Dubbo NSW
15663
1st Field Squadron Engineers
Returned to Australia July 20, 1919
Corporal William Fisher was a 22 year old farmer of Dubbo when he enlisted on the 21st February 1916 at Bathurst. His next of kin was his mother, Emma Fisher of ‘Cadadgan’ Dubbo. He had had no previous service experience. The medical examination describes him as 5’51/2”; 140lbs (63kgs) with fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes with good vision. His religion was Church of England.
After training at Moore Park, he embarked from Sydney on the ‘Barunga’ to Egypt and served with the Field Squadron Australian Mounted Division. As a Sapper in the engineers, he trained in maintaining and demolishing bridges, railways and roads. Zhid Engineers Corps were sent behind Turkish Lines to blow up a rail link between Beersheba and Gaza, he called it a great success. He was with the troops when they marched into Jerusalem across the Jordan and north to Damascus.
William had a camera with him throughout the campaign, and as he didn’t smoke, he spent his money on film and solutions to develop his own photos. The family have an album with all photos labelled and in good order after 100 years. His memorabilia is treasured by the family and includes his slouch hat, spurs, leggings, kit bag, water bottle, food kits and the camera and photo albums.
He only had 2 short episodes of sickness with Influenza and Malaria before he came home on the HT ‘Burma’ in July 1919, arriving on the 1st September 1919.
He was issued the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
William returned to farming in the Collie district where he remained for the rest of his long life and married Doris Dixon in 1933.