Name
Charles Fisher
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
S/40167
Seaforth Highlanders
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
STE. CATHERINE BRITISH CEMETERY
L. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Charles Fisher was born in Baldock in 1890, the son of Nathan and Elizabeth Fisher and baptised on 3 May 1891 in Baldock.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Norton Street, Baldock, where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. They remained at the same address in 1901 and 1911, at which time Charles (otherwise known as Charlie) was an apprentice at a printing works.
Charles was a popular member of Baldock Athletic Football Club and was a compositor at Letchworth Printers before enlistment.
His parents' address on pension records was later given as 70 Church Street, Baldock, Herts.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford and joined the 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, serving in France from June 1916.
Charles was killed in action on 9 April 1917 (Easter Monday), the first day of the Battle of Vimy (Arras Offensive) and his Captain and Lieutenant sent sympathetic letters to his parents. The latter wrote that Charles was taking a very prominent part in an attack when he was instantly killed by a machine gun bullet to the head:
"I regret his loss greatly, as he was a splendid soldier and one of the most competent gunners in my company."
He is buried in Ste. Catherine British Cemetery, France and is one of 136 soldiers who died on the same day buried in the cemetery.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £10 and pay owing of £6 15s 3d. Pension cards exist in respect of his mother as dependent but give no indication of the amount of pension received.
Charles was the second son of Mr and Mrs Fisher of Norton Street, Baldock, who had two other sons serving at the time of Charles' death.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
