L/Cpl 17823 Harry Cuthbert Fletcher

Harry Cuthbert Fletcher was born in Easton, Suffolk, in July 1889, the son of Amos Fletcher and his wife Maria (née Cuthbert). His parents were both born in Suffolk, married in 1867 and had at least 16 children. Harry had older siblings Alice, Frederic, Mary, Walter, Laura, Arthur, Amos, Emily, Ada, Mary, Herbert, Kate, Hester, and Ernest, and a younger brother Charles.  

 

In 1891 the family is living in Hatcheston Road, Easton. His father is an (estate) bricklayer. (Easton was the estate village of Easton Park, the estate of the Duke of Hamilton.) They have ten children, Harry is 2.

 

The 1901 census finds them at 41 New Road, Hacheston, with five children at home. His father is 54, a bricklayer, his mother is 55, Harry is 11.

 

His mother died in 1906, aged 59.

 

By 1911 Harry has moved to London and is living with his married sister Kate and her husband Alfred Dyke, at 42 Henwyn Road, Clapham. He is 21, employed as a domestic gardener.  His widowed father, 64, still working as a bricklayer, is living with four of his siblings and a niece, at Old Farm, Glevering.  

 

It is not known when or why Harry came to Liverpool, but he enlisted in the city on 14th September 1914 as Private 17823, 19th Bn, King’s Liverpool Regiment.  He gives his age as 25 years and 55 days and his occupation as gardener.  He is described as being 5’ 9 and a half inches tall, weighing 136 lbs, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.  He gives his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his father Amos at Glevering Farm, Wickham Market.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Harry shipped to France with his battalion from Folkestone, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.  His service record survives and shows - 

06/12/1915 appointed unpaid Lance Corporal

20/02/1916 severely reprimanded for possessing a dirty rifle

13/7/1916 appointed paid L/Cpl

20/9/1916 to field ambulance, sick

20/9/1916 appointed Acting Sergeant

 

Harry was wounded during theattack at Le Transloy during the Battle of the Somme.

 

12/10/1916 shrapnel wound, back

13/10/1916 admitted No.36 Casualty Clearing Station

13/10/1916 reverts to paid L/Cpl on leaving battalion 

18/10/1916 admitted No.18 General Hospital

21/10/1916 evacuated to England, GSW chest and back, penet(rating?), admitted to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Norwich.  The hospital was about 40 miles from his home. 

 

Harry died of his wounds (and secondary cause of death emphysema) at 1:10 a.m. on 01st May 1917.  His body was returned to his family, and Harry was laid to rest in All Saints Churchyard, Hacheston.  

 

There are two First World War burials in the Churchyard.

 

His age on the headstone is 28, but based on birth, census, and military records, Harry would have been 27 years old (i.e., in his 28th year).

 

The Framingham Weekly News announced Harry’s death on the 02nd June 1917, reporting that he “died in a military hospital in Norwich after much suffering for nearly nine months”.

 

His father Amos Fletcher, Glevering Low Farm, near Wickham Market, Suffolk received Harry’s Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £12.  

 

Harry earned his three medals.  

 

Harry was survived by his father, 7 brothers, and 7 sisters.  His father died in December 1920, aged 73.

 

Harry's loss was sadly not the only one that the family had to bear as his brother Ernest, Sapper 551124 Royal Engineers was killed in action on 09th April 1918.  He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Ypres.  He was 30 years old and left a widow.  

 

Harry and Ernest are commemorated on the following memorials -

Hacheston Memorial, Suffolk

Boxford Memorial, Suffolk.

 

We currently have no further information on Harry Cuthbert Fletcher. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.