Harrogate Herald - 6th February 1918

War Notes

Private William Fletcher, Royal Fusiliers, has received the ribbon for the Military Medal. He is the son of Mrs Joseph Fletcher, formerly of Belmont Avenue, Harrogate, now of Bradford. He joined the Army in ???mber, 1916, and went to France ??? a year ago. He was 8½ years in the employ of Messrs W H Smith and Son, stationers, etc., Parliament Street, Harrogate. His brother is in the Navy awaiting appointment to another ship. The action in which Private Fletcher gained the distinction took place on October 23rd. writing the same day he says : The small pieces of ground which had escaped the shells were knee deep in mud. We ???? off, and before we had gone ??? yards my work began. We had several wounded at the start, and between the four of us we got them together ?????? them all into one shell hole ???????? as we could get them a ??????? of us pushed on a few ?????? our own men, and we ?????? for the next 36 hours ??????? which time we worked ?????. our men faced death bravely. It was simply awful to see ????? lads stuck in the mud and shot ??????. as for taking the wounded out of danger I cannot find words to describe the journey.

Photo Page

Military Medal - Private William Fletcher, Royal Fusiliers, son of Mrs Joseph Fletcher, formerly of Belmont Avenue, Harrogate, has been awarded the Military Medal.