5023
FISHER, Alexander Roy
| Service Number: | 6508 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kapunda, South Australia, Australia, May 1891 |
| Home Town: | Alberton, Port Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Horse driver |
| Died: | 1 October 1970, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Rosewater Womens Memorial Roll of Honour WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6508, 10th Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6508, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Melbourne embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6508, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Melbourne, Adelaide | |
| 7 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 6508, 10th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), SW face and neck | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 6508, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 14 May 1919: | Honoured Military Medal, The Battle of Amiens, For conspicuous bravery and initiative during operations at LIHONS on 10/12th. August. During the heavy fighting in CREPEY WOOD he fired his Lewis Gun as a rifle inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. He displayed marked ability and daring in working his gun forward to a flank and greatly helped the advance of his Company. His behaviour throughout was admirable. | |
| 19 Jul 1919: | Discharged Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 6508, 10th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Alexander Roy Fisher's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge
General Birdwood (UK) awarded his Military Medal on 6 March 1920.
Biography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Before the War
Alexander Roy Fisher was 25 and 3 months at the time of enlistment and born in the town of Kapunda in South Australia but he lived in Franklin, which was located near Alberton, South Australia. He was a single man and had no children. His next of kin was his mother, Margaret Fisher who also lived in Franklin, South Australia. He was a natural born British subject, which means he was born in Australia. Before the war his profession was a horse driver. Fisher also had an apprenticeship as a standard shoe boy for 5 years prior to becoming a horse driver. His looks were quite standard. Fisher had brown eyes and dark brown hair and had a medium complexion. He stood at 5 feet and 5 inches and weighed 110 pounds. His religious denomination was the Church of England. He had no previous experience in the Army before the war and his training was not specified in his records.
During the War
On the 21st of October 1916, Alexander Roy Fisher embarked on the HMAT A16 Port Melbourne, which left from Melbourne, Victoria. It arrived 2 months later at Devonport; a small town located in England. A few months later, he marched overseas to France not yet being a part of a battalion. The next day, Fisher joined Base Depot. Base Depot was the place where soldiers stayed until there was a battalion available for them to join. After staying in Base Depot for 2 days he was struck off strength, which is what they do to soldiers when they find a battalion for them to join. On 1st of April 1917, Fisher joined the 10th Infantry Battalion as a private.
The 10th Infantry Battalion was situated in France. This is where the 10th Battalion were stayed for the majority of the war. After Fisher joined the battalion, he undertook training for a short period of time in Strazeele, a commune in Northern France. On the 3rd of May was the Battle of Bullecourt, which the 10th Infantry Battalion was a major part of. After only 4 days of fighting in Bullecourt, Fisher was wounded in action. His injury was to his face and neck. The cause and extent of his injury was not stated in his records.
On the 25th of May 1917, Fisher rejoined the 10th Battalion from the hospital. He went back to fighting on the Western Front in France between the first and second battles of Bullecourt.
The 10th Battalion moved to Belgium in 1917 to fight along side the British forces in the Third Battle of Ypres. During the trench warfare, Fisher and his battalion were able to gain some land.
After fighting for many months alongside his battalion, Fisher went to Brigade School. In Fisher’s records, there was no specification of where or what Brigade School. After participating in Brigade School for one month, he returned to his battalion.
Fisher’s bravery and hard work on the 10-12th of August 1918 at Crepey Wood was recognized with a Military Medal. This was the recommendation:
For conspicuous bravery and initiative during operations at LIHONS on 10/12th. August.
During the heavy fighting in CREPEY WOOD he fired his Lewis Gun as a rifle inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. He displayed marked ability and daring in working his gun forward to a flank and greatly helped the advance of his Company. His behaviour throughout was admirable.
He received the medal on the 14th of May 1919.
On the 24th of August 1918, Fisher was promoted to Lance Corporal. He remained this rank for the rest of his service.
Fisher was discharged on the 19th of July and returned home on the Takada.
After the War
After Fisher was discharged, he returned home safely. He had no lasting injuries, despite being injured during the war. He received many medals for his service and courageous efforts in the war. He received the Victory Medal, Military Medal and the British War Medal. One special medal that Fisher received during WW1 was the Military Medal, which was given to soldiers for bravery in battle. The 10th Infantry Battalion was highly awarded after the war. The battalion received a King’s Colour in 1925 and was assumed as the ‘Adelaide Rifles’ 2 years later. Alexander Roy Fisher passed away on October 1st, 1970 from an unknown cause.
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