Lance Corporal Leslie William John Fisher

Leslie William John Fisher was born at Glebe, New South Wales, in 1897 to parents Isaac Fisher and Alexina Georgina Fisher (née Clements). He was the younger of two sons. Educated at Newtown Public School, Fisher was a furniture worker at the time of his enlistment. He had a period of service in a New South Wales Miitia unit before his service with the Australian Imperial force (AIF).

Fisher enlisted in the AIF at Leichhardt, New South Wales, on 22 January 1917 and was attached to the 24th Reinforcements of the 1st Battalion as a private. He embarked from Sydney on the troopship Osterley on 10 February 1917 disembarking at Plymouth, England, on 11 April 1917. Based initially at the 1st Training Battalion camp at Durrington, England, Fisher was sent to France in October 1917, and taken on strength with the 1st Battalion. He remained on the Western Front in France with his battalion and attended the Corps Gas School in February 1918. In March 1918, Fisher was wounded in action by exposure to a gas-laden artillery shell near Hill 60, Ypres, Belgium.

On 15 March he was transferred to the Horton County of London War Hospital at Epsom, suffering from gas poisoning. During April, he was moved to the 3rd Auxiliary hospital in Dartford. In May 1918, Fisher was discharged from hospital and admitted to No. 3 Convalescent Depot Dartford. Fisher was granted leave in June 1918 and went to Glasgow. There he was admitted to the 4th Scottish General Hospital suffering from the ongoing effect of the gas poisoning. After a period in hospital in Dartford, and further convalescence at Hurdcott Depot, Fisher returned to France in September 1918 and rejoined his unit. The 1st Battalion was at this time involved in actions near Hesbecourt and Hargicourt, France north-west from Saint-Quentin.

Fisher was appointed lance corporal on 18 November 1918. In March 1919, he spent three weeks at the Army School of Physical and Recreational Training and rejoined his battalion on 19 April. Fisher appears to have won a sporting medal labelled Royal Navy and Army Boxing Association Corps Heavyweight Division Winner, on 11 April 1919.
On 15 May 1919, Fisher was sent to England for return to Australia, embarking on the troopship Boorara from Southampton on 6 July and disembarking at Sydney on 26 August 1919. During the voyage to Australia, Fisher participated in a concert performed by The Ragged Set Perriot Troupe on 18 August to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the formation of the AIF. Fisher sang several songs in the program: “Somewhere a voice is calling”, “Raggin’ thro’ the rye” and “When the great red dawn is shining”. Fisher was discharged on 30 November 1919.

Fisher was employed as a fireman soon after his discharge and remained in this occupation until his retirement around 1958. On 24 March 1923, Fisher married Olive Isabelle Brewster at Lidcombe, New South Wales. Fisher lived at various locations near Sydney, including Gladesville until 1936, and later in accommodation provided at several fire stations. These included Richmond (from 1937) and Kogarah (from about 1943). He finally retired to Paddington.

Leslie William John Fisher died at Paddington, New South Wales on 14 November 1966 at the age of 69.