Wyndham History

Frank Fisher (1898-1970)

Item

Placeholder image - Veteran.png

Dublin Core

Type

Title

Frank Fisher (1898-1970)

Contributor

Date

1915

Subject

Publisher

Wyndham City Libraries

Format

text

Language

eng

World War One Veterans Item Type Metadata

Name

Frank Fisher

Birth Date

Service Number

Frank had two numbers:
  • 4428 with the 14th Infantry Battalion
  • 19854 with the 4th Sea Transport

Next of Kin

Mrs Jessie Bradley (nee Fisher)
Sister

Address at time of Enlistment

Werribee

Occupation

Marital Status

Single

Death Date

Place of Burial

Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

Biographical Text

No.4482  Private Frank Fisher
Frank Fisher was born in Footscray, Victoria to James Henry Fisher and Emma Fisher (nee Buller) on 24 February 1898.

Both of his parents died while he was very young, and he was brought up by his only sibling, his elder sister Jessie.  Jessie Fisher (married name Bradley) was born in Richmond, Victoria in 1887.

First Enlistment
Frank Fisher enlisted in the A.I.F. at Melbourne on 11 August 1915 and was first sent to 'B' Company, 21st Depot Battalion, Warrnambool, for training.  From there he went to the Broadmeadows Camp, and on 20 December 1915, he was appointed as a Private with the 14th battalion, 14 Reinforcements.

Private Frank Fisher (aged 18), No.4482, embarked from Melbourne on 18 February 1916 per H.M.A.T., A70, Ballarat, with the 14th Infantry Battalion, 14th Reinforcements. They disembarked in Egypt on the 22 March 1916.

On 2 April 1916, he was allotted to the 46th Battalion at Serapeum, in Egypt.  The 46th Battalion had been formed in Egypt on 24 February 1916.  Half of its members were Gallipoli veterans of the 14th Battalion, and half were fresh reinforcements from Victoria in Australia.

On 2 April 1916, just three weeks after joining the 46th Battalion, Frank was admitted to hospital, as being sick.  There is no indication on his record on what he was suffering from.

The Battalion (minus Frank) embarked from Alexandria on 4 June 1916 per Kinfauns Castle, to join the B.E.F.  They disembarked at Marseilles on 6 June 1916, and proceeded by train to their billets at Outtersteene near Bailleul.

Frank re-joined the 14th Battalion in the field at Poziers on 13 August 1916, and two weeks later he was wounded in action.
After receiving a gunshot wound to his left buttock and groin on 28 August 1916, he was evacuated to England from Roueu, per West Australian.  He was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth for treatment.  Four months after receiving his wounds, Frank was returned to Australia per H.S. A.64 Demosthenes.

Frank was discharged from the 3rd Military District on 8 February 1918.

Second Enlistment
Frank reenlisted in the A.I.F. at Melbourne on 23 April 1918 as a Private.

Between 13 May 1918 and 13 August 1918, he was with the No 11 Australian General Hospital at the Manor House in Caulfield, Victoria.  Its purpose was to look after convalescing troops that had been brought back from overseas hospitals.

He was then transferred to the No 5 Australian General (Base Hospital) Hospital at St Kilda Road Melbourne until 31 August 1918, when he was appointed to No.4. Section Sea Transport A.A.M.C. at Melbourne.

Private Fisher embarked at Melbourne on the same day per H.M.A.T. A37 Barambah, with the No.4. Section, Sea Transport Staff, and they disembarked at London on 14 November 1918.

He returned to Australia and was promoted to Corporal.

Corporal Fisher then embarked at Melbourne per A32 Themistocles on 5 March 1919 with the No 4 Sea Transport Section, and disembarked at Plymouth on 29 April 1919. Three days later he returned back to Australia per H.M.A.T.Port Napier.

Frank was discharged at his own request on 7 August 1919.

Frank Fisher died at Heidelberg in 1970, aged 72.  His cremated remains are at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

Medals & Entitlements:
  • Victory Medal
Notes: The identity of "F. Fisher" from Werribee is uncertain.
1. There were five members of the A.I.F. in W.W.1. recorded as "F. Fisher" and none had a direct link to Werribee. These soldiers were:
  • Gunner Francis Fisher, 27277, K.I.A.
  • Private Frank Fisher, 1136, R.T.A. on 19 October 1917
  • Private Frank Fisher, 2428, R.T.A. on 20 July 1919
  • Private Fred Fisher, 5587, K.I.A.
  • Private Frederick Fisher, 3935, R.T.A. on 6 September 1919
2. There were seven members of the A.I.F. in the W.W.1. listed as "F. Fisher", in the Embarkation Rolls, and none had a direct link to Werribee.
These soldiers were:
  • Gunner Francis Fisher, 27277.  Embarked from Sydney, K.I.A.
  • Private Frank Fisher, 4482.  Embarked from Melbourne on 18 February 1916.  N.O.K. in Footscray.
  • Private Frank Fisher, 1136.  Embarked from Melbourne on 27 December 1914.  N.O.K. in England.
  • Private Frank Fisher, 2428.  Embarked from Sydney on 19 December 1917.  N.O.K. in Queensland.
  • Private Frank Fisher, 19854.  Embarked from Melbourne on 31 August 1918.  N.O.K. in Footscray.
  • Private Frederick Fisher, 3935. Embarked from Melbourne on 30 October 1917.  N.O.K. in Broken Hill.
  • Private Frederick Fisher, 5587.  Embarked from Sydney, K.I.A.
3. Private Frank Fisher, 4482 and Private Frank Fisher, 19854 who had a link to Footscray, are the same person.  After being discharged, he reenlisted before the war ended.  I believe that this is the soldier listed on the Werribee Roll of Honor.

4. Footnotes on the Werribee Shire Banner’s Roll of Honor throughout the war stated that -
a. Not all of the people named on the Werribee Council Honor Board and The Werribee Shire Banner Roll of Honor actually served in the Australian Military Services during the Great War. Some of the men who volunteered for service, who for various reasons were not accepted, also have their names entered there.
b. The Werribee Shire Secretary advertised that "Parents and relatives of soldiers who have enlisted from the Shire of Werribee are earnestly requested to forward particulars to the Shire Secretary so that the names may be inscribed on the Shire Honor Board".
The Werribee Shire Banner, 31 October 1918, p.2.
[This seems to have been re-interpreted as 'parents and relatives of soldiers who live in the Shire of Werribee, and have relatives that enlisted in the Great War, are requested to forward particulars to the Shire Secretary, so that their names may be inscribed on the Shire Honor Board'.  This seems to be the case with Private Fisher]

A.A.M.C. – Australian Army Medical Corp.
N.O.K. – Next of Kin
R.T.A. – Returned to Australia

The name "Fisher, F." first appeared in the Roll of Honor, published in The Werribee Shire Banner, 13 February 1919, p.3. His location was listed as 'Werribee'.

A Mr H. Fisher was a cycle and Motor Mechanic at Werribee (The Werribee Shire Banner, 13 February 1919, p.3)

Frank Fisher 4482, age 18, Farmer, N.O.K. Mrs B Bradley, sister, "Fernhurst" John-street Footscray. Embarked Melbourne on HMAT A70 Ballarat. 14th Infantry Battallion, 13 to 23 Reinforcements

Frank Fisher, 19854, age 20, Farmhand, N.O.K. Mrs J Bradley, sister, "Fernhurst" Johns-street, Footscray. Embarked Melbourne on HMAT A37 Barambah, 31 August 1918, Sea Transport Staff 1 to 10 Sections.

Bibliography

CD Pioneer Index Victoria 1836-1888
CD Federation Index Victoria 1889-1901
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp
http://search.ancestrylibrary.com
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showUnit?unitCode=MED26.104.4SECT4
The above web site contains AWM Roll number: 26/104/4 – AMC Sea Transport Staff, Section 4. Frank Fisher’s name is on it.
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=97926
The above site is part of the AIF Project, and is a certificate of service for Cpl Frank Fisher.
http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/nominal_rolls/first_world_war/page/R1556802/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_Army_medical_units_in_World_War_I
http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/among-mates-caulfield-rsl/11161/caulfield-rsl/
http://mgc.smct.org.au/deceasedsearch/?

Medals and Entitlements

Victory Medal

Citation

“Frank Fisher (1898-1970),” Wyndham History, accessed November 30, 2023, http://www.wyndhamhistory.net.au/items/show/1703.

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