Blaydon Courier 09/10/1920
Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Arthur William Fletcher, one of 5 children all of whom survived, was the youngest of 2 sons and had 2 elder and 1 younger sister. His father William Fletcher was born at Haltwhistle, Northumberland in 1848. He married late in life at the age of 32 in 1881 in the district of Lanchester, County Durham, to dressmaker Jane Wilson, native of Ebchester, born 1855. Newly married they settled at Westwood Cottages, parish of Medomsley, where he was employed as a mason. Their first child Kate Winifred was born there in 1882, as were Elizabeth Ethel, October 6th 1883, John Wilson, November 10th 1885, Arthur William in 1889, baptised at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Shotley Bridge, August 10th 1890 and Evelyn in 1896. Between 1881 and 1891 Jane had become the local post mistress, William a mason, grocer and draper, by 1901 he was listed as living on own means while his wife ran the post office/grocers at Westwood, his children are neither listed as employed or in full time education. By 1911, still living at Westwood, Medomsley, William Fletcher (62) was a farmer for his own account, assisted by Kate (29), a dairy maid and Arthur William (21), a farm worker. Jane Fletcher (57) is no longer listed as post mistress, however, her daughter Elizabeth (27) was the sub post mistress, Evelyn (14) was a scholar, John Wilson (24) had married in 1910, Gateshead, County Durham, to Sarah Amelin Allen and was living at 91, School Row, Hamsterley Colliery, Ebchester, employed as a bank clerk.
War was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914, however, Arthur William Fletcher did not enlist but was conscripted and as of September 1st 1916, having presented himself at Consett, County Durham, he was assigned to the newly formed 1st Training Reserve at Rugeley as Private 430. Men posted to the T.R. Battalions were not allocated to any particular regiment when the time came for them to be mobilised, however, this changed as of May 1917.
Private Fletcher was assigned a new number, as Private 42014 he joined the 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment and entered the theatre of war having been posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion Y.R. which had been at the front since 1915.
At the time of his demise Private Fletcher was with his regiment in Belgium where it participated as part of the 29th Brigade, 23rd Division at the Battle of Messines, June 7th-14th just prior to the commencement of the Battle of Passchendaele, then seeing action at the Battle of Menin Road, September 20th-27th, Polygon Wood, September 27th-October 3rd and the 1st and 2nd Battles of Passchendaele, October 12th and October 26th-November 10th 1917.
Private 42014 Arthur William Fletcher Yorkshire Regiment died of wounds, October 2nd 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood and interred at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium, 12 kilometres west of the town of Ypres. Lijssenthoek was “home,” to the Commonwealth Forces casualty clearing stations, Private Fletcher was 28 years of age and single, he is at rest, grave XXIV. E. 8A.
Although his parents were still living and residing at Acorn House, High Westwood, Hamsterley Colliery, County Durham, Arthur William had nominated his eldest sister Kate Winifred as his sole and legitimate beneficiary. She received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension. His sister had applied, March 13th 1918, and was awarded the sum of 5 shillings a week from April 9th 1918 until April 8th 1919, an additional note states, “if refused increased to 12 shillings 6 pence from May 1st 1918 to April 8th 1919.”
His father commissioned at a cost of 5 shillings 10 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Not Lost But Gone Before.”
William Fletcher (74) died in 1923, his widow Jane Fletcher nee Wilson (73) in 1927, both registered in the district of Lanchester, County Durham.
Although John Wilson Fletcher was eligible to serve during WW1 no records have been found.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Blaydon Courier 09/10/1920 carries the following:
“In Loving memory of Pte. Arthur William Fletcher, youngest son of William and Jane Fletcher, Acorn House, High Westwood, who died of wounds in France on Oct. 2nd 1917. Ever remembered by Father, mother, brother and sisters.”
He is remembered in Consett on C101.13 in Ebchester on E58.05 in Hamsterley Colliery H140.04 and in Medomsley M36.01
