FLETCHER, John Burnett
| Service Number: | 5499 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Keiraville, New South Wales, Australia, 1884 |
| Home Town: | Woonona, Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Keiraville Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Coalminer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Mouquet Farm, France, 29 August 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Courcelette British Cemetery Plot XII, Row F, Grave No. 8. HE LIVES WITH US IN MEMORY STILL AND WILL FOR EVERMORE |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bulli Great War Memorial, Bulli Roll of Honour, Bulli-Woonona War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5499, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 5499, 13th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 5499, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John Burnett Fletcher was born in Keiraville, N.S.W. during 1884, and attended Keiraville Public School. His father, Abraham Fletcher, had died of injuries from a mining accident in the Bulli Colliery during 1906. His mother, Jessie, was left to raise thirteen children.
In 1908 John married Annie Murray, and at the time of his enlistment they were living at Woonona, New South Wales, with three children. John was 31 years old and working as a coalminer.
John only left Sydney during April 1916, and he joined B Company, 13th Battalion twelve days before he was killed in action during the very heavy fighting for Mouquet Farm.
His mother and wife were initially told he was missing. His death was confirmed later in 1917. During 1919 his grave was discovered by the War Graves Commission and he was buried in the Courcelette British Cemetery, France.
John’s younger brother, 532 Pte. Donald McDonald Fletcher 18th Battalion AIF, was the next year killed in action on the 20 September 1917, during the Battle of Menin Road in Belgium, aged 21.
His wife Annie, as well as having three children to raise, also had to deal with the death of her own brother, 1147 Pte. Norman Murray M.M. and Bar, 3rd Battalion AIF, who was killed in action during September 1918.
John Burnett Fletcher had two other brothers who served in the AIF, 542 Pte. Edgar Fletcher 20th Battalion who was returned to Australia wounded in the right arm during 1917 and 2929 Pte. Abram Fletcher 31st Battalion AIF who was returned to Australia in late 1918.