Ernest Fisher was born on the 6th July 1892 at Tunstall, Staffordshire to parents John Fisher born 1852 at Tunstall and Hannah nee Young born 1853 at Tunstall. John and Hannah were married on the 13th December 1873 at Christ Church, Tunstall. They would have 10 children all born in Tunstall. John William born 1874 died 1877 aged 2, Twins Harry and Thomas born 1877 died 1877, Edward born 1879 died 1880 aged 1, Lillie born 1881 died 1882, Alfred born 1884, Ethel born 10.03.1887, Mary Ann born 1889 died 1891, Ernest born 1892, Arnold born 05.12.1896. 

In the 1881 Census John and Hannah are living at 42 Victoria Street, Tunstall with the Walker family. John is a 27 year old Potters Glost Placer and Hannah a 28 year old with no occupation. 

In the 1891 Census the Fisher family are boarding with Joseph Roberts (46) Iron Miner, Mary Roberts (46), Sarah Roberts (5) granddaughter, Eliza Stevenson(3) granddaughter, John Fisher (39) working as a Potters Oven Man, Hannah (39), Alfred (6) Scholar, Ethel (4), Mary Ann (1)  all living at 29 Upper Mount Street, Tunstall. 

The 1901 Census shows Ernest as a 8 year old living with his family at 45 Goodfellow Street, Tunstall. His father John is a 48 year old Potters Placer, his mother Hannah aged 49 no occupation. Alfred is a 16 year old Potters Dipper and Arnold is aged 4. There is a lodger present named William Stoker, a 17 year old Potters Placer. Ernest's sister Ethel can be found at 22 Church Street, Tunstall as a visitor aged 14 working as an Apprentice Transferer with the Evans family also present are, Alfred Evans  (37) a Miner, Charlotte Evans (29) an Earthenware Transferer, Lottie Evans (2) and visitor Harriet Bostock (35) a Potters Warehouse Woman.

Ernest's sister Ethel Fisher married John Moss in 1910 and in 1911 they lived at 74 Newport Lane, Burslem, John/Jack (26) worked as a Potters Sagger Maker, Ethel (24) worked as a Potters Burnisher. Boarding with them was Eliza Tatter (69) widowed.

The 1911 Census shows Ernest is now aged 19, a single man employed as a Potters Placer living at 37 Goodfellow Street, Tunstall. His father John is a 57 year old Potters Placer, his mother Hannah is aged 58 with no occupation. Arnold is aged 14 and a Skates Attendant. Alfred is no longer present but there is a lodger called John Hughes, a 20 year old Potters Placer born Tunstall. The Census is annotated that John and Hannah have been married 32 years and have had 12 children, only 4 of which survived, we could only find ten registered births. The Census was also completed by Harry Forrester on behalf of John Fisher, Harry being the brother of Alice Maude Forrester, a Potter Enamel Paintress who married Ernest's brother Alfred Fisher in 1909.

Ernest joined the Army on an unknown date and was placed with the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver with service number 570 but was renumbered 820256. He would serve abroad with ‘B’ Company, 104th Brigade RFA. He entered France on the 5th March 1915 and died of illness on the 2nd July 1918.  The first wave of the 1918 "Spanish Flu" pandemic hit the Western Front in May/June 1918, which rapidly hospitalised thousands of men with sudden, high-grade fevers and aggressive pneumonia. During the summer of 1918, diseases like the "Spanish Flu" pandemic, trench fever, and respiratory ailments regularly swept through frontline units. 

He is buried in the Pernes British Military Cemetery grave ref V.D.21.

Ernest earned the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is remembered on the Royal Doulton War Memorial, Kilngate.

His WW1 pension cards tell us his next of kin was his mother Hannah with an address of 9 James Street, Middleport, Burslem.

A report in the Staffordshire Sentinel dated 16th July 1918. 

DIED.

Official news has reached Mr. and Mrs. J. Fisher, 9, James-Street, Burslem, that their son, Driver E. Fisher, Royal Field Artillery, has died of illness abroad. Driver Fisher enlisted at the outbreak of war, and was formerly employed by Messrs. Doulton and Co., Burslem. Two brothers and a brother-in-law are serving with the colours.

Brothers and Brother in Law in service.

Alfred Fisher served as Gunner 76074 Royal Field Artillery, very little survives to say of his service, however he was admitted to Catterick Military Hospital in 1918 having sustained wounds on the 6th September 1918. His medal Index suggests he was entitled to The Victory Medal and the British War Medal, it does not give a Theatre of war or a date of entry.   

Ernest's younger brother Arnold served as 221557 Private Fisher of the Army Service Corps. He enlisted on the 6th December 1915 and was mobilised on the 15th September 1916. His attestation papers show his address to be 9 James Street, Burslem. He was 20 years old, single, and a Potters Dipper. He was 5’3” tall, 103lbs, 34.5” chest with 3” expansion. He was sent to the Mediterranean theatre of war on the 28th April 1917 where he endured a spell in hospital with Smallpox before eventually being discharged to the reserves on the 21st December 1919. He had earned the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Alfred Fisher’s brother-in-law, Harry Forrester (the brother of his wife, Alice Maud née Forrester), served with the 154th Field Company of the Royal Engineers as Sapper 486512. He entered France on 22 November 1915 and served until 9 April 1919, when he was discharged due to a gunshot wound to his left forearm sustained in August 1917. For his service, he was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, and the Silver War Badge (serial number 376837).

The 1921 Census records John Fisher living at 9 James Street, Burslem, now 69 years old, a retired Potters Placer, Invalided. Hannah on Home Duties and Arnold a 24 year old Potters Dipper.

Alfred Fisher (37) in 1921 was working as a Potters Ovenman living with his wife Alice (37), Home Duties and her Mother Elizabeth Forrester (72) and sister Florence Gertrude (50) a Pottery Painteress at 65 Bank Street, Tunstall.

In the 1939 register Alfred was working as a Potter's Placer (Heavy Worker) “Dulverton”15 Furlong Rd, Tunstall, wife Alice Unpaid Domestic Duties. 

In 1921 Ethel (34) Householder and John/Jack Moss (36), Potters Saggarmaker were living at 64 Port St, Burslem with daughter Lilian 8 Months and Brother (Boarder) Tom Moss (25) a Surface Worker at Sneyd Colliery. Ethel and John Moss had two children Ethel born 1915 died 1915 and Lillian born 1920. Ernest's sister Ethel Moss died 12.10.1934 her address given as 64 Port Street Burslem.

Ernest's parents John Fisher died in 1923 aged 70, Hannah Fisher died in 1929 aged 77.

Arnold Fisher married Isabelle McLaughlan in October 1923 they had one child Marie born in 1930. In 1939 they were found living at 331 Waterloo Road Burslem, Arnold working as a Potters Earthenware Dipper, Isabelle working as a Potters Aerographer.

SOURCES. 

• Ernest Fisher Birth certificate. GRO Reference: 1892 S Quarter in WOLSTANTON Volume 06B Page 127
• Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
• 1881 census Class: RG11; Piece: 2710; Folio: 88; Page: 16; GSU roll: 1341649 
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD JOHN FISHER BIRTH - TUN/019/031
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD HANNAH FISHER BIRTH - TUN/017/092
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD ALFRED FISHER BIRTH - TUN/092/001
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD ERNEST FISHER BIRTH - TUN/111/016
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD ARNOLD FISHER BIRTH - TUN/122/043
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD JOHN+HANNAH MARRIAGE - 33/05/133
• Ethel Fisher birth https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=78257139:8794&d=bmd_1779415630 
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2160; Folio: 58; Page: 3; GSU roll: 6097270
• The 1901 census Class: RG13; Piece: 2592; Folio: 22; Page: 35
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12627, ED 13, Sch 209; Book: 12627
• Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England (Ethel Moss) 
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/645587905?terms=820256%2Cfisher 
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/690438513?terms=820256%2Cfisher 
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/668676674?terms=820256%2Cfisher 
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/record/751945690/fisher-e-uk-wwi-daily-reports-missing-dead-wounded-and-pows-1914-1918 
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/sub-image/619666872/fisher-ernest-uk-british-army-registers-of-soldiers-effects-1901-1929?terms=820256%2Cfisher
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/image/327412632/fisher-ernest-page-4-uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920?terms=820256%2Cfisher
• STAFFORDSHIRE SENTINEL 16.07.1918 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19180716/101/0004
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123047724/e-fisher
• The National Archives; London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War Wo363 (Arnold Fisher) 
• The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5284I