53756
FLETCHER, James Laurence John
| Service Number: | 5786 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 April 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Edithburgh, South Australia, Australia, 26 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | Edithburgh, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carrier |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Edithburgh, South Australia, Australia, 2 December 1941, aged 44 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Edithburgh IOOF MUFS Loyal Edithburgh Lodge No 91 Roll of Honour, Edithburgh WW2 Roll of Honor, Edithburgh War Memorial, Yorketown and District of Melville Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5786, 10th Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 5786, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 5786, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Melbourne | |
| 25 Feb 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5786, 10th Infantry Battalion, Shrapnel, right foot | |
| 6 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5786, 10th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), Shrapnel, jaw |
Help us honour James Laurence John Fletcher's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Before the War
James Laurence John Fletcher was born on the 26th of July 1897 in Edithburgh SA. He also grew up in Edithburgh South Australia but unfortunately the exact place that he was born, nor his school is not on record. James’ mother was Mrs Maud Fletcher who also lived in Edithburgh SA. When James Fletcher left school, he became a Carrier/Teamster (he was a Bullock team driver). James did not have any other previous military service. James Laurence John Fletcher was part of the Roman Catholic church. He had Blue eyes and Brown hair. James was 5 Feet and 8’4 Inches. He was not married nor engaged. He was 18 years old when he enlisted.
During the War
James Laurence John Fletcher enlist in the army on the 18th of January 1916 and was automatically a Private. We then believe that he went to a training camp for three months and then he re-enlisted on the 18th of April 1916. After he enlisted for a second time James then most likely went off and did some more training with his Unit before getting shipped of overseas.
James L.J. Fletcher then embarked on the 12th of August 1916, on board the HMAT A70 Ballarat departing from Adelaide South Australia. James was originally a part of the 2nd Depot battalion A.I.F.
On the 2nd of January 1917 James Fletcher got moved into the 10th Battalion. He was then posted along the Western front along with his new Battalion. This means that he mainly fought in France. On the 25th of February 1917 James Laurence John Fletcher was admitted to a French hospital, after being wounded in action in the foot. He then stayed there for about three months before re-joining his unit on the 1st of May 1917.
James Laurence John Fletcher was only a part of his unit for 5 days after his previous injury before he was wounded in action on the 2nd occasion on the 6th of May 1917 at Bullecourt. On the 19th of May 1917 (13 days after being admitted to hospital) he was transferred from a hospital in France to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital in England. James was later discharged from hospital on the 11th of October 1917 to Weymouth England.
On the 25th of December 1918 James Fletcher was aboard the HT Takada to commence the return to Australia. He then disembarked of the ship on the 6th of February 1919. After spending 1, ½ months on the ship that was returning to Australia, he stayed in service for about another month before he was Discharged.
After the War
According to RSL records James Fletcher died on 2nd December 1941 at Edithburg.
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