Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to coincide with the OMRS Convention

Six: Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major T. B. Fletcher, Royal Field Artillery, who was taken P.O.W. at Colenso while serving in 14th Battery and afterwards mentioned in despatches by Lord Roberts for his services as a Senior N.C.O. of the Pom Pom Section, R.A.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Belfast (91782 Sjt., 14th Bty. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (91782 Serjt., Pom Poms Sec. R.A.); British War and Victory Medals (85591 A.-W.O. Cl. 1, R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (91782 Sjt., R.F.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (85591 B.S. Mjr. - A.R.S. Mjr., R.F.A.); Belgian Croix de Guerre, with palm, the first with officially corrected rank, the Boer War pair with contact wear and edge bruising, about very fine, the remainder very fine or better (6) £600-700

Thomas Fletcher was born in Gwalior, India in July 1874, and following brief employ as a racquet ball maker enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in August 1892, aged 18 years. Advanced to Corporal in April 1898, he was embarked for South Africa on the outbreak of hostilities and was present at the action at Colenso on 15 December 1899, with 14th Battery, R.F.A., being among those taken P.O.W.

It was 14th and 66th Batteries, under Colonel Long, who became the first elements of Buller’s Army to run into serious difficulties that day. Ignoring or misunderstanding his orders, Long recklessly pushed ahead of the advanced infantry, halting his guns abreast of Colenso, some 700 yards from the river. Immediately engaged by 1000 Boer riflemen hidden on the north bank, the men of 14th and 66th worked their guns to the best of their ability under a terrific fire. But it was an uneven struggle and mounting casualties and a near-exhausted ammunition supply forced their withdrawal to a donga to the rear of the guns. It was in subsequent attempts to rescue these guns that no less than five V.Cs were won, the additional deeds of Lord Roberts’ son and Major Babtie of the R.A.M.C. raising the day’s tally to seven awards.

Fletcher, who was later released, next joined the Pom Pom Section, R.A. and was mentioned in despatches by Lord Roberts (London Gazette 10 September 1901). Awarded his L.S. and G.C. Medal in Army Order 92 of 1911, he was advanced to Battery Sergeant-Major in January 1913 and was discharged in November of the latter year.

The advent of hostilities, however, witnessed his rapid return to duty, Fletcher volunteering in August 1914, aged 40 years. Advanced from Gunner to his old rank of Battery Sergeant-Major on the day that he returned to uniform, he served with 18th Reserve Battery until posted to France with 107th Battery, 23rd Army Brigade, R.F.A. in late April 1916. His subsequent services as an Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major won him the M.S.M. (London Gazette 3 June 1919) and the Belgian Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 15 April 1918). He was finally demobilised in May 1919.