Corporal 9831 Albert Edward Fletcher

Killed in Action on Saturday, 17th February 1917, age 19.
Buried in Grave II. I. 28. at Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France.

2nd Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 6th Brigade of 2nd Division.

Son of William and Maria Fletcher, of 58 High Street, Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Princes End, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Princes End.

First landed France & Flanders, 17th March 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and St. John's memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/183226/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Albert Edward Fletcher registered March quarter 1897 in Dudley.

1901 Census
141 High Stret, Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
Albert Morris (48. Coal Miner (Hewer), born Bradley), his wife Annie (46, born Tividale), and their nephew Albert Fletcher (4, born Princes End).

1911 Census
58 High Stret, Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
William Fletcher (37, Miner, born Sedgley), his wife Maria (37, born Sedgley), and their 7 surviving children of 8: Albert (14, Rivet Boy, born Sedgley), Gertrude (12, School, born Sedgley), Alice (10, School, born Sedgley), Annie (8, School, born Sedgley), Dara (4, born Sedgley), Winifred (2, born Sedgley), and unnamed baby (1 month, born Sedgley).

Personal Data

After Albert's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to of £1/17/1d (1 pound 17 shillings and 1 penny); this was paid to his mother, Mrs Maria Fletcher, in June 1917. His War Gratuity was £15/10/0d (15 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his mother in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Albert had enlisted in approximately August 1914.

It would appear that Albert's mother, Mrs Maria Fletcher, was awarded a Dependant's Pension but the value is not recorded. On Maria's death in 1932, the Dependant's Pension was transferred to Albert's father, Mr William Fletcher.

Action resulting in his death

The attack on Miraumont Farm February 17th 1917 (from "Old Foleyans")
February 17th was set for an attack on Baillecourt Farm, which if won would give command of the western approaches to Miraumont. The Battalion left their billets in the evening of February 16th, the cloudy weather resulted in a pitch black night, and the thaw made the going very difficult. The Germans evidently expected the attack, and their artillery shelled the British fronts and forming-up places continuously.

At 5.45am on February 17th, the British barrage opened and the assaulting lines began to crawl forward. For some time the position was rather obscure. The Battalion gained the objective but was subject to heavy machine gun fire and the casualties were heavy. Afterwards it was discovered that the attack had been given away, and the German line strongly reinforced with men and machine guns.

Some objectives of the day were attained, but three Tipton men (Fletcher, Westwood and Matthews), were to lose their lives on this day. The ground captured gave the British good observation over the upper Ancre Valley, and the Germans subsequently withdrew from Pys and Miraumont to minimise their casualties. Albert Fletcher is buried in Adanac Military Cemetery.

Newspaper Cuttings

Evening Despatch 5th September 1916
MIDLANDS ROLL OF HONOUR.
The following casualties amongst warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men are reported under various dates:
Wounded.
S. STAFFORDS- Fletcher, 9831, L-Cpl., A., (Tipton).