Lot 12
A Coldstream Guards 1914 Star, Casualty Group of 3 awarded to Guardsman Wigan Fletcher
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
A Coldstream Guards 1914 Star, Casualty Group of 3 awarded to Guardsman Wigan Fletcher, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards who was Killed in Action on the 4th of March 1917, comprising 1914 Star, (7940 Pte W. Fletcher. C. Gds:), 1914-1920 British War and Victory Medals, (7940 Pte. W. Fletcher. C. Gds.), toned, fine (3).
The War Diary for the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards states: ‑
‘Fregicourt Trenches 4th of March 1917
The 8th Div on the right of the Brigade frontage successfully attacked Fritz; the result was that our position was heavily shelled all the morning, in which No. 2 Coy had a platoon suffered most heavily. 2nd Lt G.H. Smith, 7 Other Ranks Killed, 3 Other Ranks Since Died of Wounds, 8 Other Ranks Wounded.’
Guardsman Wigan Fletcher was born at All Hallows, Cumberland c. 1889; he lived at 42 Hildyard Terrace, New Shildon, County Durham and enlisted at Bishop Auckland. Wigan landed in France with the BEF on the 12th of August 1914, and he is entitled to the Aug-Nov clasp to his 1914 Star.
He was Killed in Action on the 4th of March 1917 and is buried in Sailly‑Saillisel British Cemetery, 16 kilometres east of Albert, 16 kilometres south of Bapaume. He was the son of Grace Fletcher and named his dependant as his sister, Mrs Mary Boddy. He was 28 years old when he died.
Sold with Copy Medal Index Card, Copy Pension Records and Commonwealth War Graves Commission information.
