FLETCHER, John Duncan
| Service Number: | 3393 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 57th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Chalmers, New Zealand, 21 September 1878 |
| Home Town: | Myrniong, Moorabool, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Illness, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield Park, Harefield, Middlesex, England , 12 September 1918, aged 39 years |
| Cemetery: |
Harefield (St. Mary) Churchyard |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 3393, 57th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 1917: | Embarked Private, 3393, 57th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Melbourne |
Help us honour John Duncan Fletcher's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 12th September…… John Duncan Fletcher was born at Port Chalmers, New Zealand on 21st September, 1878.
According to information provided by his sister for the Roll of Honour – John Fletcher served with New Zealand Contingent in Boer War. He stated on his Australian Imperial Force Attestation Papers in 1917 that he had served with the 8th New Zealand Contingent for 1 year & 6 months in Boer War 1908.
John Fletcher, father of John Duncan Fletcher, died on 12th February, 1912 at Kyburn, Central Otago, New Zealand.
Isabella Fletcher, mother of John Duncan Fletcher, died on 29th August, 1914 at Palmerston North, New Zealand.
The 1917 Australian Electoral Roll for the division of Ballarat, subdivision of Ballan, Victoria recorded John Duncan Fletcher, Miner from Myrniong.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 26th March, 1917 stating he was a 40 year old, single, Miner from Myrniong, Victoria.
Private John Duncan Fletcher, Service number 3393, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Suevic (A29) on 21st June, 1917 with the 57th Infantry Battalion, 9th Reinforcements. He was awarded 7 days confined to Barracks & a total forfeiture of 6 days pay for being A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) at Cape Town on 23rd July, 1917. Private Fletcher disembarked at Liverpool, England on 26th August, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
On 26th August, 1917 Private Fletcher was marched in to 15th Training Battalion at Hurdcott, Wiltshire from Australia. He was A.W.L. from 30th October, 1917 from 15th Training Battalion at Hurdcott, Wiltshire. He returned on 9th November, 1917. Private Fletcher was written up for an Offence at Wilton - A.W.L. from 24.00 hrs on 30th October, 1917 until 20.00 hrs on 9th November, 1917. He was awarded a total of 30 days pay forfeited by Lieutenant Colonel H. T. C. Layh on 13th November, 1917.
He proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on 18th December, 1917 from 15th Training Battalion. He was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France on 19th December, 1917. Private Fletcher was marched out to his Unit from A.I.B.D. on 20th December, 1917 & was taken on strength of 57th Battalion in the Field on 25th December, 1917.
Private John Duncan Fletcher was wounded in action – Gassed on 17th April, 1918. He was admitted to 12th Casualty Clearing Station on 18th April, 198 & transferred to Ambulance Train 37. Private Fletcher was admitted to 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France on 19th April, 1918 wounded – Gas. He was reported as dangerously ill on 25th April, 1918. Private Fletcher was transferred to England on 10th May, 1918 on Hospital Ship Guildford Castle.
According to information provided by his sister for the Roll of Honour he was gassed at Villers Bretonneux.
He was admitted to City of London Military Hospital, Clifden Road, Clapton, England on 11th May, 1918 having been Gassed (shell) & was still dangerously ill. He was transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield on 29th July, 1918 with Gas Shell poisoning.
Private John Duncan Fletcher died at 6.40pm on 12th September, 1918 at 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield Park, Harefield, Middlesex, England from primary – Syncope & secondary – Bronchiectasis (as listed on “Report of Death of a Soldier” (Army Form B. 2090), Casualty Form – Active Service & in Telegram to Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F. London). Some reports recorded that Private Fletcher died of Pulmonary Catarrh.
He was buried in St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Harefield, Middlesex, England where 112 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/d---g2.html
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