2nd Lieutenant Charles Heath Fisher - Military Cross

Charles Heath Fisher was the son of Charles E Fisher, a brewer’s clerk, and Patty Fisher. Born c1892 in Stockwell, he was the fourth of six children. In 1901 the family was living in 192 Upland Road, Camberwell. By 1909 they were in 23, Franconia Road in Clapham and Charles, now 19, was still living at home with his parents and three of his siblings. He had attended Dulwich College and was now training as a teacher at Battersea Polytechnic Boys school. In July 1917 he married Norah E Purdy in Wimbledon

He signed up to the 4th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. He was a Second Lieutenant, later attached to the 12th Battalion. His regimental numbers were 764138, 10137. He was killed in action on the western front on 14th October 1918

On 2nd December 1918 2nd Lieutenant Fisher was posthumously awarded the Military Cross, which is a medal granted in recognition of “an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operation against the enemy”. A commendation in the London Gazette of 2.12.1918 recorded that he had earned the medal “for conspicuous gallantry on reconnaissance. In spite of the fact that his runner was wounded, he returned himself and gave a valuable report as to the position of one of our posts in front of the line. He afterwards conducted three men with rations and water back to this post in spite of the country through which they had to pass being under continuous machine-gun and snipers’ fire”

At the time of his death he was 27 years old. His parents were now living at 8 Cromwell Road, Wimbledon; his wife Nora was living in Newtownbred, Belfast.

He is buried at the Dadizeele New British Cemetery in Belgium. Row IV.E.35. The village of Dadizeele was in German hands for much of the First World War until reached by the allies on 29th September 1918. Severe fighting followed on October 1st at Hill 41, a little south of the village.

He is remembered on the North Wall of St John’s Church in Wimbledon