Percy FLETCHER

01 June 1917

INGLETON – ON LEAVE

Amongst those who have been home on leave during the holidays are Second-Lieutenant Leslie Brown, nephew of the Misses Brown, Storrs Hall, who gallantly saved the lives of his men at the cost of his right hand a short time ago; Flight-Lieutenant George Brookes, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Brookes, who was wounded over the German lines; Sergeant J.Y. Marsden, Liverpool Pals, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Marsden, New Road; Private Richard Foster, (invalided home with trench feet), son of Mr. and Mrs. James Foster, who formerly resided in the Square; Pte. Jack Townson, son of Mrs. Townson, Seedy Hill; Pte. Charles Tomlinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Tomlinson, Lemon Cottage; Private Chris. Newsholme, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Newsholme, Laurel Cottage; and Private Percy Fletcher, Lancashire Fusiliers, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Fletcher, Laburnum Terrace; and Private Sam Brown, who was in the South Africa campaign and was wounded.

28 September 1917

FLETCHER – September 17th 1917, died in hospital from wounds received in action, Pte. Percy Fletcher, King’s Liverpool Regiment, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Fletcher, 6, Laburnum Cottages, Ingleton, aged 33 years.

28 September 1917

ANOTHER INGLETON SOLDIER KILLED IN FRANCE

Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Fletcher, 6, Laburnum Cottages, Ingleton, have received official news that their eldest son, Pte. Percy Fletcher, of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, had died as a result of wounds received. The following letter has been received by his wife:–

“Dear Madam, – I deeply regret to inform you that your husband, Pte. P. Fletcher, was wounded during hostile shelling on the l6th and died in the hospital the following day. The Commanding Officer wishes me to express to you his and all the officers’ sympathy with you in your sad loss. Although only a short time with this battalion, your husband performed his duties well and was held in great esteem by all ranks. Any personal effects recovered should reach you in due course via the D.A.G. Base. Yours sympathetically, LIEUT. and ADJ. J.E.B. PHROMME.”

A letter was also received from the nurse at the hospital where he died, stating that everything was done for him and he passed away quietly. He was interred in Dozingham cemetery where so many brave British soldiers lie. Pte. Fletcher, who was 33 years of age, was only married this year and had only been in France three months. Prior to leaving Ingleton he was employed by Mr. C. Greenwood of Moorgarth Hall, and was a favourite with all. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family, and also for his widow.

12 October 1917

FLETCHER – September 17th 1917, died of wounds received in action on the Western Front, Pte. Percy Fletcher, East Lancashire Regiment, second son of Mr. and Mrs. James Fletcher, Laburnum Cottages, Ingleton, aged 32 years.

12 October 1917

INGLETON – PRIVATE PERCY FLETCHER DIES FROM WOUNDS

As announced in a previous issue, Mr. and Mrs. James Fletcher, Laburnum Cottages, Ingleton, have received official news that their second son, Private Percy Fletcher, East Lancashire Regiment, has died from wounds received in action. The following letter has been received by his widow:– “I deeply regret to inform you that your husband, Private Percy Fletcher, was wounded during hostile shelling on September 16th and died in hospital the following day. The Commanding Officer wishes me to express to you, his and all the officers’ sympathy with you in your sad loss. Although only a short time with this Battalion, your husband performed his duties well, and was held in great esteem by all ranks. Any personal effects recovered should reach you in due course via the G.D.A. Base. Yours sympathetically, J. E. B. Phromme, Lieut. and Adjutant.”

A letter has also been received from the nurse at the hospital where the deceased died, stating that he was suffering from severe gunshot wounds in the left arm and left buttock, and was in a severe state of collapse when admitted. Everything possible was done for him and he passed away quietly. The remains were interred in ---- Cemetery, where so many brave British soldiers lie.

Private Fletcher, who was 32 years of age, was only married this year. He had been in France about three months. Prior to leaving Ingleton, he was employed at Bank Hall and Moorgarth Hall, and was a general favourite with all with whom he came in contact. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family, who are well known in the district and highly respected. One of the brothers lost a leg below the knee in the early stages of the war, and another is serving with the Colours.

22 February 1918

INGLETON – IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN

A memorial service for Ingleton men who have fallen in the war was held in St. Mary’s Church on Sunday evening. There was a large congregation, and the service was of an impressive character. The Union Jack was hoisted half-mast on the tower during the day. At the commencement of the service the organist, Mr. C. Bentham, played ‘O rest in the Lord’, and at the conclusion the Dead March in ‘Saul’, 'How bright these glorious spirits shine’, and other hymns appropriate to the occasion were sung, as was also the National Anthem. Standing on the Chancel steps, Bugler J. Robinson sounded the ‘Last Post’, and its solemn and eerie notes reverberated along the aisles.

Before commencing his address, the vicar, the Rev. D. T. Davies, read out the list of those who had fallen, as follows:–

Killed in action: Second-Lieutenant G. Kirk, Sergeant J. Metcalfe, Privates A. Noble, G. Scholey, C. Tomlinson, J. Smith, W. A. Hodgson, J. W. Wadeson, J. W. Robinson, J. Clapham, W. Smith, J. Schofield, J. Kettlewell, W. Marklew, E. Askew, P. Fletcher, G. Metcalfe, A. M. Booth, J. Woodhouse, W. Bolton, and J. [W.H.W.] Wilson.

Died in hospital: Privates W. H. Wignall and C. Newsholme.

Torpedoed: C. Grant.

Missing; Sergeant R. E. Walker, Privates A. Sherwin, W. Northey, E. Robinson, J. Saul, and W. [J.C.] Bradford.

The Vicar, speaking from the words, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’, said that the occasion brought them face in face with a question that was momentous to everyone, and the list which he had just read made them pause and ask the question, “Is the cause for which we are fighting of such a nature that these sacrifices are necessary?” They must remind themselves of the causes which led to the war. Our honour was pledged to protect a small country from an oppressing wrong, and we were compelled to stand by them. They were standing to protect a weak country from a fearful wrong committed by one of the strongest nations in the world – from a military point of view the strongest – a nation that was steadily prospering year after year and which had been training its manhood to satisfy its mad ambition for power. It was becoming clear, especially during the last few weeks, that the dominant note running through their proposals had been their determination that might should conquer over right, and that they would rule as masters over the whole world. When they analysed the causes they saw that the principles of justice and righteousness were struggling against oppression and wrong-doing. They had seen an attempt to impose injustice on the whole world, to impose the doctrine that might is right and mercy unknown by the will of one man, and to sweep away religion, man’s guidance, in a moment.