Sharonp Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 (edited) Could I have help with another query? I'm trying to find info on a Captain Roland Fletcher, Royal Engineers, I have his Medal Roll Index Card, but I'm struggling to find out any other info. Could anyone help? Please see attached photo. Once again thank you. topic featured on another thread, and Chris (CLK) posted a couple of details below Sharon. Edited 7 August , 2020 by Sharonp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headgardener Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 (edited) Worth mentioning that this topic featured on another thread, and Chris (CLK) posted a couple of details below (just to save others from repeating the effort). On 05/08/2020 at 16:55, clk said: Hi Sharon, It looks like he was originally commissioned wef 30.1.1917. Images sourced from the London Gazette His service file may be this one - link. The 'former reference' number would link to this... Image sourced from the National Archives - file WO 338/7/17 ...so possibly served with a Road Construction Company? Regards Chris Edited 7 August , 2020 by headgardener Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headgardener Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 (edited) His date of arrival in France matches that of 305th and 306th Road Construction Co, RE (as per the link that Chris posted, above). Hopefully someone else may have more details on him. My guess would be that he’d have some sort of background in practical engineering, so hopefully a university graduate with a professional civilian career, and therefore plenty of scope for further research. EDIT: also worth noting that he arrived in France within 5 days of being commissioned....! Edited 7 August , 2020 by headgardener Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 14 minutes ago, Sharonp said: Could I have help with another query? I'm trying to find info on a Captain Roland Fletcher, Royal Engineers, I have his Medal Roll Index Card, but I'm struggling to find out any other info. Could anyone help? Please see attached photo. Once again thank you. Sharon. Hi Sharon, if you change the title of your thread to “Capt. Roland Fletcher, Royal Engineers” or similar it should attract one of the R.E. specialists. Adding the address recorded on his MIC may help those helping you. Forum rules ask you to post credit for the image of the medal card posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 Where was he from, rough year of birth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharonp Posted 7 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 7 August , 2020 He was from Birmingham that's 1 minute ago, johnboy said: Where was he from, rough year of birth? He was from Birmingham that's all the information I have. Sorry. Sharon. 13 minutes ago, GWF1967 said: Hi Sharon, if you change the title of your thread to “Capt. Roland Fletcher, Royal Engineers” or similar it should attract one of the R.E. specialists. Adding the address recorded on his MIC may help those helping you. Forum rules ask you to post credit for the image of the medal card posted. Thank you so much for your help and advice. Sharon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tootrock Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 There is a file in the National Archives for a Lieutenant Roland Fletcher, Royal Engineers, WO 339/87896. Is this the same man? Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 Hi Sharon, 22 minutes ago, Sharonp said: 24 minutes ago, johnboy said: Where was he from, rough year of birth? He was from Birmingham that's all the information I have. In the 1939 Register my guess was that he's this man, then living at 40 Sandon Road, Smethwick, Birmingham. The notes against his name appears to show that he was the Chief of (something and) Decontamination Services for the Borough of Smethwick. The RHS of the note is missing in the original image. Image sourced from Findmypast Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headgardener Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 (edited) A quick google tells me that he was Borough Serveyor for many years. Should be able to find him in the archives of the Institute of Civil Engineers - I doubt very much that they’ll be available atm. Looks like he was made an OBE in the 1950 New Years Honours List. Seems that he helped design and build 2 well-known Art Deco buildings in Smethwick - Thimblemills Library and Thimblemills Baths (now Smethwick Baths). Clearly an important figure in his time. There should be plenty about him in local newspapers I’d have thought. Edited 7 August , 2020 by headgardener Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 Hi, If we have got the right man, in the 1911 Census he's an Assistant Highway Surveyor (working for Cannock RDC) which I guess would make him a strong candidate for a Road Construction Company RE unit. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 The Thompson family were recorded at 43 Bloxcidge Street, Langley Green on the 1911 Census of England & Wales and were the only household at that addres, so that rules out that angle. Just seen Chris's post first post of the 1939 Register and now see he's beaten me to it with the 1911 Census record as well. On the 1911 Census of England and Wales there is a 25 year old Ronald Fletcher, born Smethwick, Staffordshire, and an Assistant Highway Surveyor for Cannock Rural District Council, who was recorded at 46 Leonard Road, Handsworth, Birmingham. This was the household of his parents John, (aged 53, a Foreman Fitter in the Motor & Cycle Accessories industry, born Dawley, Shropshire) and Ann Elizabeth, (aged 50, born Birmingham). The couple have been married 27 years and have had 2 children, but only Roland was then still alive. Although his wife wasn't recorded with him on the 1939 Register, I suspect for the individual shown as Mary Elizabeth Barnes (Fletcher) single and born 21st April 1915, she was actually Mary Elizabeth Fletcher who took the name Barnes on subsequently getting married - the relevant pages of the 1939 Register were actually the core registry of the NHS until the early 1990's and so recorded change of name. A check of the birth register for England & Wales shows the birth of a Mary E. Fletcher, mothers' maiden name Furniss was recorded in the Worcester Civil Registration District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1915. The marriage of a Roland Fletcher to a Lizzie M. Furniss was recorded in the West Bromwich District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1912. Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharonp Posted 7 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 7 August , 2020 Thank you so much guys, you are amazing as always. Its a real good start for me now to get my teeth into. Thanks again Sharon 2 hours ago, tootrock said: There is a file in the National Archives for a Lieutenant Roland Fletcher, Royal Engineers, WO 339/87896. Is this the same man? Martin Yes I believe so... Sharon x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBrook Posted 7 August , 2020 Share Posted 7 August , 2020 Promotions, etc. - London Gazette. Temp. 2nd Lt. to be acting Capt. 31 May 1918 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30805/supplement/8563 To be temp. Lt. and remain acting Capt. 30 July 1918 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30877/supplement/10232 Relinquished the acting rank of Capt. 13 April 1919 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31390/page/7283 Relinquished his commission on completion of service 13 April 1919 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32422/supplement/6446 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharonp Posted 8 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 8 August , 2020 Thank you so much. Sharon. X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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