Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Fisher, a builder’s carter, born 1854 in Burton Lazars, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ann Fisher (nee Austin, married in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 21st October 1865 in Sheffield, Yorkshire. John Thomas was born in 1899 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 24th December 1899 in St. Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray, his siblings were, Catherine Mary Austin, a wool spinner, born in the 2nd quarter of 1887, George William, born September 1890 and baptised on the 28th January 1891 in St. Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray, Samuel, born 1895 and baptised on the 7th May 1895 in St. Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray and Sarah Ellen, born 27th September 1897, all his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray, in March 1901 the family home was at 11, Snow Hill, Melton Mowbray. In April 1911 John was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 24, Bentley Street, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a general labourer, his mother and siblings, George, a pipe foundry worker, Samuel, an electric crane driver, Sarah, a schoolgirl, Rosie May, a schoolgirl, born 28th January 1902 and baptised on the 7th November 1902 in St. Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray and Hilda Edith, a schoolgirl, born 9th June 1905 and baptised on the 24th September 1905 in St. Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray, the latter two siblings were both born in Melton Mowbray, also residing in the family home was their adopted child Harriet Emily Taylor, born 7th March 1911 in Melton Mowbray and baptised on the 21st March 1911 in St. Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray.
John’s father died in March 1930 aged 76 in Melton Mowbray, his mother died in September 1944 aged 78 in Syston, Leicestershire.
John’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 6/38589, and was posted as a Private to the 52nd Graduated Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, he was subsequently transferred to the 5th Battalion Devonshire Regiment and allotted the service number 72062 and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France sometime after January 1st 1916. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 13 Sep-18 – HAVRINCOURT WOOD. “D” Company were relieved by “B” Company in CITY SUPPORT TRENCH. “A” and “C” Company mopped up for 187th Brigade and went into KIMBER TRENCH and CHEYNE TRENCH – Heavily shelled. Casualties. Killed 1 Officer 9 Other Ranks. Wounded 1 Officer 44 Other Ranks.
The War Diary records: 14 Sep-18 – HAVRINCOURT WOOD. “A” and “C” Companies relieved by 2/20th LONDON REGIMENT during the night and went into trenches West of CANAL DU NORD. “D” Company moved up into CITY TRENCH and KNAT AVENUE. “B” Company still in CITY SUPPORT TRENCH. Casualties. Killed 9 Other Ranks. Wounded 2 Officers 33 Other Ranks.
APPENDIX:
5th Devonshire Regiment.
September 19th 1918.
FROM:
Lieutenant Colonel H. V. Bastow.
Commanding 5th Devonshire Regiment.
TO:
Brigade Major
185th Infantry Brigade.
Sir
I have the honour to forward a short account of the part taken in the recent operations round HAVRINCOURT by the Battalion under my command:-
[1] At midnight September 11/12 the Battalion moved from FREMICOURT to South West corner of HAVRINCOURT WOOD. “D” Company preceded the Battalion marching at 7.00pm with the object of reaching a point in SHROPSHIRE RESERVE TRENCH from which they could move at dawn into required positions commanding the various roads from the Wood to HAVRINCOURT VILLAGE and there establish rallying and stragglers posts after the 186th and 187th Brigades had advanced to the attack. The most important of these posts was at YORKSHIRE BANK. All posts were in required positions within half an hour of ZERO. But on our barrage opening the Company suffered severely from the enemy’s counter barrage losing during the day 2 Officers and 26 Other Ranks.
At 9.00am 12th September the Battalion moved up in close support to the 186th and 187th Brigades and established itself in the neighbourhood of CLAYTON CROSS.
At 10.00pm the Battalion advanced to YORKSHIRE BANK – 2 Companies in CITY SUPPORT TRENCH – 1 Company in YORKSHIRE BANK – 1 Company in CHEETHAM TRENCH.
[2] Enemy counter on September 13th.
“A” and “C” Companies placed under orders of 187th Brigade and moved up to North East HAVRINCOURT VILLAGE clearing the village on the way up.
“A” Company suffered very severe casualties on way up losing all Officers and nearly half the Company. Only one Corporal left in Company 2 platoons consequently lose their way in the Village.
“C” Company advance through the Village to East of same and during the night receive orders from 2/5th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY to clear KIMBER AVENUE and CEMETERY which operation they carry out during the night under very difficult circumstances and subject to very severe gun and Machine Gun fire. “C” Company fill up gap between Railways.
“B” Company move up from CHEETHAM SUPPORT to CITY SUPPORT TRENCH.
[3] Lieutenant HALL of “B” Company sent up on morning 14th to take over Command of “A” Company unfortunately on the evening 14th he and practically all remaining men of “A” Company North East of Village became casualties. Hostile gun fire very severe.
“D” Company moved to CITY TRENCH.
Battalion Headquarters remain at YORKSHIRE BANK.
2/20th LONDON REGIMENT attacked at dawn and capture KIMBER TRENCH.
185th Brigade take over front of Village.
Liaison established between 2/4th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY to North and 185th Brigade to East. West of Village enemy attempted counter-attack in evening but were dispersed by gun fire.
[4] “A” and “C” Companies less 20 Other Ranks with LONDON REGIMENT withdrawn during the night of 15th to point West of CANAL DU NORD.
[5] The 185th Brigade hand over line to 3rd Division. Battalion withdrawn to a point between HERMIES and CANAL on night of 16th September.
Some casualties occurred during withdrawal.
Total casualties suffered by 5th Devonshire Regiment:-
Killed. 2 Officers. 27 Other Ranks.
Wounded. 5 Officers. 109 Other ranks.
[6] Points emphasised by the above operations:-
[1] The necessity of establishing runners relay posts between front line and Battalion Headquarters and Brigade Headquarters. The casualties to runners doing duly long journeys without a very familiar knowledge of each section and the best places to seek cover from severe gun fire is very serious.
[2] The extreme difficulty and absolute necessity of keeping touch on the flanks and from front to rear in a maze of trenches.
[3] The necessity of holding a line subjected to severe gun fire very lightly in men but thick with Machine Gun or automatic rifle posts and the consequent necessity of giving men more training to enable them to have confidence in themselves and their rifles when established in small posts. The men seem to lack confidence in their ability to drive off a hostile counter-attack unless in large parties.
[4] The great necessity of liaison between Units so that gaps may not be left in a line, through which very small parties of determined men may get in the rear of the defenders of the front line, and thereby cause them to fall back, thinking they are left in the air.
I have the honour to be.
Sir.
Your obedient servant.
(Sd) B. V. Bastow. Lieutenant Colonel.
Commanding 5th Devonshire Regiment.