I came across this article in The Herald from May 1916, with the headline - Footscray Family Produces Nine Men for Ranks.
The Herald, May 27, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242326933
As it turns out four of the sons were born in Bunyip and some of the children also went to school in Bunyip. These men were the family of John and Annie (nee Whelan) Fisher. John and Annie married in 1876 and they had either fourteen children or fifteen children. (1) The death notice for John who died on August 27, 1913 says fourteen children; however the death notice for Ann, who died February 10, 1928 has a list of fifteen children
The Age, August 29, 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197489052
The Age, February 11, 1928 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204172824
The article notes that the family lived in Bunyip, the Berwick Shire Rate books lists a John Fisher from 1884 until 1897, he was a farmer and owned 62 acres being Lot 78, Parish of Bunyip. (2) I presume they they moved to Melbourne, but I can not with any certainty tell you where they were living until 1913 when John dies when they were in Warwick Sunshine, in 1916 the article has their address as 2 Newell Street, Footscray and when Annie died she was living at 34 Errol Street in Footscray.
The article on the family was published in The Herald of May 27, 1916 (see it here) It is transcribed below in italics and I have added their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full record on the National Archives, www.naa.gov.au.
Eight of their sons enlisted in the A.I.F, one son had poor eye sight so was not accepted. Their eldest son John who had died in an accident in 1911, his son John also enlisted to fight alongside his eight uncles. The article has a photos of all the Fisher boys, and this photo of their mother, Annie, who deserves a medal for giving birth to so many patriotic children and suffering the heartbreak of the death of three of her sons and of her husband between 1911 and 1919.
Mrs Annie Fisher
The eldest son, John, was a lieutenant in the Scottish Regiment, but was killed many years ago, leaving a son, who is now at the front.
John died in a motor car accident on July 28, 1911. He was married to Frances and they had nine children, including a little baby only two weeks old. You can read a report about his accident and military funeral in the Coburg Leader of August 4, 1911, here.
Edward Fisher
Staff sergeant - major, Edward Fisher, the eldest son, is now in the Broadmeadows camp. He was born Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo, and later attended school at Bunyip, Gippsland. He was a member of the Fourth Contingent in the South African War, under Colonel Kelly, and gained a Distinguished Conduct Medal. His wife and children live at Essendon.
Edward (SN 6765) Returned to Australia July 24, 1919.
Lieutenant Walter Fisher was the next son, and he is now at Broadmeadows camp. He was formerly a color-sergeant in the 5th Australian Infantry Regiment, and won the battalion badge for shooting and the company's badge five yearn in succession. His is the only name on the merit-hoard of the company. He enlisted as a private on September 24, 1914, in the 7th Battalion, and was promoted lieutenant at Gallipoli. He commanded the battalion in the battle of Lone Pine. In the first landing he was wounded in the arm, leg and side, but returned to the firing line after four weeks' absence. At Lone Pine he was again wounded in the right arm, the bone being partly shattered. He was buried at Steel's Post, Gallipoli, in July, 1915 through the bursting of a high explosive shell, and it took 20 minutes to dig him out. In the following week he had a similar experience. He was invalided home on August 20, being discharged as unfit, for further, service. His wife and five children live at Frankston.
Cpl. Martin J. Fisher, 24, single, was killed at Lone Pine. He was shot through the thigh on the day of the landing, and returned to the firing line five weeks later. He was a first-class shot and was selected as one of five battalion snipers. He was a member of the Coburg Harriers, and lived at Sunshine where he worked as a carpenter.
Driver Eli Fisher, 20, single, is now at Broadmeadows, in the Pioneer Battalion.
Private Cecil Fisher, 18, is in camp at Broadmeadows
Cecil (SN 2742A) was born in North Melbourne. He was awarded the Military Medal and Returned to Australia December 18, 1918.
This is an expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, which appeared on my work blog Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.
Walter Fisher
Lieutenant Walter Fisher was the next son, and he is now at Broadmeadows camp. He was formerly a color-sergeant in the 5th Australian Infantry Regiment, and won the battalion badge for shooting and the company's badge five yearn in succession. His is the only name on the merit-hoard of the company. He enlisted as a private on September 24, 1914, in the 7th Battalion, and was promoted lieutenant at Gallipoli. He commanded the battalion in the battle of Lone Pine. In the first landing he was wounded in the arm, leg and side, but returned to the firing line after four weeks' absence. At Lone Pine he was again wounded in the right arm, the bone being partly shattered. He was buried at Steel's Post, Gallipoli, in July, 1915 through the bursting of a high explosive shell, and it took 20 minutes to dig him out. In the following week he had a similar experience. He was invalided home on August 20, being discharged as unfit, for further, service. His wife and five children live at Frankston.
Walter was born at Kangaroo Flat, he Returned to Australia March 20, 1916.
James Fisher
Sgt James Joseph Fisher is now in Wandsworth Hospital, London, having been wounded in Gallipoli in the Lone Pine attack. He is married, 30 years of age, and his wife and five children live at Sunshine. James (SN 1621) was born in South Melbourne and Returned to Australia in August 1916 and discharged on medical grounds in March 1917 and died June 29, 1919 of influenza.
Death notice of James Fisher, who was a father of six when he died.
The Age, June 30, 1919 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155212734
Terence Fisher
Sgt.-Major Terence Rufus Fisher, 38, is married, and has a wife and four children. He is an engineer, and lived in Milton street, West Melbourne. He is in camp, being a member of the Pioneer Battalion. Terence (SN 1502) was born in Bunyip. He Returned to Australia June 12, 1919.
Mr Robert Fisher, 36, married, of Footscray, has made five efforts to enlist, but has failed to pass the sight test. He is the only living boy in the family that has not enlisted.
Mr Robert Fisher, 36, married, of Footscray, has made five efforts to enlist, but has failed to pass the sight test. He is the only living boy in the family that has not enlisted.
Robert was born in Bunyip.
Martin Fisher - Died of Wounds received while fighting at Lone Pine
Cpl. Martin J. Fisher, 24, single, was killed at Lone Pine. He was shot through the thigh on the day of the landing, and returned to the firing line five weeks later. He was a first-class shot and was selected as one of five battalion snipers. He was a member of the Coburg Harriers, and lived at Sunshine where he worked as a carpenter.
Martin (SN 439) was born in Bunyip; he Died of Wounds on August 9, 1915.
Martin's death notice
The Age, September 11, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154987819
George Fisher
Armourer-Stg George Fisher, 22, of Sunshine, has a wife and two children.
George (SN 63) was born in Bunyip. He Returned to Australia June 12, 1919.
Eli Fisher
Eli (SN 12) was born in Melbourne. He Returned to Australia June 12, 1919.
Cecil Fisher
Private Cecil Fisher, 18, is in camp at Broadmeadows
Cecil (SN 2742A) was born in North Melbourne. He was awarded the Military Medal and Returned to Australia December 18, 1918.
John Fisher
Pte. John Fisher, 18, of the 8th Battalion, is the son of Lieutenant John Fisher.
John (SN 3754) was born in Brunswick, and he Returned to Australia April 12, 1919.
Footnotes
(1) Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. The only registrations I can find of the children are - Walter (1877), Edward (1879), Theresa (1881), James Joseph (1883), Terence (1885), Robert (1887), Catherine Ellen (1889), John Martin (1891), Eli (1896). I can't find a registration for John, Alfred, Annie, Lucy, Cecil and George - who are listed in Mrs Fisher's death notice.
(2) Shire of Berwick Rate books.
