'He inspired me': The son of soldier killed on Op Herrick joins his dad's regiment

The British Army has gained 96 new infantry soldiers as the latest cohort of recruits has passed out of Infantry Training Centre Catterick, North Yorkshire.

For one private, it was a particularly special occasion, as he joined The Mercian Regiment; his father's old regiment.

Private William Fisher says his dad, who was killed on Op Herrick in 2013, was his role model and inspired him to sign up.

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Warrant Officer Class 2 Ian Fisher was killed by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device whilst serving in Afghanistan in 2013. 

WO2 Fisher was deployed as the Warrior fighting vehicle Sergeant Major for the Task Force Helmand Armoured Infantry Company of A Company, 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment. 

His unit was part of the Manoeuvre Battle Group of 7th Armoured Brigade, based at Patrol Base Lashkar Gah in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province.

His youngest child, William, was five at the time but now, aged 18, is joining The Mercian Regiment himself.

Pte Fisher said "it feels amazing" to join the same regiment as his father and it feels "like it was supposed to be".

"When he went away on operations... I wanted to see what he would do, and me signing up to the Army is being able to see what he did, hopefully I can do what he did, and even better, if I can."

Pte Fisher told BFBS Forces News that a particular object made the passing out parade even more special.

"I bought a watch with my first Army pay check and I got engraved my last four [digits], my dad's last four [digits] of his service number, and his nickname that they gave him in the Army."

Wearing it on parade "gave me goosebumps", Private Fisher told BFBS Forces News.

"Every time I look at the watch, I see his last four [digits] and I just can't wait to see and look at it again."

Corporal Thorley is one of the Section Commanders for Chindit Platoon, which Pte Fisher was in during training.

He explained: "Just before the recruits come to us, we get a list of names.

"It gives you their name, what regiment they're going to, so on and so forth, and didn't take long to put two and two together to realise that Private Fisher, going to The Mercian Regiment, was the son of WO2 Ian Fisher, who paid the ultimate sacrifice – gave his life on Herrick 19 back in 2013.

"Sergeant Major Fisher was before my time, but he was very famous around the regiment.

"All the old and bold back in battalion, they talk of him so highly, so it's nice to see his son follow in his footsteps."