RONALD FLETCHER 1893–1975

Brother of Arthur

Born 21st March 1893 in Farnsfield

Baptised 4th August 1895 St Michael’s Church, Farnsfield

Married 12th January 1916 to Ethel Mary Smalley age 23

Son Victor Claude born 19th February 1921

Died March 1975, age 82

Radcliffe School Register

Admitted to school on 5 July 1897, Admission number: 1389

1901 Census

Age 8 living with father Joseph, 31, a general labourer born in Radcliffe on Trent, mother Emily (née Holmes) 28, born in Farnsfield, brother Arthur 4 and sister Ada, 1. They lived on Bailey Lane, Radcliffe on Trent.

1911 Census

Age eighteen living with father Joseph, a carpenter’s labourer on the railway, mother Emily, brothers Arthur, a gentleman’s gardener, Jack, four, sisters Ada and Doris, two. They lived on Bailey Lane, Radcliffe on Trent in a house with five rooms. He was employed as a grocer’s porter.

Military Service

Rank: Private. Lance Corporal by 21 March 1918

Service Number: 306525

Military Unit: 2/6th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters, 176th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division

Theatre of War: France and Flanders. The 2/6th were in Ireland from April 1916 and then France from January 1917 to July 1918.

5.11.17: Listed as ‘Wounded’ on War Office list no. 5562

10.5.18: Listed as ‘Missing’ on War Office list no. 5408

09.10.18: Previously reported missing, now reported Prisoner of War in lists received from the German Government.

Ronald Fletcher was captured at Bullecourt, northern France, on 21 March 1918 at the start of the German Spring Offensive.  Rank: Lance Corporal, B Company, 2/6th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters at this date. He was imprisoned in Münster I camp, situated in open country outside Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He remained there until the beginning of May 1918, then on 6 May was transferred to Güstrow camp, located in pine-woods 5 km (3 miles) from Güstrow in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, north-eastern Germany.

Edward Harris and Isaac Saint on the ROH were captured at Bullecourt on the same date as Ronald Fletcher.

Medals Awarded: British War and Victory

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

Twin Cottage, Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent. Living with Fanny Smalley.

1921 Census

Address: Bingham Road, Radcliffe

Employment: Grocery Assistant, Nottm Cooperative Society, Radcliffe

Household: wife Ethel, son Victor, mother in law Fanny Smalley

1922 Electoral Register

Address: Twin Cottages, Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent

1939 Register

Address: Twin Cottage, Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent

Occupation: Grocery shop manager

Household: living with wife Ethel, son Victor, an apprentice electrician, and Ethel’s mother Fanny.

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Lived in Twin Cottage, Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent