A 'Jock's 51st Highland Division Great War medal pair: Private Charles Fletcher, 6/7th Bn Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), late 6th (Banff and Donside) Bn Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), 51st Highland Division

- British War Medal. Silver issue (12777 Pte. C. Fletcher. Gordons.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (12777 Pte. C. Fletcher. Gordons.)

Medals verification: The Great War campaign medals verified as the recipients full medal entitlement for the Great War per the respective campaign medal roll of the Gordon Highlanders (ref WO 329/1662) that was compiled and signed at, Perth, Scotland, on, 30 July 1921, wherein the recipient is shown as having first entered a theatre of war (France) while serving with 6/Gordons, at which time he held the regimental number 12777. Charles was subsequently re-numbered with regimental number 266643 which he used serving with 6/7th Gordons (an amalgamation of the 1/6th & 1/7th Gordons that took place in October 1918)

Charles Edward Fletcher, youngest son of James Edward Fletcher (Bricklayers Labourer later Horse Driver) & Emma Ellen Fletcher (nee Marsden) was a native and resident of, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, where was born on 1 January 1898. The 1911 National Census for England & Wales, records Charles, described as a a worker employed as a 'Gill Fitter' scholar, living with his family comprising parents, and elder brother 'Sandy' Fletcher, and younger brothers Walter Ernest Baden Fletcher & George Samuel Fletcher, at, 17 Luptons Buildings, Wordsworth Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, England. In 1915, at the age of 17 years, Charles is recorded as enlisting in the British Army. The Absent Voters Lists for 1918 & 1919, confirming that Charles served with the Gordon Highlanders, and was still serving overseas with the Gordons in 1919. His domestic home address in 1918, being shown as, 10 Greystone Street, Kirkstall, Leeds, Yorkshire, England (the 'Absent Voters Lists for 1918 & 1919, also record the service details of his father and elder brother 'Sandy' (the latter served as No 96189 'Driver' Royal Field Artillery, earning pair of medals). The National Roll of the Great War also includes details of the military services of Charles Fletcher, together with those of his father James E. Fletcher (served as No 20060 with rank of Private 6th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borders, earning 1914-15 Trio, later transferred to Labour Corps as No 370963) & younger brother Walter Fletcher (served as a Private with the 12th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment - Home service with no medal entitlement).

Quote (National Roll of the Great War, Section VIII, Leeds):

FLETCHER, C., Private 6th Gordon Highlanders.

He volunteered in January 1915, and in the following December, proceeded to the Western Front, where he was in action at the Battles of Beaumont Hammel, Arras, Bullecourt, and Vimy Ridge. He took part in further heavy fighting, and served throughout the Retreat and Advance of 1918. He returned to England after the Armistice, was demobilised in March 1919, and holds the 1914-15 Star (sic) and the General Service and Victory Medals. 10 Greystone Street, Kirkstall, Leeds

Unquote.

Important: Contrary to the misinformation from the above quoted source, the recipient was never entitled to or ever awarded any 1914-15 Star (his extant Medal index card confirms both service numbers and award of only British War & Victory Medals)

In 1922, Charles Edward Fletcher married Ellen Harrison Hough, at Leeds, England. At the time of the compilation of the 1939 National Register of England & Wales, Charles is recorded as residing with his wife Ellen Fletcher at, 27 Knowle Road, Leeds, England, at which time his employment is shown as 'Iron Moulder Heavy Work'. Charles Edward Fletcher is reported to have died in, Yorkshire, England sometime during the 4th quarter of 1963

Condition: About VF

Code: 22018