Harry Fletcher's War

Harry Fletcher's War

Harry Mungles Fletcher was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, in 1879 and was living in Caledonian Mansions in Otago Street, Kelvinbridge, before the war. He made thirty appearances for Queen’s Park, mostly as a full back, between 1902 and 1910 before serving on the match committee. A graduate of Glasgow University, Harry Fletcher taught Geography at North Kelvinside Higher Grade School before enlisting with the Royal Field Artillery in 1914. Promoted to the rank of sergeant, he then received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. Harry Fletcher, attached to the 30th Division’s Trench Mortar battery, had been wounded whilst serving on the Somme in the summer of 1916. Amongst the very few successes in the first days of battle, the 30th Division had captured Montauban and Bernatay Wood before advancing eastwards on Trones Wood. 2,300 artillery guns and 300 heavy mortars bombarded the Messines Ridge from 21 May 1917 until 2.50 am on 7 June. Following the detonation of the mines, the infantry advanced behind a “creeping barrage” of shells fired by trench mortar batteries. Trench mortars were favoured in locations where shell fire from the larger artillery behind British lines were likely to endanger advancing troops. 2nd Lieutenant Harry Fletcher died on 7 June 1917, the opening day of the Battle of Messines Ridge - probably as the result of enemy defensive shellfire. He is buried in the Railway Dugouts Cemetery.

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