Photo: James Pasby
Private
T. Fisher
23rd Durham Bn.
Home Guard
13th June 1943 Age 17
The Lord Gave
And the Lord Hath Taken Away
Blessed be the Name
of the Lord
Thomas Fisher was born on the 21st January 1926, to John and Lilian Fisher.
In 1931. Thomas Fisher then of 17 The Terrace, Washington, was involved in a collision at Washington Village Green. There was a Fascist open-air meeting held in Washington Village on the 12th June 1931. There were some young men cycling around the village green, and one of them came into collision with Thomas Fisher. He was taken to Dr W.A. Jaque's surgery where his minor injuries were treated, before being taken home.
In 1939, Thomas was residing at 17 The Terrace, Washington, Co Durham, with his younger brother and older sister, Catherine Fisher, born 22nd February, 1924 and Sydney Fisher, born 6th May 1927. Catherine was a Machinist at the C.W.S. Sydney and Thomas were still at School. They were staying with a Lilian Tucker, or Bailey, born 1st July 1890 and she was widowed.
The Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail 05/04/1943 reports:-
TWO NORTH H.G. KILLED
Two Washington Home Guards were killed yesterday and one severely injured as the result a mishap when their last grenade was being thrown. Dead are Robert Mills, of Bell Street, and Laurence Handiside, North-Eastern Cottages. Thomas Fisher, the injured man, of The Terrace.
Mills, who was Company Quartermaster-Sergeant, a fortnight ago returned from a course, and was acting as instructor to the other two men. They were using a discharger cup rifle, when there was an explosion and all three fell to the ground. Medical aid was summoned, and Fisher who had severe injuries to his head and face, was rushed to hospital.
Thomas Fisher died on the 13th June 1943.
His Home Guard record is closed until 2046. Ref WO409.27/82/358.
Thomas Fisher is remembered at Washington on W96.01.
