Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Plumber First Class W. Fletcher, Royal Navy

British War and Victory Medals (S.S. 9406 W. Fletcher. R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (M. 37728 W. Fletcher. Plbr. 1. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (M. 37728 W. Fletcher. Pbr. 1. H.M.S. Warspite.) minor edge bruising to the Great War pair, these nearly very fine, the latter two medals nearly extremely fine (4) £160-£200

William Fletcher was born at St. Leonards, Sussex, on 7 August 1900. He attested for naval service at Portsmouth, by occupation a plumbers mate, on 7th August 1918, and was appointed to H.M.S. Victory, as Ordinary Seaman, No. SS 9406. He subsequently served in H.M.S. Caesar, H.M.S. Blenheim (Tobago), H.M.S. Fisgard, and H.M.S. Malabar (Demerara) amongst others. He was advanced to Able Seaman on 16 August 1920, and Acting Plumber 4th Class, on 8 September 1923. His medals for service in the Great War were sent to H.M.S. Agamemnon.

Fletcher was advanced to Plumber First Class, on 8 September 1932, when serving in H.M.S. Warspite, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1933. Following further service in H.M.S. Dolphin, and H.M.S. Hawkins, he was discharged to pension from H.M.S. Aurora on 6 August 1940, but was promptly recalled for war service the following day. His service papers indicate that he may have been employed as Temporary Chief Pilot, in 1944, and he was again discharged in 1945.