Joseph Fisher was born on 16th August 1897 the 2nd son of Thomas & Mercy Fisher, (nee Sconce) and he is on the 1901 census living with his siblings at 26, Taylor St., Horwich, Lancashire. Head of the household was Thomas, 37, a Chain Maker (Smith’s Striker) had been born in Saltney Flintshire.  Mercy, his wife was 39 and had been born in Handbridge, Chester.  Their listed children were  Elizabeth 14, Alice, 1 John F, 9 and Joseph, 3.

In the 1911 census the family was living at  2, William’s Row, Bridge Street, Saltney, Chester.  Joseph, a schoolboy was ill in the Chester General Infirmary, aged 14. but what his illness was, we don’t know.   Thomas, 48 was a General Labourer and Mercy, his wife of 24 was 48. She had given birth to  6 children and all were still alive.  Those ‘children’  listed in the household were  John, 20 a General Labourer, Alice 11, Thomas 9 and Mercy 6.  There was a Boarder, Samuel Johnson who was 23.

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental information above and tells us that Joseph enlisted at Chester and that his place of birth and residence was Saltney, Cheshire. His medal card, also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medal entitlement.

There is an entry for Joseph Fisher in UK De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour . It states

UK, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, 1914-1919 
FISHER, Joseph, Private (…..), 1/5th Battn The Cheshire Regt. (T.F.) 2nd son of Thomas FISHER, of 2, William’s Row, Bridge Street, Saltney, Chester. Labourer, by his wife, Mercy dau. of John Sconce; born Saltney aforesaid, 16th August 1897; Educ. There; was employed as a Shipbuilder with Messrs. Creighton; joined the 5th Cheshire Regt. 30th December 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from January 1916 and was killed in action at Arras 16th June 1917. buried in Arras Cemetery. Unm.

There is an index card for Joseph in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. ( Card Saltney Ferry F 14). It  tell us his period of Service was 2 and 1/2 years. The card was signed on the 5th November 1919 by Mr. Fisher.

Joseph had a brother  Private John Fisher who was also in the War and survived. His Flintshire WW1 Index Card ( Saltney Ferry L 77) tells a little of his story. It gives the address 2, William’s Row, Saltney. His regimental number was 10553 of the  6th Dev. 1st K.S.L.I. He served for 2 and 1/2 years. The card was signed by Mr or Mrs J. Fisher on the 6th November 1919.
Joseph is also remembered on the Saltney War Memorial