FISHER, Ernest Sydney
| Service Number: | 783 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Christchurch, New Zealand, 1885 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Painter |
| Died: | 14 May 1927, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 783, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 783, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 783, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 783, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 8 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 783, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, 2nd Krithia. GSW to left hand (one finger amputated). | |
| 12 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Machine Gun Company | |
| 24 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 783, 2nd Machine Gun Company, Battle for Pozières | |
| 20 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 783, 2nd Machine Gun Company, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, Shell shock | |
| 29 Mar 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 783, 2nd Machine Gun Company, Medically unfit (TB). |
Help us honour Ernest Sydney Fisher's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
Ernest Sidney Fisher, known as ‘Ern’, was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, the son of Frederick & Emma Jane Fisher. ‘Ern’ was Married to Beatrice Maud Fisher, and they lived at 82 Langston Street, Bendigo. He was a Painter, although he had been a Miner until he developed Consumption. He was 29 years old, and had no previous military service. He was amongst the early volunteers for the Expeditionary Force, enlisting on 18.8.14. The following day he left Bendigo for the Broadmeadows Camp. He was allotted Service no. 783 and appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion.
The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’. Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)
In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized. In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company. This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company.
The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915.
In May, Lieut.-General Sir W.R. Birdwood, in command of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, was asked to provide part of the Australian force to assist in a British offensive at Cape Helles. The 2nd Australian Brigade, which included the 7th Battalion, was one of two brigades provided. The 7th Battalion left Anzac and disembarked at ‘V’ Beach, Cape Helles, on May 6th. The battalion moved forward on May 8th in what was later known as the “2nd Battle of Krithia” (8-11 May). This battle achieved minimal gain and casualties were extremely high. Ernest Sidney Fisher was Wounded 8-11/5/15, sustaining a Bullet wound to his left hand. This led to the amputation of one finger. He rejoined the battalion on 24/8/15.
In December preparations began for the evacuation of Anzac. The 7th Battalion was withdrawn on the night of December 19th. They embarked for Lemnos and then disembarked in Egypt on 6th January 1916 for re-organization.
Part of the re-organization was the creation of new subsidiary units. One machine gun company was formed for each brigade. This comprised members of the former battalion Machine Gun sections, together with additional volunteers. Ernest Sidney Fisher Transferred to 2nd Brigade Machine Gun Company on 12/3/16. He went on to serve on the Western Front.
In April, 1916, he became ill with Influenza and Tuberculosis. He RTA M.U. on 20/12/17.
“The First Lot. 7th Battalion. The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone