Clark Fisher

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Family

Clark was born in Louth, Lincolnshire in October 1884 to Daniel and Elizabeth Fisher (nee Clarke). He was clearny named after his mother's surname. He is shown on the 1891 Census living with his parents and younger brothers, Josiah and Charles. On the 1901 Census, living in Front Street, Tealby, he had been joined by another brother, Daniel, and a sister, Beatrice. For some reason, in 1911, Clark Fisher appears on the census living alone, with his parents. What happened to all his siblings is unclear. In 1914 his father, Daniel, died. The same year he married Annie Sellars, and later had three daughters; Phyllis, Eileen and Patricia.

1891 Census
1901 Census
1911 Census
Birth record - Oct 1884
Marriage - April 1914

Clark FISHER (Gunner/Sapper)

123468 (Later 344022), Royal Artillery (Later Royal Engineers)

Single Victory Medal

Clark enlisted in the Army, at 31 years of age, on the 11th December 1915. He had previously worked as a bricklayer. He served in France with the Royal Garrison Artillery, which later became the Royal Artillery. Towards the end of the war he was transferred to the Royal Engineers.

Little is known of his service in France, but at the time of his discharge from the Army in January 1919 he was suffering from shell shock. He was regularly feeling faint, and felt unable to carry out his usual work as a bricklayer, should he be allowed to do so. At an assesment prior to his release from service, he was assesed, and his symptoms were put down to a result of service in the war. I addition, the notes clearly record a gunshot wound to the front of his right shin, including a rupture to the muscle. It is noted he was also gassed at Ypres, during the Battle of Passchendaele, in August 1917, resulting in hospitalisation for 40 days, the notes also appear to show he was suffering from shell shock at this time too.

Shortly after his recovery, he was posted to Bristol, and later Chepstow to work on the inland waterways and docks in support of the war effort. In December 1919, he was assesed as being "40%" disabled, but this was later reduced to 20%, when the time came for them to asses how much money he was entitled to recieve. He was discharged, with a completely clean conduct sheet, on 21st January 1919, and perhaps surprisingly considering his health at the time, placed on the Z reserve list. This made him eligible to be recalled in the event of renewed hostilities after the armistice.

His brothers Josiah and Charles also served in the Great War, both in the Lincolshire Regiment. Thankfully, all three brothers survived the war. Clark Fisher died in Lincolnshire in 1945. His wife Annie survived him and died in 1976.

Clark's British War Medal may have been scrapped for it's silver content at some point, or simply seperated from the Victory Medal. I am looking to acquire the missing medal, should it, by any chance ever resurface.