James Fletcher

Killed in Action on the 27/08/1918 or early 28/08/1918 near Henin (part of the 2nd Battles of the Somme)

On the 11/04/1918 the Battalion left Egypt and arrived at Marseilles on the 17/04/1918 for Service on the Western front. They were part of the 157th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division. On the 29th April 1918 the Division moved to Aire and took over a sector of front line near Vimy on the 6th May. It was withdrawn into reserve on the 23rd July and eight days later once again went into the line north east of Arras. James was Killed in Action near Henin during the Second Battles of the Somme, 21st August - 3rd September 1918 : British Third and Fourth Armies commence offensive operations on the same ground over which the 1916 Battle of the Somme was fought. They make deep advance. SEE PHOTOS x 16 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY AUGUST 1918. The War Diary states casualties for August 1918 were - 5 Officers Killed in Action, 9 Wounded. 58 Other Ranks Killed in Action, 249 Wounded, 23 Missing. James is listed as being killed on the 27th August in Newspaper clipping, 27th / 28th on his Army Register of Soldiers Effects and the 28th by the CWGC (see War Diary 8 and 9 which describes action on the 27th August. Battalion relieved 9th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment at 3 a.m on the 28th). ALSO SEE PHOTOS x 26 FOR THE 52nd (LOWLAND) DIVISION BOOK 12th APRIL - 29th AUGUST 1918. James' death notice in the Coatbridge Express was inserted by Mr and Mrs Mary Gilchrist (James' Aunt) of 135 Bank St, Coatbridge. He is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial Panel List, his name on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, James' Pension Record and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. Finally, see photos x 12 for the 52nd (Lowland) Division Order of Battle (the Division he was serving with when he died), layout showing the position of the Panels on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, a Poppy placed by myself in July 2023 x 3, my partner Linda facing the Memorial with the Vis-en-Artois Cemetery behind in July 2023 and Newspaper clippings x 3 (Coatbridge Express x 1 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2).