Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Septimus Clive FISHWICK was born in 1897 in Ballarat, Victoria

His parents were Robert FISHWICK and Jemima MERRIT

He enlisted on 15th March, 1915 with the Australian Army -he was with the 24th Battalion, A Company - Unit embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Euripides on 10th May, 1915.

After completing further training in Egypt, Private Fishwick went ashore at Gallipoli with the 24th Battalion on 4th September 1915 The next 16 weeks were spent sharing duties in the Lone Pine trenches with the 23rd Battalion.  Following the end of the Gallipoli campaign he proceeded to France in March, 1916.  In August, 1916 Private Fishwick was evacuated to an Australian Military Hospital at Harefield, England suffering from a schrapnel wound to the left foot. Rejoining his unit in France in April, 1917, he was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal.   He was hospitalized several more times over the following year suffering from gun shot, gas shelling wounds.  Promoted to the rank of Corporal in Feb. 1918 he rejoined his Battalion in July.  While taking part in the counter offensive at Mont St. Quentin, Corporal Fishwick was Killed in Action.

He was Killed in Action on 1st September, 1918 - he is buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension & also commemorated on the Australian War memorial & the Ballarat School of Mines Honour Roll

He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal & the Victory Medal. 

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Ballarat Courier, 19th September, 1918

Corporal Septimus Fishwick.   The sad news was conveyed to Mrs. Fishwick of 1220 South St (late of 220 Ascot St) by the Rev. Morgan Payler that her youngest son, Corporal Septimus Clive Fishwick was killed in action on 1st September.  He had previously been wounded on four occasions and was also badly gassed on 29th March.   In a recent letter to his Mother he said "Don't worry if I go back again and do a bit more and if I have the luck to come through I may have a chance to see you all again"  Corporal Fishwick was one of five brothers on active service.  One brother Ivo Fishwick was recently invalided home and is now in the Caulfield Hospital.  Corporal Fishwick sailed on 8th May, 1915 and had taken part in a great number of battles.  Prior to enlisting he was employed by Messrs. Ronaldson Bros. and Tippet.  He was in his 21st year.

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Cpl Septimus (Sep) Clive FISHWICK
24th Infantry Battalion, KIA 1st September, 1918, Peronne
 
It seems a lifetime ago that I began researching the servicemen and women from Ballarat and district. I can tell you that I came to know many of them better than I know most of my own family. Some, like Sep Fishwick, made a lasting impact.

When I began this journey, I decided that indexing the Ballarat Courier was the most immediate thing I needed to do. At the time there were no computer programmes for text recognition, no Trove online searches; for me it was a microfilm, notetaker and pen and paper. It sounds almost arduous, but it was quite a lot of fun. (I have no life!) I would search through the paper looking for the necessary mentions of locals in the military, read them onto tape, then transcribe them out later.

As I worked there would be names that repeatedly appeared in the news. But none more that Septimus Clive Fishwick. It almost became a case of, “oh, no – not you again!” He seemed to be knocked about more than others had hot dinners!

Here are the details of what happened to Sep Fishwick...I’ll let you decide if he landed in trouble more than most!
The Fishwick family was a large one. Robert Fishwick and his wife, Jemima Merritt, brought fourteen children into the world, successfully raising twelve of them to adulthood. Septimus Clive, and his twin brother, Jack Tar, were born on 3 June 1897. They were the couple’s eleventh and twelfth children and their youngest sons.

Robert Fishwick’s family had arrived in Ballarat during the height of the goldrush. He was born in Ballarat East during 1855. His father had come from Chorley outside Bolton in Lancashire, whilst his mother, Frances Barrett, was Irish; she was born at Jonesborough in County Armagh, home of the Kilnasaggart pillar stone, one of the oldest inscribed stones in Ireland.

Jemima Merritt had an slightly different route to Ballarat. She was born at Launceston, Tasmania, in 1854, and it appears that gold also brought her family to Victoria. Thomas Merritt originally came from the village of All Cannings in Wiltshire, but his family was predominantly from London – particularly the area of Bethnal Green in the east.

According to family sources, the Merritts had quite a rich military history. Jemima’s grandfather, Thomas Merritt, was reputed to have served with the 50th (Queen’s Own) Regiment of Foot during the Napoleonic Wars. Her father, also named Thomas, was serving as a private with the 96th Regiment when he was sent to Tasmania on garrison duty. Being associated with the British Army in the 19th Century was not all glory and honour. The Duke of Wellington had famously said that the army was ‘composed of the scum of the earth’ and the majority had ‘enlisted for drink.’ He did qualify that by adding that the army had ‘made them the fine fellows they are.’ Joining the army was for many a way of escaping the grinding poverty being experienced across Great Britain. Thomas Merritt reached Hobart Town on 17 December 1840. Riots by men from the 96th Regiment in Launceston during May 1845 did much to harm the reputation of the unit, but it is not known if Thomas Merritt was involved.

There was also the possibility that Jemima’s ancestor, Amos Merritt, came to quite a sticky end. It appears that he was hanged at London’s infamous Tyburn gallows (known colloquially as the “Tyburn Tree”) for robbery after stepping forward and saving an innocent man from the same fate.
After retiring from the army, Merritt brought his family to Victoria in the late 1850’s and they settled at Buninyong. Jemima’s mother, Elizabeth Louisa “Betsey” Black came from the Isle of Bute, an island in the Firth of Clyde that was noted as a place of incredible natural beauty. Buninyong shared some topographical similarities to the Scottish countryside of Betsey’s birth and the rolling farmland became their home for several years.

Robert and Jemima were married at Ballarat on 3 February 1875 and they made their first home at 48 Doveton Street north. The young couple were shattered when their first-born son, Robert William, died from croup on 30 July 1877. The little boy had been ill for forty hours before his death; he was aged just 2-years and 7-months.

However, their family continued to grow and they eventually moved from Doveton Street, to a residence at 35 Windermere Street south. Robert Fishwick then held an excellent position as bookkeeper for Heinz Brothers, butchers, who ran multiple shops around Ballarat at the time.

The Fishwick children attended Urquhart Street State School, which was just two blocks from their home in Windermere Street. Sep and Jack were enrolled there in October 1902. Now, although the boys were twins, it appears they were not identical and it was easy to tell them apart – although they both had brown hair, their eyes were different in colour – Sep’s were brown, while Jack’s were blue – Jack was also the bigger of the twins. However, an accident when they were still boys made sure there was no confusion – Jack suffered the loss of two fingers on his left hand, making him instantly recognisable. Because of losing his fingers, Jack was exempted from training with the school cadets. Sep, however, revelled in his time with the cadets and he continued his training, serving with the 18th Army Service Corps.

Young Sep had an accident of his own. Whilst riding a pony along Ascot Street on Friday 6 January 1905, he was thrown onto the road and broke his arm. He was taken to the Ballarat Hospital to have his arm reset and a plaster of Paris cast applied.

Sep and Jack continued at Urquhart Street until the end of the mid-year term of 1911. By this time the family had moved to “Coron” 220 Ascot Street, which was around the corner from the school.

Upon leaving school, Sep immediately began an apprenticeship as a turner with leading local engineering firm Ronalds Brothers and Tippett in Creswick Road. This was an excellent opportunity for the young lad: not only was he being trained in a trade that would secure him for life, he was also part of a prosperous company. At the time there were about 150 employed at the works and the atmosphere encouraged a significant bond of loyalty. It was a good place to work.

Sep also enjoyed playing quoits. The Western Oval Iron Quoits Club, which met during the summer months, played on the open corner away from the oval. It was a game of considerable skill, requiring both strength and accuracy.
By 1914, Robert Fishwick had left Heinz Brothers to take a clerical position in the accounts department at Jermyn’s Cheap Stores. However, he had been experiencing ongoing heart problems and was ‘habitually’ taking arsenic as a stimulant. He was still at work on the evening of Monday 25 May 1914, when he suddenly complained of feeling unwell. As his condition worsened, the doctor was sent for and diagnosed Robert as suffering from pneumonia. The following morning, he lapsed into unconsciousness and died. At an inquest into the death, it was revealed that Robert had told his wife he had accidentally taken an overdose of arsenic. Emetics to induce vomiting had proved ‘temporarily effective,’ but the poison had caused substantial damage leading to haemorrhage. Mr John Fraser JP [my great-grandfather for anyone interested in the connections] entered a finding of ‘accidental overdose, inadvertently taken.’

The shock for the Fishwick family was overwhelming, but they were fortunate in receiving a great deal of community support, which they acknowledged publicly.

‘…The widow and family of the late Robert Fishwick desire to express their heartfelt thanks to their kind neighbours and friends for all letters, cards, telegrams, and beautiful floral tributes received by them during their sad and sudden bereavement. They also wish to thank Dr Hardy, Rev. James, and Mr Vincent Jermyn for their extreme kindness. The loving sympathy and kindness shown by all has greatly helped and comforted us during this severe trial, and can never be forgotten by us…’

A little over two months later the world was at war and individual grief gave way to intense patriotic fervour and a rallying cry few seemed able to resist.

For Ronaldson Bros & Tippett, the annual picnic, held at the southern end of the Botanical Gardens every March, was an opportunity for the entire company to enjoy an outing. In 1915, there was a distinct change in the air and on Saturday 6 March, the works whistle sounded at 11 am ‘with unaccustomed heartiness’ – ‘an hour or two’ earlier than usual. There was a patriotic fervour threading through any public gatherings and the Ronaldson Bros & Tippett picnic was no exception. These were anxious times: a severe period of drought had caused a downturn in business and the war had seen ‘several good men’ already leave with the AIF. But they were determined to enjoy their day and there was much laughter and competitive spirit shown in the usual “sports” programme.

It was clear that young Sep already had plans to enlist. He had begun the paperwork on 1 March, before presenting himself at the Drill Hall in Curtis Street on 4 March, where Doctor Paul Dane (q.v.) conducted the physical examination. At 5-feet 4½-inches, he was under the minimum height requirement of 5-feet 6-inches that was still in place, and he only weighed 120-pounds, but his chest measurement of 33½-inches with a further two-inch expansion was more than enough to convince Dr Dane that Sep was a suitable recruit.

Being underage Sep needed to crib several months to pass the minimum requirement of 18 and he also had to gain consent from his mother. Jemima Fishwick seemed to have no hesitancy in granting her permission. Her handwriting was quite elegant and she signed the document with considerable flourish on 15 March.

‘I find great pleasure in giving my full consent to my son Septimus Clive Fishwick to go on active service. Trusting he does well…’

The young recruit signed his paperwork in a neat, rather immature hand and always simply as “Sep Fishwick.” Before leaving Ballarat, he had his photograph taken – Sydney Harvey (originator of N. L. Harvey & Sons) captured the images of multiple Ballarat soldiers. His portrait of Sep Fishwick reveals a very boyish face – it is difficult to believe that anyone believed he was 18.
He was to be the first of five of the Fishwick brothers to enlist, and was followed by Richard Garfield (always abbreviated to Gar), Ivo, Albert Ernest (known as Bob) and his twin, Jack, who was rejected several times due to his damaged hand before he was accepted – strangely, there was no mention of the missing fingers in the medical for his successful application.

In the interim period between being passed fit and going into camp, Sep joined Bert Wight and Roy Leech for a send-off by the members of the Iron Quoits Club. The gathering, which was held on Saturday 13 March, was attended by local senators, John Barnes and Andrew McKissock. Mr Barnes was given the task of presenting the trio with smoker’s outfits on behalf of the club. In proposing the health of the departing soldiers, Mr McKissock said, ‘As soldiers they might have some hard times, but he hoped they would also have some pleasant ones, and that each of them would come back a credit to himself and to his country.’

Sep entered camp at Broadmeadows on 15 March. The young private initially looked destined for a posting with the Australian Army Service Corps, but soon joined A Company of the 24th Battalion, which was formed during the first week of May. As an original member, Sep’s regimental number of 190 reflected his early intake. A new Divisional Order (issued 8 March 1915) brought into effect the use of colour patches to aid in identification of units, so Sep had the red and white diamonds of the 24th Battalion sewn to the sleeves of his khaki tunic.

With all the necessary arrangements in place, the 24th Battalion was ready for deployment to Egypt. They sailed from Melbourne on 8 May 1915 onboard HMAT Euripides.
Sep Fishwick spent two months on the desert outside Cairo before the 24th received orders on 28 August to proceed through to Alexandria. They reached the port city early on 30 August, where the transport Nile was waiting to take the unit to Gallipoli. In the convoy was the ill-fated HMT Southland.

They were nearing Lemnos on 2 September when news that the Southland had been torpedoed ‘and all hands gone down’ reached the Nile and word quickly buzzed around the ship heightening the anxiety of all onboard. Relief was not immediate when a later message indicated that help had arrived and the Southland was making her way to port ‘under easy steam.’

The 24th spent the next four days at the port of Mudros before sailing for Gallipoli onboard the transport Partridge on 6 September. Sep reached the beaches of ANZAC shortly after 9:30pm that same day and spent his first night bivouacked in the area known incongruously as “Rest Gully.” His next sixteen weeks were anything but restful, as the 24th shared rotation duties with the 23rd Battalion in the Lone Pine trenches. They were to share in the honour of being one of the last units to be evacuated from the peninsula, with the careful plans for withdrawal taking place on 19-20 December. Sep finally left the trenches at 2:15am on 20 December and embarked from Williams Pier at North Beach half an hour later.

Back in Egypt in early January, the AIF began its period of expansion and duplication. It was to be a relatively short turnaround for the 24th Battalion as they were one of the first units to transfer to the European theatre of the war. They sailed from Alexandria on 20 March, spread across three transports (City of Edinburgh, Magdelena and Lake Michigan) for the voyage. It was a dangerous crossing and the men were warned to wear their life belts at all times; mounted machine guns were detailed, port and starboard submarine watches were kept in place, with each under the command of an officer. The weather, however, was fine and the sea moderately calm, and they had the extra security of a torpedo-destroyer as escort.

Submarine activity led to greater vigilance; this proved warranted when news was received that HMT Minnewaska had been torpedoed on 23 March and was sinking. Later the same day the convoy was messaged that two submarines had been sighted north-east of Valetta. Course changes, increased speed, and caution, were the only tools at their disposal.

After passing Malta, the convoy was ordered to proceed on to Marseilles and they reached the French port on 26 March without further incident.

The 24th Battalions’ first major engagement on the Western Front came at Pozières on 26 July. Sep spent three days in the trenches before A Company was relieved by the 23rd Battalion at 9:30pm on 29 July. They returned to the line a week later, taking up positions in front of Mouquet Farm. A Company was in the Old German 2 Trench (OG2) on 5 August when Sep was wounded for the first time. A piece of shrapnel hit him in the outer side of his left foot and he was evacuated to the 4th Field Ambulance for treatment. He was transferred by the 26th Motor Ambulance Convoy to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station.

On 7 August, he was moved by ambulance train to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux. The following day he was processed for evacuation to England and sailed from Boulogne on the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel. He was admitted to the St Luke’s War Hospital in the Salterhebble area of Halifax in West Yorkshire.

After a month at St Luke’s, Sep was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield Park.

For Jemima Fishwick this was an anxious time: she had received a brief communication from Base Records on 7 September informing her that Sep had been wounded. She immediately responded with a letter of her own. ‘I don’t wish to be a nuisance to you, but I would be releived (sic) to have fuller information…’ This was a perfectly reasonable request and she was not to know that the reply she received was standard response, stating that unless they received further notification it was to be assumed that the wound was not serious and that he was making satisfactory progress.

Although the damage to Sep’s foot was described as superficial, the shrapnel had caused a through-and-through wound near his ankle and a tear to his Achilles tendon. It had nearly healed by the time he reached Harefield, but continued to cause issues. He was discharged to the 2nd Australian Command Depot at Weymouth on 11 September.
As he waited for his foot to fully heal, Sep spent time acting as a mess orderly at depots in Wool and Wareham. Whilst at Wareham he was stationed at Worgret Camp, where he shared a hut (F2) with ten other men.

On 2 February 1917, he was absent without leave from 3pm until 9pm the following day. Captain James Edward Herbert ordered that he be confined to barracks for a week and fined him two-days pay.

By early March, Sep was again fit for active service and he was moved to the Infantry Draft Depot at Perham Downs (known by the men as “Perishing Downs”) in Wiltshire. He returned to France on 20 March. It had been snowing and was bitterly cold when Sep reached the 24th Battalion at Bécourt Camp on 9 April.

It only took Sep a month to be back on the Casualty List.
The 24th Battalion was deployed during the Second Battle of Bullecourt. Although the battle was ultimately successful, the cost was high and the 24th Battalion was only in the line for the opening day, 3 May, and suffered a staggering 80 per cent casualties. This included Sep Fishwick, who was hit by shrapnel during the early stages of the fight. He was admitted to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance before being moved to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station where he was treated for a slight wound to his right foot. An ambulance train then transported him through to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne.

To free up bed space in the hospital, the decision to evacuate Sep to England was quickly made. He sailed onboard the Hospital Ship Pieter de Coninck on 5 May and was admitted to the Voluntary Aid Hospital in Cheltenham. There were eight VAD hospitals opened in the Gloucestershire town, including the Leckhampton Court and New Court hospitals, but it was not documented where Sep was treated.
Sep was discharged to the No4 Command Depot at Wareham in Dorset. He was moved to the No1 Command Depot at Perham Downs on 15 June, where the injury classification was charged to a gunshot wound to his right leg…

The wound healed quickly and Sep was soon on his way back to France. He reached the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot at Le Havre on 10 July. When Sep rejoined his unit, the 24th was in billets at Wardreques near St Omer. It was a sad return as many familiar faces were missing – over one hundred men had been killed or died from their wounds following the action at Bullecourt and many were now prisoners of war. Their focus for the remainder of 1917 was the Ypres Sector in Belgium.

On 13 September, Sep was appointed to the rank of lance-corporal. The 24th had just moved to the Devonshire Camp near Ouderdom and preparations were underway for the AIF’s deployment during the Third Battle of Ypres (later known as Battle of Passchendaele), which had begun on 31 July.

The first of a series of General Herbert “Daddy” Plumer’s “bite and hold” battles in the Ypres Salient was the Battle of Menin Road (20 September), for which the 24th provided carrying parties and stretcher-bearers. They also worked on the buried cable system. For the Battle of Polygon Wood (26 September – 3 October) the 24th returned to Devonshire Camp.

At 4am on 4 October, A Company led the battalion forward to the Jumping Off Tape in preparation for the beginning of the attack on Broodseinde Ridge.

At this point I must admit to thinking of the fatalistic saying that there’s a bullet with your name on it, and that immediately conjures images of Baldrick in Blackadder Goes Forth… It just seems that every time Sep Fishwick went into the line, there was a “bullet” waiting for him! Broodseinde was no exception – Sep had not gone very far before he was hit in the right arm. Once again, although he was unlucky to be wounded, he was fortunate that the wound was once again relatively minor. He was treated at the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance before being admitted to the 17th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding near Lijssenthoek. On 5 October, he was moved to the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers. After just two days he was transferred to the 6th Convalescent Depot at Étaples. Fortunately, the wound was, on this occasion, superficial, and Sep was discharged to the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot at Le Havre on 11 October. He returned to his unit on 19 October – the 24th was then at Steenvorde enjoying a well-earned rest. The fighting at Broodseinde and then at Poelcappelle, however, had taken its toll, with a further 130 men of the 24th losing their lives. Even the relatively happy argy-bargy of multiple football matches could not lessen the trauma of the loss.

In a letter to his mother written around this time, Sep had asked ‘what they intended doing with the slackers in Australia.’ He was very aware that his chances of surviving were slim, but hoped that if he ‘came through alright’ he might well have a chance of to returning to Australia, ‘if the slackers could only be persuaded to come and do their bit…’

Gaps in the ranks meant a stream of necessary promotions and Sep found himself advanced to temporary corporal on 25 October; this was confirmed on 25 January 1918.

On 21 March 1918, from 1am until 5am, the Germans bombarded a ten-acre area at Prowse Point near Ploegsteert Wood with approximately 5000 gas shells. And once again, Sep Fishwick was in the middle of it all – A and B Companies were in billets nearby and suffered serious casualties. It took 36 to 48-hours for the effects from the gas to become apparent, which was the case with Sep. He was received at the 5th Australian Field Ambulance on 22 March before being admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station. An ambulance train carried him through to the 54th General Hospital at Wimereux, where he was admitted three days after being gassed.

Sep was sent to England on 29 March and admitted for treatment at the Norfolk War Hospital in the town of Thorpe. After two weeks, Sep was deemed well enough to once again be transferred to Harefield Park. By 23 April, the Medical Board found that his heart and lungs were clear and he was fit to be discharged to furlough. At the end of his leave, he was required to report to the No4 Command Depot at Hurdcott on 7 May.

It is hard to imagine a less inspiring place to celebrate your 21st birthday than an army camp on Salisbury Plain; Sep was still at Hurdcott when he reached that milestone on 3 June 1918. Three days later, he marched out to Sandhill Camp at the Overseas Training Brigade stationed at Longbride-Deverill.

Having successfully stopped the German Spring Offensive, the Allies were preparing for a counter-offensive of their own and all available men were needed at the Front. Sep had been passed fit for active duty and, on 3 July, he sailed once again for France. The 24th Battalion was near Blangy-Tronville when he reached them a week later.

By this stage the 24th Battalion was well under strength and struggling to replace their losses. Nevertheless, they had played a significant part in turning the Germans during April. They had also worked in support of the Battle of Hamel on 4 July. Sep Fishwick arrived just before the Battle of Amiens, where once again the 24th would have a supporting role.

On 1 September 1918, the 24th was tasked with taking the main German strong point on the summit of Mont St Quentin on the outskirts of the town of Péronne.

After reports that Mont St Quentin had been captured by the 5th Brigade on 31 August, the 23rd Battalion, with the 24th in support, was allotted the task of “mopping up” – which included dealing with any remaining Germans. The battalion moved off at 10:30am and crossed the River Somme near Buscourt. They moved through Clery around noon.

The 23rd Battalion reported ‘a good deal of opposition’ near the town of Halle and from the direction of St Denis. Following reconnaissance of the area, the 24th Battalion moved forward into position and by 10pm they had established battalion headquarters in the spot known as Lost Ravine, and all four companies settled into Gottlieb Trench. During the move, the enemy bombarded the line fairly heavily with ‘4.2, 5.9 and in some cases 8-inch shells.’ A and B Companies suffered about twenty casualties, including two officers, Lieutenant Ernest Milton Martin and Second-Lieutenant Clarence Newton, who were both killed. When it was realised that Mont St Quentin was still in enemy hands, an attack by the 6th Brigade was organised for the following morning.

At 6am on 1 September, the 24th Battalion moved forward – the initial attack was only partially successful as the enemy held the superior position with multiple strong posts. Casualties for the 24th Battalion were extremely heavy, with the percentage killed being very high. The losses included several of their best officers.

The line was then reinforced by D Coy of the 21st Bn and the artillery opened fire on the German positions in preparation for a second attack. ‘This was completely successful and the Mount was won.’

During the course of the day’s fighting, thirty-five men from the 24th Battalion were killed.

When I saw Sep Fishwick’s name in the Courier yet again, I remember feeling my heart plummet. The article appeared under the heading, “Roll of Honour” on 19 September 1918. I knew what was coming, I had the disadvantage of hindsight – I knew that on 11 November 1918 bells would ring around the world to say the war to end all wars was over. I realised that Sep’s luck had run out. He had so very nearly made it all the way through…

Despite the number of deaths, there were only a few investigations launched by the Red Cross Wounded and Missing Bureau, and there was no mention of Sep Fishwick in any of the reports. All that was recorded was that he had been killed in action on 1 September 1918 and that he was buried in an isolated grave some 70 yards from Mont St Quentin, at the very heart of the fighting. This would appear to indicate that Sep fell during the first attack. But we will probably never know…

Reverend Frederick Morgan-Payler, Canon at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Sturt Street, was given the responsibility of informing Jemima Fishwick that her son was dead. She had worn her Mother’s Badge with great pride – not many could claim to have five sons serving. But the news must have been devastating.

‘…DEATHS
On Active Service.
FISHWICK—Officially reported killed in
action, somewhere in France, after
three years and eight months service.
CpI Septimus Clive Fishwick, the de-
voted youngest twin son of the late
Robert and Jemima Fishwick, of 1320
Sturt street, late of Coron House, 220
Ascot street, much loved brother of
Mrs. Chas. W. Murray, Mrs. E. Arm-
strong (Point Nepean), Sergt Bob
Fishwick (A.I.F.), Mrs. Max Wellard,
Sergt Garfield Fishwick, H.M. (A.I.F.)
France, Trooper Ivo Fishwick (return-
ed). Eric E, Doris, Driver Jack Fish-
wick (reported missing [sic]), twin brother of
the above Cpl Septimus Fishwick, Dai-
sie, Peggie, and Nina; in his 21st year
An Anzac
We tried our best to keep him
We pleaded for him to remain;
But he said. "My country is calling;
Let me go, or I die in shame."
When we think of all our dear boy has
sacrificed - his young life. home, and
loved ones - and died a hero honour
of his. country.
Father and son united…’

When Sep was killed he was carrying just a few meagre items – a pocket case, some photographs, three cards and three coins – these were all contained in a small parcel returned to his mother.

By 26 November 1919, Sep Fishwick’s body had been exhumed and re-interred in the military extension to the Péronne Communal Cemetery. The Fishwick family was informed that this was for the purpose of centralising graves into military cemeteries; Jemima did not provide a personal inscription to be added to his permanent headstone. A photograph of the new grave was sent to Jemima on 30 March 1920.

Some of Sep’s last words home still echo sadly over one hundred years later:
‘…Don't worry if I go back again and do a bit more and if I have the luck to come through I may have a chance to see you all again…’

Footnote: Ivo Fishwick named his son, born 3 January 1925, Septimus Clive.