Name

William Fletcher

Birth

27/12/1889 - Helmsley, North Yorkshire

Death

1930

General

Served with the Royal Engineers in Russia (1918-1919)

Father

Not Known

Mother

Hannah Fletcher

Spouse:

1

Adelaide Smith

Birth

1885 - Pickering, North Yorkshire

Death

1939 - Helmsley, North Yorkshire

General

Father

John Smith

Mother

Annie Simpson

Marriage

14/04/1914 - All Saints, Helmsley, North Yorkshire

Children:

John Fletcher (1914 - 1918)

Joan Fletcher (22/11/1920 - 15/04/1989)

Notes for William Fletcher.

William was born on 27th December 1889 in the Union Workhouse, Helmsley. By the time of the 1891 Census he was listed as a boarder with John and Alice Thompson of Langdale Square, Helmsley. (Langdale Square was situated close to the workhouse just behind the High Street in Helmsley). Also at that time Hannah Fletcher, his mother, was listed as a servant/domestic at the Black Swan, Helmsley, not far from Langdale Square.

In the 1901 Census, William was still listed as boarder with John Thompson and his family in Langdale Square. Ten years later in 1911 he was playing football for Duncombe Park FC who were winners of the Rydale League the season 1911-1912, as well as the following season, 1912-13.

William married Adelaide Smith on April 15th 1914 at All Saints Church, Helmsley. His occupation at that time was as a Tailor, the same as his father-in-law, John Smith. John Fletcher was born at the end of 1914 but died in 1918. Joan Fletcher was born on 22/11/1920.

William served in the First World War. Information about his war service is sketchy, but he was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers and he certainly served with the ‘Syren’ Forces in the Murmansk region of Northern Russia between 1918 and 1919. It is thought that his experience in Russia affected his health because he died when he was 41 in 1930.

For some photographs of William Fletcher follow the link above.

For an interesting insight into a Royal Engineers’ experience in North Russia in 1918 - 19, click on this link,

http://members.aol.com/reubique/325834.htm

Note: 17/09/2004 - His World War 1 Medal Index Card  just been located on the National Archives web site. This shows that his service number was 264107 and that he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Follow this link for more details. http://www.documentsonline.nationalarchives.gov.uk/medals.asp.