Regiment: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 45th Company.
Service No: 3218
Date & place of birth: 26 January 1894, Bermondsey, Surrey
Date & place of death: 12 August 1916, The Somme
Corporal Arthur Ernest Fletcher was born in Bermondsey, but in 1915 he was living and working in Petworth and that is where he enlisted.
Family background
Arthur Ernest Fletcher was born in Bermondsey, the son of Charles and Emma. Charles was a general labourer and by 1911 he had presumably died as Emma was now married to Charles Shepherd, a railway worker, and living in Chichester. Arthur had three brothers and two sisters. Arthur was boarding at Station Cottages, Petworth in 1911 where he had started work as a railway porter on 30 January 1911. He was recommended to the London, Brighton and South Coast Company by the Grosvenor Hotel. Arthur resigned on 28 May 1915.
Military service
Arthur enlisted in Petworth it can be deduced in May 1915. He would have taken part in the battles on the Somme.
Death and commemoration
Arthur died on the Somme aged 22 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He received the British and Victory medals. He is also commemorated on the Chichester war memorial.