Name
Thomas Samuel Fletcher
12 Apr 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/06/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
5/1976
Royal Sussex Regiment
1st/5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
COUIN BRITISH CEMETERY
I. B. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Heath Village Memorial,
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Little Amwell,
Not on the Great Amwell memorials
Pre War
Arthur Albert was born on 12 Apr 1888 (baptised 27 May 1888) in Great Amwell to Arthur Fletcher, a blacksmith and publican, and Jane (nee Hobson).
On the 1891 Census Arthur was living at the Crown Inn, Great Amwell with his parents, younger brother William H and younger Sister Ethel J. On the 1901 Census Arthur was living with his parents in Great Amwell, his father was now a farmer and family had grown with the addition of a sister Elizabeth M (1894), and brothers Thomas S (1892) and Herbert J (1894). By the 1911 Census Arthur was employed as a coach painter, His father was working as a blacksmith as was brother William, Herbert was working as a houseboy and the family lived at London Road Great Amwell.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted as Private 2097 in 3/1 Battalion Hertfordshire Yeomanry (a Territorial Unit raised in Sep 1915) on 1 Dec 1915 was immediately embodied the same day. He left for France on 26 Dec 1916 from Folkestone arriving in the Base depot at Calais the same day.
On 10 Jan 1917 was posted to 3rd Entrenching Battalion. After receiving a new Service Number 235205 on 2 Jul 1917 he was transferred to 1/4 (Denbighshire) Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was Pioneer battalion in 47 (2nd London) Division. At some time Arthur seems to have been attached to 16th (Service) Battalion positioned at Ypres joining them in the field on 6 Jul 1917 He was wounded on 22 Jul and rejoined his battalion on 24 Jul 1917.
Arthur was killed in action on 31 Jul 1917 during the Battle of Pilkem part of 3rd Ypres battles. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
His father, Mr A Fletcher, London Rd., Hertford Heath, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS".
War Gratuity of £8 10s and arrears of £5 8s 7d was paid to his father. Brother Arthur Albert Fletcher served with Royal Welsh Fusiliers was killed in action on 31 Jul 1917.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
