The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902 (3), 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Diamond Hill, South Africa 1901, top clasp loose on riband (6543 Pte. W. Fisher, 27th Coy. 7th Imp: Yeo:); 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (185 Pte. G. E. Fisher, C.I.V.); 7 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Belfast (179 Pte. T. Fisher, C.I.V.) minor edge bruising to last, this nearly very fine, the others better (3) £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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William Fisher was born at Tawstock, Devon on 12 September 1864. He served in South Africa with the 27th (Devonshire) Company, 7th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War, dying of enteric fever at Johannesburg on 17 March 1901. The following article relating to him and his brothers appeared in the North Devon Journal on 28 March 1901:

‘Trooper William Fisher, the Imperial Yeoman whose death at Johannesburg on March 14th was announced in Saturday’s papers, was the eldest son of Mr. Thomas Fisher, of Anchor Wood, Barnstaple, and formerly of Tawstock. Deceased was one of the first to join the Imperial Yeomanry at Barnstaple about eighteen months ago, and he had taken part in a number of engagements in South Africa. He went through without mishap until his last fight about three months ago, when with others he was captured, but subsequently released by the Boers, who, however, retained all his belongings of the value of about £15. Trooper Fisher was a Corporal in the Royal North Devon Hussars for eight years, and he had a host of friends in North Devon, by whom his death is greatly deplored. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have two other sons who saw active service in the C.I.V.s (Privates Thomas and George Fisher, who returned safely to England, George, however, being for some time laid up in Netley Hospital with enteric fever), whilst a fourth son, Albert Fisher, who recently joined from Ilfracombe, is at present on his way to South Africa, for service in the Imperial Yeomanry. General sympathy is expressed for Mr. and Mrs. Fisher in their present bereavement, with the sincere hope that the son who has recently volunteered to fight in his country’s cause may be spared to safely return to them.’

George Ernest Fisher was born at Tawstock, Devon on 26 May 1876. Like his elder brother, he was a draper by occupation, joined the 5th (West Middlesex) Rifle Volunteers in 1892 and served in South Africa with No. 2 Mounted Infantry Company, City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War. As noted by the North Devon Journal, he suffered from enteric fever and was hospitalised for some time upon his return from South Africa. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he served as a private (No. 1832) with the Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars in the Egyptian Theatre of War from 21 April 1915, and was killed in action at Gallipoli on 28 August 1915.

Thomas Fisher was born at Tawstock, Devon on 2 July 1866. A draper by occupation, like his brothers, he too joined the 5th (West Middlesex) Rifle Volunteers on 8 March 1892 and served in South Africa with No. 2 Mounted Infantry Company, City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War, receiving a seven clasp Q.S.A. medal (one of 3 officers and 19 other ranks to do so, all of whom were in No 2 Company, Mounted Infantry, the only unit of the C.I.V. at Belfast). He died at Barnstaple, Devon, on 3 July 1904.

Albert Fisher, a fourth brother, was born in 1874, and served in South Africa with the 27th (Devonshire) Company, 7th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War, dying of enteric fever at Heilbron on 26 February 1902.

A fifth brother, Henry, was born in 1869 and died 1950.