Bertie Stanley Fletcher
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Bertie was the son of Samuel and Ellen Elizabeth Fletcher (nee Gould). Samuel was born in Derby (birth registered J/F/M Shardlow) and Ellen Elizabeth was born in Camberwell, London. They were married in 1891 (O/N/D Nottingham) and had six children: Robert Horace b. 20 January 1893 , Bertie Stanley b. 21 September 1895, Violet Gertrude b. 7 August 1897, Victor George b. 22 July 1899, James Edgar b. 12 July 1902 and Leslie Charles b. 1905 (A/M/J Shardlow. Apart from Victor who was born in Bramcote, all the children were born in Stapleford; all the births were registered in Shardlow, Derbyshire. In 1901 Samuel (35) a colliery banksman, and his wife Ellen (37) were living at Stapleford Fields with their four children, Horace (8), Bertie (5), Violet (3) and Victor (1) By 1911 they were living at Park Hurst, 19 Edward Street, Stapleford. Samuel was now a colliery onsetter. His wife and six children were at home on the night of the census: Horace (18) a furnace labourer at an iron works, Bertie (15) a coal sorter, Violet (13), Victor (11), James (8) and Leslie (5). Also in the household was a boarder Charlie Stanley (50), married, a colliery banksman. Bertie joined the RMLI on 13 August 1914. His brother, Victor George, enlisted in 1917 at the age of 18 years and 1 month. He was called up for service on 10 July of that year (Training Reserve Battalion) and was posted two days later. However, on 23 October 1917 he was discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for war service under Para 392 (xvi) King's Regulations ('Deformity and weakness right arm, natural causes'). He was discharged to the family home at 19 Edward Street, Stapleford. However, there is a note on his record that he was 'Liable to be sent a Statutory Order 22 October 1918 requiring him to present himself for medical re-examination under the Military Service Review of Exemptions Act 1917 in accordance with ACI 110.5 of 1917.' There is no evidence though on his service record that he either attended another medical or was recalled for military service. Of Bertie's siblings: Robert Horace died on 27 February 1978 (March Basford) aged 86. Violet Gertrude married John H Mee in 1920 (O/N/D Shardlow). She died aged 72 in 1970 (March Ilkeston). Victor George died on 30 January 1976 (March Lincoln) aged 76. James Edgar married Edna Whitlock in 1925 (J/A/S Shardlow) and died in 1973 (June Nottingham) aged 70. Leslie Charles has not yet been traced after the 1911 Census.
Deal Battalion. Pte. Bertie Stanley Fletcher, Deal Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry, died on 10th September 1915 of enteric fever at the Royal Naval Hospital Plymouth. He enlisted in Nottingham on 13th August 1914. He served with the Chatham Battalion in the defence of Antwerp before transferring to the Deal Battalion, joining 1st Platoon, “A” Company. He served at Gallipoli until evacuated from the peninsula on 5th May 1915 suffering from influenza. Rejoining the battalion on 9th June 1915, he was evacuated again on 23rd August 1915 after contracting dysentery. He returned to England via Mudros on the hospital ship 'Andania' and died at the Royal Naval Hospital Plymouth. He is buried in Plymouth (Ford Park) Cemetery (formerly Plymouth Old Cemetery) at Pennycomequick, Devon. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
'In memoriam' published 15th September 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “FLETCHER. – On September 10th, of enteric fever at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, Bertie Stanley Fletcher, Royal Marine Light Infantry, the second and [illegible] beloved son of Samuel and Ellen, Fletcher, Edward-street, Stapleford, aged 19.”
No Photos