Melvin Fisher was born in Brooke Township on February 3, 1922, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Fisher, of 157 North Brock Street, later Cameron Street, Sarnia. Melvin came to Sarnia with his family at the age of seven, and attended Lochiel Street Public School. He attended both Sunday School and church at Central United Church. Prior to enlisting, Melvin was employed at Electric Auto-Lite Limited, listing his occupation as a generator tester. Melvin had two brothers and one sister, who at the time of Melvin’s death were: Joseph Fisher, at home in Sarnia; Keith Fisher, a Leading Seaman on active service with the RCN; and his sister Mrs. Doris Gunter, 322 Wellington Street, Sarnia.

Melvin married two years prior to enlisting, his wife was Mrs. Evelyn Bernice (nee Coulter) Fisher (of Port Elgin). Melvin and Evelyn would have two daughters together, Patricia Ann and Shirley (one of the daughters was born January 18, 1943 at Sarnia General Hospital). The family resided at 117 Collingwood Street, Sarnia. Melvin enlisted in the Canadian Army in March 1943, receiving his training at Chatham, Camp Ipperwash, and Debert, Nova Scotia.

In mid-April 1943, Melvin’s brother Keith, would make headlines in Sarnia for rescuing three men trapped in the debris of a collapsed and burning building. Keith was home in Sarnia on furlough from an East Coast station. He was visiting friends in Port Huron when an early morning fire broke out in the White Block, opposite the post office on Water Street in the Port Huron business section. As the blaze grew worse, everyone in uniform including state troopers, civilian defence volunteers, members of the U.S. coast guard, city police and Keith Fisher, who was in uniform as a member of the R.C.N.V.R. were pressed into service. As the walls of the burning Webb Building collapsed, the second and ground floors were carried into the basement, trapping people inside. Keith Fisher led the way toward cries coming from beneath the debris, working to pull rubble aside, extricating three Michigan State Troopers trapped in the building, one of whom was unconscious as Keith carried him out. Aside from the property damage, the fire caused the death of one Michigan State trooper, three were critically injured and seventeen others were injured. Keith would return to Port Huron the first thing the next morning to see if there was any more work to be done, and to pick up his Naval uniform which had been soaked through and was covered with plaster, dust and grime. The three men that Keith Fisher rescued would survive.

Melvin K. Fisher would go overseas in January 1944, his wife Evelyn receiving word of his safe arrival in early March 1944. While Melvin was overseas, Evelyn, for a time, and their one-year old daughter would reside with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Coulter in Goderich. Melvin would spend one month in England. From there, he would later move on to Italy, his wife Evelyn receiving a telegram in late April 1944 of his safe arrival in Italy. Melvin would become a member of the Perth Regiment R.C.I.C., British 8th Army, in the Central Mediterranean Forces. Melvin Fisher was part of the Italian Campaign, and he took part in the horrific battle at Cassino. Melvin would serve in Italy for only several months. In a letter received by his parents in Sarnia not long before his death, Melvin Fisher told them of his being on the front lines in Italy. On December 20, 1944, only days before Christmas Day, Private Melvin Fisher would lose his life during a battle on the Lamone River in Italy.

In late December 1944, parents Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Fisher in Sarnia would receive a telegram from the Department of National Defence informing them that their son, Pte. Melvin Kenneth Fisher, had been killed in action in Italy. No further details were provided. Melvin Fisher would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (Italy). Melvin left behind his wife Evelyn Bernice and daughters Patricia Ann and Shirley, who at the time of his death, were residing with Mrs. Fisher’s mother in Goderich. In early January 1945, a service was held at a morning service in Central United Church, Sarnia, to honour the memory of Private Melvin Fisher, killed in action in Italy in December 1944, and Coder Joseph Griffith Bell, lost at sea in September 1943 (included in this project). Both men were members of the congregation. The Rev. E.W. Jewitt extended the sympathy of all the congregation to the bereaved parents, and voiced the hope for a just and enduring peace. Twenty-two year old Melvin Fisher is buried in Villanova Canadian War Cemetery, Italy, Grave IV.A.3.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, J, L, N, S, 2C, 2D