Lives of the First World War

Len was born in the thatched cottage opposite Batford Mill on the river Lea in Harpenden, Hertfordshire on 2nd November 1892 (then in the Parish of Wheathampstead)

Shows Len aged 8 living at Linces Farm Cottage, Ayot St Peter near Welwyn Hertfordshire. His Father William worked on the farm. He attended school and sang in the choir at Ayot St Peter.

Hertford Barracks – Len had enlisted in Hertford, into the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment, also known as the Herts Militia

Picture that appeared in Len’s obituary. Herts Advertiser on the 18th November 1916, and was reprinted in The Luton News And Bedfordshire Chronicle

Strategic attack on German held trenches known as Gird and Bite in the vicinity of Eaucourt-l’Abbaye. Len was in D Company of the 2nd Bedfords. The Bedford’s plan was to attack the enemy trenches in 4 waves of men with a distance between each wave of 100 yards.

Redbourn War Memorial, Hertfordshire

St Mary's Church Redbourn Hertfordshire

Writing about events of October 1914 The Herts Advertiser, 23rd January 1915 cites a letter dated 9th January from Len then in D Company, to his brother William, “Bed's Terrible Losses - Redbourn Man’s Account of Very Hot Work and refers to bayonet charges and the valiant courage of the Battalion loosing 800 men from a total 1,100 in a matter of days …. I am serving with a Battalion which all Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire people should be proud of …” His brother William Samuel Fisher (1890 -1987) known as Bill survived the war fighting for the Hertfordshire Yeomanry in Mesopotamia, Service Number: 105775 (2511).

““Pte. L.G. Fisher – Flamstead Bury Lad Falls On The Somme After fighting in France for two years Pte Len G Fisher, Beds Regiment, son of Mr. Fisher Flamstead Bury, Redbourn, was instantaneously killed on October 12th when taking part in an attack on a German trench on the Somme. A sergeant friend of deceased writing to the bereaved parent says “He died doing his duty a brave and noble lad. We reached a part of the trench we were fighting for and it was while holding on to that piece of ground that your son was killed. He was hit in the head by a bullet and died an almost painless death. On behalf of the company and myself I extend to you out heartfelt and deepest sympathy”