09/12/2023
One of approximately 600 British and 100 foreign medal lots in our current auction which ends on Monday at www.wellingtonauctions.com (Buyers premium 12.5%)
A 'Kintore / Auchterless Loon's' Great War casualty campaign medal group of 3: Private Alexander Fletcher, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders.
1914 Star, with tailors copy clasp (10440 Pte. A. Fletcher. 2/ Gord: Highrs), British War Medal. (10440 Pte. A. Fletcher. Gordons.), Victory Medal (10440 Pte. A. Fletcher. Gordons.).
Note: The dated clasp is a contemporary tailors gilt copy.
Died-of-Disease: Private Alexander Fletcher, is confirmed having died of 'Pneumonia' at 'Home', in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on, 27 February 1915, having contracted the disease on 'Field Operations' with the British Expeditionary Force, in France & Flanders. The below following article was published in the Aberdeen Press and Journal newspaper issue of 3 March 1915: Quote, DEATH OF KINTORE GORDON. Private Alexander Fletcher, who died at Kintore on Saturday of pneumonia, was buried in the Kintore Churchyard with Military Honours. Private Fletcher joined the Gordon Highlanders seven years ago, and was in Egypt with the 2nd Battalion when war broke out. He passed unscathed through all the engagements in which his regiment took part, but was invalided back home with pneumonia some time ago. After several weeks in Norwich Hospital he returned home to Kintore. A chill caught a few days ago, developed into pneumonia, to which he succumbed. Unquote. An obituary was published in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal issue of 5 March 1915. Quote, M'Gillivray. - At Roslin Cottage, Kintore, on the 27th , (ult). of pneumonia, Private Alexander Fletcher, 2nd Gordon Highlanders, (home from the front), eldest son of James McGillivray, aged 24 years (sic). Unquote. Note: While the medal roll for the 1914 Star makes no reference to issuance of a dated clasp - the clasp is confirmed as issued - to the recipients nominated next of kin - per the recipients Medal Index Card. Alexander Fletcher, stepson of James McGillivray and Mary Ann McGillivray, was born at, Auchterless near Turriff, Aberdeenshire, in 1890. The 1891 National Census for Scotland records him living in Turriff, Scotland, described as a 'Boarder', residing in the household of Farm Servant's wife Jane Murray. Alexander was employed as a 'Groom' prior to joining the British Army, when he joined his local infantry regiment, the Gordon Highlanders at the end of 1907 (the regimental number 10560 is known to have been issued to a 'Jock' on, 9 January 1908). After enlistment, and completion of his basic training at the Regimental Depot, located at, Castlehill Barracks, Aberdeen, he was posted to 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders. The 1911 National Census for England & Wales, records Alexander serving at Colchester, England, with 2/Gordons. Alexander was serving in Egypt with 2/Gordons when the Great War broke out. He first entered a theatre of war 'Belgium' on, 7 October 1914, on which date 2/Gordons disembarked at the Belgian Port of Zeebrugge. Alexander served in France & Flanders, through 1914. He was invalided home to the UK, and on, 27 February 1915, died of pneumonia, while residing at his parents residence in Kintore, Scotland. Private Fletcher had contracted the disease while serving in France on active service. The memory of the life and supreme sacrifice of Private Alexander Fletcher, 2nd Battalion Battalion Gordon Highlanders is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, on a granite headstone memorial bearing the regimental badge of the Gordon Highlanders, located at Kintore Cemetery Churchyard, Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where the body of Private Fletcher was laid to rest in 1915. Sold together with some hard-copy photocopied research. Good Very Fine
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