WWI Pair. Fisher. Durham Light Infantry. Enfield, Middlesex.

Correctly named 5144 Pte GE Fisher Durh LI

George Edward Fisher was born c1881. A printers compositor by calling. He married his wife Annie and we first find him living at 4 Grahams Cottages in Enfield, Middlesex in 1911.

His service records tell us he had move to 11 Gothic Cottages, Enfield by 1916. He enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry in June 1916. He went overseas to Macedonia with the 2/5thBn in November 1916 and stayed there until August 1918. He contracted malaria and was put into the reserves back in the UK in November 1919.

After moving to Cramlington in July 1915, the 2nd/5th Battalion moved first to Retford and then, in July 1916, to Catterick. All the time, drafts of trained soldiers were being sent to join the 1st/5th Battalion in France, until the battalion was no longer fit itself for front line service.

On 31 October 1916, the 2nd/5th Battalion, together with the 2nd/9th Battalion DLI, was sent to the Greek port of Salonika as a garrison battalion. Leaving Richmond by train and going by train across France and by ship from Marseilles, Salonika was reached on 15 November 1916.

At Salonika, the 2nd/5th Battalion lost more men to malaria and dysentery than to Bulgarian bullets. Then, in September 1918, with the near collapse of the Bulgarian Army, the Allies began a final offensive. The battalion took no active role in this, however, after the surrender of the Bulgars and the Turks, the battalion was ordered to occupy the Black Sea port of Varna.

In February 1919, the 2nd/5th Battalion moved to Batum, and then, in September 1919, having already seen many men demobilised, sailed for England. The 2nd/5th Battalion DLI was finally disbanded in early November 1919, having been absent overseas almost three years.

We see him on electoral rolls still at the same address in 1937 and again in 1939.

We think George died in 1966.

The medals are swing mounted on original silk ribbons and a clasp for wear.