Donald McDonald Fletcher

Donald Fletcher (Service No 532) was born in Sherbrooke, near Wollongong, N.S.W. around 1896.

Donald enlisted when he was 18 years of age; he was single and worked as a labourer.  Donald was the first of six brothers to enlist.  The Fletcher's had 8 sons, 2 of whom were asked to remain at home.

Donald embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A40 Ceramic with B Company, 18th Battalion, on 25th June 1915, and arrived on Gallipoli in August 1915.  He was wounded in action soon after, on 22nd August 1915.  Donald was evacuated to hospital in London for treatment of a gun shot wound to his left hand on 9th September 1915.  Subsequently he was returned to Australia on 8th October 1915 on board HMAT Suevic as a guard. 

After arriving back in Australia he was evaluated by a medical board and passed as fit for active duty in February 1916.

On 29th November 1916 Donal was re-attested and embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire with 19th Reinforcements, 18 Battalion, on 7th February 1917.  Donald arrived in England on 11th April 1917 and was admitted to hospital with influenza on 5th May 1917, finally rejoining his Unit in France on 28th August 1917.

Donald was killed in action in Belgium on 20th September 1917 and is buried in the Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery, Boesinge Belgium; Extension Plot I, Row L, Grave 7.