Description
Military Cross, 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medal, Doctor Lieutenant George Annesley Fisher, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, interrupted his Medical Training at Uni of Cambridge to fight as an Infantry Officer winning a Military Cross.
“He served with distinction in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in the First World War, being awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. he was wounded twice.
After the war he then held the rank of Major in the RAMC TA being attached to the 6th Bn Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.
He had always interested himself in the work of the British Legion and did a great deal for ex servicemen.
During the 1939-45 War he did notable work on the home front with the Civil Defence, and was prominent in the training of personnel of the casualty services.
He was also instructor and examiner for a lengthy period for he Railway Ambulance classes at Skipton.”
“Dr Fisher’s Death is felt in many homes throughout the district for not only was he a capable and beloved family doctor but a great friend to all his patients. His singularly attractive and charming manner endeared him to his patients, who felt his presence did them as much good as his medicine….
…He carried on all the fine traditions of the intimate and friendly family doctor, and knew all his patients by their Christian names. He had the happy knack of putting the minds of his patients at east…
…Dr Fisher had identified himself with many phases of the life of the district, and he was a keen sportsman and lover of outdoor life.
He had ridden with the Craven Harriers since he was a boy of ten. He was a Cambridge Rowing Blue, and member of the Cambridge Crew in the 1913 Boat Race. Member of the Craven Lawn Tennis Club and Skipton Golf Club. He had also played rugby football, and took a keen interest in Skipton Cricket Club, of which his father was one time president. At one time he was even Commissioner for Boy Scouts for the Craven Area. He was also a Potholing Enthusiast. Joining the Craven Pothole Club on its inception and became its president. he was also a member of the Yorkshire Ramblers’ Club.
Dr George Annesley Fisher, M.C. T.D. M.R.C.S. L.R.C.P. was a highly respected Doctor who before he “Took the Oath” and became a Doctor had left his studies at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, where he had been a Rowing “Blue” Oarsman, to take up arms and fight in the First World War, serving as a Lieutenant and Infantry Officer during the war.
Military Cross announced in the Birthday Honours June 1915, London Gazette.
Invested by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 14th July 1915, to receive his Military Cross personally, having recently been wounded for the 2nd time.
Mentioned in Despatches Earned awarded in London Gazette 22nd June 1915. Serving with 5th battalion being attached to 1st Battalion KRRC.
He was wounded numerous times, he entered very early into the war in France on 21st September 1914, and on 31st October 1914 he was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his right shoulder at Gheluvelt. They took significant casualties but took Gheluvelt in an important fight during the early days of the war, the 2nd KRRC had lost 408 of all ranks leaving only 150 men still standing.
“13 Battalions, 6 of which were fresh, were hurled against what was left of the KRRC, Queens, South Wales Borders and Scots Guards, who had barely a thousand men in all.
For an hour they were held off. At last the line was broken. our 2 companies fell back on the reserve which had already been almost wiped out by shell fire, and the whole then fell back again to a prearranged line south of Veldhoek.”
The war diary notes on this day ”We Lost, 2nd Lieut Dean Killed, Wounded and Missing, Captain Spottiswoode, 2nd Lt St Aubyn and Goad Wounded. Lt Colonel Serocold, Captain Seymour, Lieut Upon, Lt Bouverie and 2ND LT FISHER. NCOs and Men are about 400 killed, wounded and missing.”
Returning after a stay at Millbank Hospital, he was again wounded in action in the field receiving a severe gun shot wound to his head on 15th May 1915.
He was again admitted to hospital for treatment.
It appears he was at this time with the 1st Battalion who put up a most gallant fight on this day during the First Day of the Battle of Festubert.
Military Cross announced in the New Years Honours 1915, London Gazette, 1st January 1915, a very early award for having shown bravery during the early fighting in 1914 to make a notice in time for Jan 1915.
His Life and Career in Brief:
Bon on 28th July 1892, the son of Dr George Edward Fisher and Lilian Dewhurst of Skipton.
The eldest son and attended Winchester College from 1906-1909 as part of “A” House.
He went on to Jesus College, the University of Cambridge in 1910 where he read Medicine.
He was part of the 1913 Boat Race Team and was a formidable Oarsman who competed several years at Henley and rowed Bow in the 1913 Boat race as a “Cambridge Blue”.
He had not finished his B.A. in Medicine by the time of the war, he joined up swiftly and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant attached for service in France with the 2nd Battalion K.R.R.C.
He was twice wounded and earned the Military Cross as well as a Mention in Despatches.
Wounded on 31st October 1914 during the critical defence of Gheluvelt during the Battle of Ypres.
Wounded again being shot in the head on 15th May 1915, being invalided home a 2nd time.
After graduating and become with his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Cambridge, he went on to London and St bars where he qualified further as a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons and as an L.R.C.P. both during 1918.
In 1919 he returned to the family home of Skipton, Yorkshire where he became a member of the Staff of Skipton Hospital.
He never lost his connection to the Army, and from 1920-1938 he served in the Territorial Army Royal Army Medical Corps, during his long career he would reach the rank of Major and received the Territorial Officer’s Decoration entitling him to the postnominals T.D.
During WW2, he again did not rest and was the officer in Charge of the Mobile Ambulance Unit and from 1944 was a Serving Officer of the Order of St John.
He was at one time the Boy Scout Commissioner for Craven, member of the Craven Harriers Hunt, the Craven Lawn Tennis Club and the Yorkshire Ramblers Club and the Craven Pothole Club.
A true sportsman, during 1954 he died doing what he loved, unfortunately he collapsed whilst enjoying a game of Tennis at the age of 63, at his Father in law’s Home at Colthurst Waddington near Clitheroe.
