Bill Fischer (Australian footballer)

William Nicholson Fischer (3 October 1883 – 15 October 1917) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was killed in action in Belgium in World War I.

Bill Fischer
Personal information
Full name William Nicholson Fischer
Date of birth 3 October 1883
Place of birth Kilmore, Victoria
Date of death 15 October 1917(1917-10-15) (aged 34)
Place of death Passchendaele salient, Belgium
Original team(s) Tatura
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1909 Melbourne 1 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1909.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

One of the six children of Henry and Isabelle Fischer, née Mathieson, he was born at Kilmore, Victoria on 3 Oct 1883. He attended Kilmore State School.

Football

Recruited from Tatura, he played his first and only senior game for Melbourne against Carlton, at the MCG on 29 May 1909 (round nine).[1] It was a close match until three-quarter time, when Carlton drew away to win by 23 points, 12.8 (80) to 8.9 (57).[2][3]

Soldier

His brother, also an excellent footballer, Henry Mathieson Fischer (1880–1960), had served in the Boer War,[4] and became a policeman, retiring as the officer in charge of the police station at Hawthorn, Victoria.[5]

Bill Fischer enlisted in the First AIF on 13 December 1915, giving his occupation as draper—he had been working in Kyabram prior to his enlistment[6]—and his status as single. He was promoted to sergeant on 9 July 1917.

Death

He was killed in action, serving with the 8th Brigade Australian Field Artillery, during the Battle of Passchendaele on 15 October 1917, and is buried at the Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery, Belgium. His name is located at panel 15 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.

See also

Footnotes
  1. Football: An Interesting Match: Carlton v. Melbourne, The Argus, (Saturday, 29 May 1909), p.19.
  2. Observer, "A Strong Carlton Finish: Pleasant Game at Melbourne", The Argus, (Monday, 31 May 1909), p.19.
  3. League Matches: Carlton (12.8) Beat Melbourne (8.9) The Age, (Monday, 31 May 1909), p.6.
  4. Australian War Memorial: Boer War Nominal Roll – Henry M Matheison Fischer (1603)
  5. Personal, The Argus, (Tuesday, 23 July 1940), p.4.
  6. (Mr. W. Fischer), The Kilmore Free Press, (Thursday, 24 March 1910), p.2.

References
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