Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Herbert Abraham Fletcher, a hairdresser and tobacconist, born 1852 in Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire and his wife Eliza Fletcher (nee Illsley, married on the 7th October 1879 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester), born 1859 in Calke, Derbyshire and baptised on the 17th June 1860 in St. Giles’s Church, Calke, Derbyshire. William Illsley, a schoolboy, was born in 1882 in Leicester and was baptised on the 5th March 1882 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester, his siblings were, Arthur Illsley, a schoolboy, born 1881 and Mary Ellen (Nellie), a schoolgirl, born 1883 and baptised on the 21st March 1883 in St. Mark’s Church, Leicester, both his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 48, Belgrave Gate, Leicester. In March 1901 William was employed as a civil engineer and was residing in the family home at 48, Belgrave Gate, Leicester, together with his father, a hairdresser and tobacconist, his mother and sister Mary, a schoolteacher. In April 1911 William was absent from the family home at 48, Belgrave Gate, Leicester, residing there was his father, a hairdresser and his mother, William was serving as a Lance Corporal with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India.
William enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 21st December 1904 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 7598. He gave his place of birth as St. Margaret’s, Leicester and age as 22 years 10 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as fitter.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 21st December 1904 and recorded his apparent age as 22 years 10 months, that he was 5-feet 3⅞ inches in height, weighed 131 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 33 and 37 inches, his complexion was described as pale, he had blue eyes and his hair colour was light brown and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Herbert, mother Elizabeth, brother Arthur (o), sister Nellie (y), 48, Belgrave Gate, Leicester.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Leicester. 23/12/04.
Posted. Depot, Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 23/12/04.
Transferred. To 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 21/3/05.
Granted Messing Allowance. -?-.
Posted. Colchester. 21/3/05 – 21/9/06.
SS Dongola. 21/9/06 – 11/10/06.
Posted. Belgaum. 13/10/06 – 11/2/11.
Awarded. 3rd Class Certificate of Army Education. 28/10/10.
Appointed. Lance Corporal (unpaid). 7/1/11.
Posted. Madras. 13/2/11 – 4/2/13.
Awarded. 2nd Class Certificate of Army Education. 2/5/11.
Posted. Bareilly. 11/2/13 – 13/3/13.
Appointed. Lance Corporal (paid). Vice Patrick. 31/3/11.
Extended. To complete 12 years with the Colours. 5/8/12.
Promoted. Corporal. Vice Faulks. ?/3/13.
Posted. Ranikhet. 18/3/13 – 20/10/13.
Posted. Bareilly. 24/10/13 - -?-.
Appointed. Lance Sergeant (paid). Vice Lord. In the Field. 7/11/14.
Admitted Hospital. I.C.T. right hand. In the Field. 4/1/15.
-?- Details, Havre. 19/1/15.
Re-joined Battalion. For duty. In the Field. 4/3/15.
Promoted. Acting Sergeant. 14/3/15.
Promoted. Sergeant. 1/4/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. Place not stated. 15/5/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 21/12/04 – 20/9/06. 1 year 274 days.
India. 21/9/06 – 19/9/14. 7 years 364 days.
Voyage to France. 20/9/14 – 11/10/14. 22 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 12/10/14 – 15/5/15. 216 days.
Total Service. 10 years 146 days.
He was awarded the 1914 Star with Clasp & Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 15 May-15 - Battalion rested during the day in LANSDOWNE POST. Moved off at 8.00pm. Battalion took over front line from which the assault was to be made and by 9.30pm Companies were in position. Telephonic communication established with left and right and communication by officers ascertained between men on left and 2nd Div on my right. Eleven bridges were placed over the stream which runs parallel to position and about 20 to 30 yards in front of it, there with the existing four bridges made a total of 15 on the Battalion front. It was not possible to place more bridges in position as the stream had been widened at many points by big shell holes, and the trunks and branches of fallen trees also blocked any other places where bridges might have been put. This getting of the bridges into position was an operation of great difficulty on account of the constant flares and bursts of fire from the enemy’s parapet. It was skilfully and quietly done with only two or three casualties. At 10.45pm two platoons were crossed over to the far side of the stream. Four more platoons were formed up ready, in the trenches to go forward and support the leading platoons. The remaining two Companies were formed up lying down behind the parados in close column of platoons ready to advance. Thus, the whole Battalion was got into its final position in order of attack and as close up as possible. This final formation was complete by 11.20pm and thanks to the able leading of Company Commanders the movement was carried out in perfect order, and with no noise. At 11.30pm the leading platoons went forward to the assault closely supported by the second line. The lines in rear went forward to take up the positions vacated by the leading line. At the same time, or if anything some seconds before 11.30pm the enemy opened a very heavy fire with rifles and machine guns. A few minutes afterwards trench mortars and shrapnel searched the stream and the ground on both sides of it. The enemy threw from their parapet some kind of fire grenade which burst into fire on impact with the ground, and these with continuous flames of all colours, literally turned night into day. The leading men pushed on but only a few were able to reach near the enemy’s parapet. Each succeeding line came under a very heavy fire, the bridges got so blocked and the obstacles caused by fallen trees and shell holes so impeded movement that effective support could not be given. Thus, the impetus of the assault was broken before it really got a proper start. The enemy’s parapet was fully manned and the accuracy and intensity may be understood from the fact that 8 officers, Platoon Commanders were killed or wounded. About 12 midnight reports were received from the front that our attack could not reach the German line, orders were then given to withdraw to our own trenches.
On Friday June 18th 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” –MORE CASUALTIES AMONG YEOMANRY. – The following list of casualties in the Leicestershire Yeomanry and Leicestershire Regiment reported from the base under date 30th May, was issued from the War Office on Tuesday: -
KILLED.
LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY.
Clifford, 1938, Private P., Hansen, 2278, Private H. R., Moir, 1732, Lance Corporal L. J., Moore, 1678, Private D., Parker, 1478, Lance Sergeant J., Ward, 2327, Private B.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
1st Battalion.
Killinger, 5616, Private J.
2nd Battalion.
Abrahams, 5560, Private J. E., Alderman, 8551, Private A., Bates, 8027, Private T., Bloxam, 12571, Private W., Brown, 9952, Private E., Claydon, 8086, Corporal G., Dowling, 10285, Private A., Fletcher, 7598, Sergeant W., Fray, 9784, Private E., Houston, 9031, Private J., Johnson, 9545, Private A. E., Laxton, 8900, Lance Corporal W., Mawby, 8305, Drummer W., Mercer, 11579, Private U. J., Reveille, 9491, Private R., Richardson, 9087, Private H., Sanders, 9224, Lance Corporal T., Slater, 8331, Private H., Smith, 9199, Lance Corporal H., Toms, 9970, Private A., Weston, 10024, Sergeant T.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
2nd Battalion.
Cooper, 12306, Private F., Hughes, 8017, Private J., Mills, 8318, Private G. A., Moore, 8835, Private A., Murphy, 5859, Lance Corporal E., Upton, 9671, Private P. W.
On Thursday 15th July 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Old Newtonians’ Roll of Honour. Nearly 300 old boys of Alderman Newton’s School are known to be serving with the colours. A complete list has been prepared and printed for private circulation, “With the best wishes and heartiest greetings to the Old Newtonians who are serving their King and Country in defence of honour.” The following Old Newtonians have fallen:-
HUNT, A. D., 12th Lancers, Mons, Aug. 28, 1914.
RICHARDSON, J. T., H.M.S. Good Hope.
FIELDING, Lieut., 1st Sherwood Foresters.
ASHWELL, F., Sergt. K.R.R., Tryon, Sept., 1914.
PRATT, H.
ADAMS, C. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
HOPKINS, J. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
MATTHEWS, F. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
HOLMES, H., Lnc-Cpl., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
FLETCHER, Wm., Sergt., 2nd Leicester’s, 15th May, 1915.
FREER, J. W., Lieut., Dardanelles.