William Henry Fisher

Private William Henry Fisher – Welsh Regiment, 14^th Battalion

Early Life

William Harman Fisher and Edith Mary Thomas
marriage certificate
St. Marys church

William Henry Fisher was born in 1892 at Tenby, the eldest son of William Fisher and Edith M. Thomas, who were married in 1891 at St. Mary’s Church, Swansea.

1891 Census

The 1891 Census records the newly married couple at Coventry House, Crackwell Street, Tenby.

 

1901 Census

By the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 3 Baptist Well Place, Swansea. William (father), then 33, was working as a ship’s rigger, while Edith, 22, was at home with their children: William Henry, 9; George H., 8; and Edith M., 14 months old. Also living with them was Edith’s brother, James H. Thomas, 37, a fish buyer.

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, the family had moved again, this time to 30 Sea View Terrace, Swansea. William (father), aged 42, was employed as an engineer’s clerk at the steel works, while Edith was 41. Their children included William Henry, 19, an engineer’s apprentice at the steel works; Edith, 11; Thomas Hector, 8; Charles Ivor, 6; Phyllis May, 2; and baby Elwyn George, just two months old.

In 1913, William Henry married Elizabeth M. Norman.

Formation of the Welsh Regiment, 14^th Battalion

When war broke out in August 1914, Lord Kitchener called for a massive volunteer army to be raised, known as Kitchener’s New Army. Across Britain, local battalions—often called “Pals Battalions”—were formed so men from the same towns, workplaces, or communities could enlist and serve together.

The 14^th (Service) Battalion, Welsh Regiment, popularly known as one of the “Swansea Pals”, was created in this wave of recruitment. The battalion drew heavily on men from Swansea and the surrounding areas, many of whom were steelworkers, dockers, clerks, and tradesmen. Recruitment was fuelled by strong local patriotism, with civic leaders and employers encouraging men to join.

The battalion trained first in Swansea before moving to larger training camps elsewhere in Britain. Like other Pals Battalions, the 14th Welsh carried with it a strong sense of local identity and comradeship, but this also meant that losses in action would later have a devastating impact on Swansea families.

It was into this newly formed battalion that William Henry Fisher enlisted.

Death

On 25^th November 1915, before the 14^th Welsh saw front-line action overseas, William Henry Fisher died from tuberculosis, an illness that developed after his discharge from service. His death made him one of the battalion’s earliest casualties.

The In From The Cold Project, which works to ensure the recognition of overlooked servicemen, later confirmed his case, securing his commemoration among the war dead.

Burial

William was buried at St. Peter’s Church, Cockett, Swansea, where his grave stands among the earliest First World War burials in the parish.

United Kingdom Book of Remembrance

William’s name is recorded in the United Kingdom Book of Remembrance, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

The Book of Remembrance honours service personnel of the First and Second World Wars who died but have no formal grave marked by a CWGC headstone, often because they were buried in private cemeteries, family plots, or in circumstances where a headstone could not be provided. Instead, their names are inscribed in these memorial volumes, ensuring they are remembered equally with those who rest in official war cemeteries.

The Book is held at the CWGC headquarters and is accessible online, allowing descendants, researchers, and the public to view the names and service details of those commemorated. By inclusion in this record, William’s service and sacrifice are preserved alongside thousands of others who died for their country but whose resting places are less formally marked.

Legacy

Though William Henry Fisher did not fall in battle, his story reflects the wider cost of war, where illness and hardship claimed many young lives. His commemoration in the United Kingdom Book of Remembrance, together with his grave at St. Peter’s Church, ensures that his name endures as part of both Swansea’s local history and the national memory of the Great War.