Able Seaman
Arthur Henry
FISHER
,
RAN
31
Arthur Fisher was born at Stroud in Gloucestershire on 31 May 1883. After school he was employed as a warper. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class at HMS CALEDONIA on 19 February 1900 signing on for a twelve year Continuous Service Engagement commencing on 31 May 1901. He was advanced to Boy 1st Class on 22 November 1900 and, on 15 March 1901, he was drafted to HMS MINOTAUR.
At the time of the 1901 Census he was recorded as serving in the Brig HMS DOLPHIN which was a Tender to the Boy’s Training Ship HMS BOSCAWEN at Portland, Dorset. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 31 July 1901. Two weeks later, on 16 August 1901, he was drafted to HMS DUKE OF WELLINGTON before being drafted to sea in the battleship HMS REVENGE on 16 August 1901 and, five months later, on 10 January 1902, to the battleship HMS HANNIBAL where he was advanced to Able Seaman (Torpedoman) on 9 February 1905.
He was drafted ashore to HMS FIREQUEEN I at Portsmouth on 28 February 1905 and, a week later to HMS VERNON (the Torpedo and Mining School) at Portsmouth, followed by a draft to HMS VICTORY I on 13 August 1905. Arthur Fisher then joined submarines with a draft to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MERCURY ‘for Submarine Training’ on 1 October 1905. On 22 February 1906 he was drafted to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS THAMES. Arthur Fisher then returned to HMS VERNON on 19 April 1906 where he qualified as Seaman Torpedoman on 11 August 1906 and then joined HMS VICTORY II on 2 September 1906. He did not return to submarines but was next drafted to the battleship HMS RENOWN on 25 October 1906 and, six months later on 1 April 1907 to the battleship HMS BARFLEUR in which he served for two months until 12 June 1907 when he again joined HMS VICTORY II. He then joined the cruiser HMS ANTRIM on recommissioning at Chatham on 20 June 1907.
He returned to submarines on 24 February 1908 with a draft to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MERCURY. On 18 June 1909 he was drafted to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS VULCAN at Sheerness but returned to HMS MERCURY on 26 July 1909 where he served until 1 April 1911 when he was drafted to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS BONAVENTURE at Portsmouth.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Arthur Fisher was at home at 40, Cottage View, Arundel Street, Portsmouth with his wife Lily Victoria Cordelia (née Bailey), whom he had married in Portsmouth in the 4th Quarter of 1907, and their children Evelyn Nellie Cordelia (aged two) and Arthur Henry (aged eight months). Arthur Fisherwas reported to be serving in the Submarine Depot Ship HMS BONAVENTURE ‘as 2nd Divisional Crew working part of ship’ and ‘as relief bridge lookout and as ‘picking up’ crew’ on 28 June 1912.
On 15 October 1912 he was drafted to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MAIDSTONE at Portsmouth. On 30 May 1912 he was ‘Drafted Shore, Continuous Service Expired’. A third child, Maude R V Fisher, was born to Arthur and Lily in 1912. Arthur Fisher then volunteered for service with the Royal Australian Navy and was drafted to the RAN London Depot ‘for Submarine AE1’. He was drafted to HMAS PENGUIN ‘for Submarine AE1’ on 28 February 1914 and he was serving in HMAS AE1 when the submarine was lost off New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago on 14 September 1914. His Next of Kin was listed as Mrs Lily Fisher now of 24, Coburg Street, Portsmouth. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial on Panel 4.