Description

Offered is an interesting campaign medal group to Sergeant Robert George Fletcher, who saw action in the Boer War and both World Wars, whilst serving in the Middlesex Regiment, Royal Flying Crops, Royal Air Force & The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Defence Battalion, spanning the reign of 4 British monarchs

Queens South Africa Medal 1899 – 1902, with 1 clasp CAPE COLONY, impressed named 1168 C^PL R.G. FLETCHER. MIDDLESEX REG^T; Kings South Africa Medal 1902, with 1 clasp, impressed named 1168 COR^P R.G. FLETCHER. MIDDLESEX REG^T ; 1914 – 15 Star, impressed named 2965 SJTR.G.FLETCHER. MIDD^. X R.; British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 405229 SGT. R.G. FLETCHER. R.A.F.; British War medal 1939 -45 unnamed as issued. Comes with copies service record, medal rolls, R.A.F. list, WW2 list – Defence Battalion, newspaper article and paper packets for Great War awards, together with O.H.M.S. box for last addressed to ‘Mr R. G. Fletcher, 130 Gorringe Av., Mitcham, Surrey’.

Sergeant Robert George Fletcher was born in 1880 at Isleworth, Middlesex, he was working as a horse keeper when he attested with the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, 30/12/1899. He served in the Boer War with the 6th Battalion and is reported as a Lance Corporal ‘dangerously ill’ 12/12/1900. Promoted to Corporal 20/3/ 1901, and on returning to England, he discharged by purchase on 23/6/1902. The 1911 census records him working as a milk carrier in Isleworth.

On the 9/11/1914 he re-enlisted with his old Regiment, likely being allotted to the 2/10^th (This was the only Middlesex Battalion to serve Gallipoli) and was given the new service number 2965. He deployed as a Sergeant with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force 18/7/1915, and would have served Gallipoli August – December. He transferred to the R.F.C (possibly 17/8/1917) with the new service number 405229 ending the war with the Royal Air Force. Shortly before the outbreak of WW2 he enlisted into the Queens R.W.S Defence Battalion 16/5/1939 with a new service number 8313, however he was discharged 3/1/1940 under King’s Regulations Paragraph 390 (xviii)(a) – His Service No Longer Required (SNLR) for the purpose for which he was enlisted. (60 years of age). Very few medals groups will show service in 3 wars and 4 British monarchs.