Alfred William Fletcher

REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY 60. E. 1.

In March 1945, the 5th Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders played a critical role in the final Allied push into the heart of Germany. As part of the 152nd Infantry Brigade within the famous 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, the battalion participated in Operation Plunder, the historic assault crossing of the River Rhine.

Early March (Resting and Refitting): After heavy, exhausting fighting during Operation Veritable in the Reichswald Forest through February, the battalion spent the first half of March resting, training, and preparing for the massive amphibious crossing of the Rhine.

The Rhine Crossing (23–24 March 1945): Operation Plunder commenced on the night of 23 March. The 51st Highland Division led the assault across the river near Rees. The 5th Camerons crossed the Rhine on 24 March to reinforce and expand the initial bridgehead against fierce German artillery and paratrooper resistance.

The Battle of Groin (Late March 1945): Once across, the 152nd Brigade pushed north and east. The 5th Camerons engaged in intense, brutal clearing operations in and around the village of Groin, fighting alongside sister units like the 5th Seaforth Highlanders to open up the divisional breakout axis toward Isselburg.

On the night of 27–28 March 1945, the 5th Camerons pushed out of their initial Rhine bridgehead to capture the heavily defended stronghold of Isselburg. Private Fletcher was killed on 28 March as the battalion moved into the town, around the time the unit suffered casualties from the severe friendly artillery shelling layout error that caught them in the open.

Unknown