Wellington Terrace, Moreton-in-Marsh. After an eventful start to the war described later, Tom Fisher arrived in France in November 1916 to join the 2nd/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshires, who had suffered heavy casualties on the 19th July 1916 in the Battle of Fromelles. The Battalion was not used again until 1917, when they took part in the Battles of Langemark and Cambrai.  On Monday the 19th November 1917 the war diary reports a trench raid made on the eve of the Battle of Cambrai: 2am A Raid was made on enemy Trenches opposite our Left Front by Captain Bateman MC and two officers and 44 other ranks, and a prisoner was brought back. The documentation produced by Captain Bateman details the raid in great depth and under the section “Mentions of Gallantry or Good Service of Officers or Other Ranks” notes, amongst others; “268147 Sgt Fisher. For conspicuous devotion to duty, leading forward his party, pursuing and killing the enemy”.  The London Gazette of the 23rd February 1918 listed Tom’s award of the Military Medal for his part in the raid. On the 11th April 1918 the 2nd/7th Royal Warwickshires were in the front line at Calonne sur la Lys, not far from Reginald Chapple and the 1st/5th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. They were so close that the war diary notes: A Serjeant of the 1/5 DCLI reported that he had been compelled to withdraw owing to enemy attack near LA GORGUE.  On the 13th April 1918 the war diary continues: Calonne 13th 5am Our Artillery opened a heavy bombardment on the enemy lines. 9am Situation normal on our front and on right and left flanks 11am. Another prisoner captured by our centre company. 1:35pm Enemy worked his way up and established himself nearby. Artillery put down barrage. Our line now held ran north to the bend in River. 2:50pm Enemy M.Gs increased activity, but situation good our troops back in their own lines and houses re-occupied. Artillery kept firing on our barrage lines and on village. Enemy opened fire barrage on Battn HQ. Battalion relieved by 2/6 Bn R War Regt and 25 Entrench Bn. Relief proceeded very slowly owing to exceedingly black night and platoons got lost in the darkness. 14th 6:30am Battn arrived at HAMET BILLET Men breakfasted and rested. Battalion Strength Officers 16 Ranks 536. Casualties covering period from 11.4.1918 to 14-4-1918 Officers 3 killed, 1 Died of Wounds, 3 Wounded Other ranks Killed 28, Wounded 146, Missing 61 – total 235. On the 11th May 1918 the Evesham Journal reported: Sergt. H J Fisher MM of the Royal Warwick Regiment was killed in action in France on April 14. Sergt Fisher, who was known to his friends as Tom, was brought up in Shipston House and went to the Navy League, Liscard, Cheshire. When war broke out he was in China and at once joined the Navy and took part in the operations at the Tsing-Tan forts. Afterwards he was put on board HMS Triumph, but owing to some rising in Hong Kong, he was one of a party who were landed to quell the disturbances. In the meantime the Triumph had sailed without him and his mates and was sunk in the Dardanelles. After serving in the Navy for 12 months, he applied for, and obtained permission to join the army, and in September 1915 he joined the Royal Warwick Regt, and quickly obtained promotion, being made Sergeant before he left for France in November 1916. In November 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in killing a German machine gun crew, although he himself was badly hit in the thigh by the butt end of a German rifle. Sergt Fisher was 21 years old last March and was much loved by his sorrowing friends. Later the Journal published a letter Tom’s mother had received from Captain L A Paine of W Company. In the field, June 14, 1918.  Dear Mrs Fisher, Re your letter of the 30th April 1918. I am so sorry to speak of the sad news, but perhaps a few words by his Coy Officer will be appreciated. Your son Sergt H J Fisher, was unfortunately killed last April 14. The enemy were attacking and took the ground where your son so nobly fell. All we managed to do was get his pay book and papers from his pockets, which I have sent home through the proper channels. Your son was of the bravest, and I had just made him my Coy Sergt Major. I only wish that all were the same as your son, for his work was always well done and he set a fine example to his men. I, his company officer, besides other officers speak well of him. I am sorry this is all the news. I and my officers tender you their sympathy believe in me, yours sincerely. From the description in the war diary, it is believed that Tom Fisher was killed on the 13th April, although officially recorded as the 14th. His body was not found and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Near Messines, Belgium and is remembered on the Council School and Town Memorials. After the war the Evesham Journal of the 7th June 1919 reported: On the occasion of the Royal visit to Birmingham, Mrs. Fisher, of Shipston-on-Stour, the mother of the late Sergt. Tom Fisher, MM, was the recipient of her late son’s Military Medal. Sergt Fisher gained his honour some time previous to being killed. He belonged to the 2/7 Royal Warwicks, and his death was reported in the “Journal” when it took place. His Majesty the King, in presenting the medal, shook hands with Mrs. Fisher, and said he was sorry that her son was not present to receive it. Queen Mary was also present, and shook hands with Mrs. Fisher, and conversed for some minutes with her. Mrs. Fisher was the only recipient with whom the Queen shook hands.  Mrs. Fisher has one other son, who is in the navy at present somewhere in the Russian Seas.

Mike Wells