Name
Harry Fish
2 March 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
22645
King's Own Scottish Borderers
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 4 A and 4 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial(s), Hockerill
Pre War
Harry Fish was born in Bishop's Stortford on 2 Mar 1896 (baptised on 14 Jun 1896 at Hockerill) to James Fish, painter, and Mary Ann Elizabeth (nee Pledger). His mother Mary Ann died in 1900
On the 1901 Census the family of James (widower), son James (born 1884), Albert (born 1886), Walter (born 1888), George (born 1889), Rose (born 1894) and Harry were living at Ethel Terrace, Dunmow Road, Bishops Stortford. Also present was Ann Petty (mother of head of family).
Harry’s father married Lydia Caton in 1901.
On the 1911 Census Harry was working as an errand boy. His family of parents, Albert, Herbert (born 1905), Edith (born 1907) and Frank (born 1911) were living at 17 East Road, Dunmow Road, Bishop's Stortford.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Harry. He enlisted at Duns, Berwick where, presumably, he was living at the time, as Private 22645 in King's Own Scottish Borderers. He served with the 6th (Service) Battalion, which as part of 9th (Scottish) Division went to France on 12 May 1915 and seeing action at the Battle of Loos in 1915.
In 1916 the Battalion were involved in Battles of the Somme – Albert (1 – 13 Jul), Bazentin Ridge (14-17 Jul), the capture of Longueval (18 Jul) and Delville Wood (15 Jul-3 Sep 1916). Harry was killed in action during this battle on 19 Jul 1916 when under attack from German Forces attempting to clear the wood of South African and Scottish troops of the 9th (Scottish Division. Harry’s remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
His father received a War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £5 13s 5d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
