Private 314, 1st East Lancs. Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.
James (Jim) Fletcher first writes from Southampton in October 1914, where he is about to embark for Egypt on H.M.S. Aragon. A year later, he has just returned to England, where he writes from Liverpool Royal Infirmary. It is not clear whether he was wounded or repatriated as a result of illness. He remains in the UK for much of the remainder of the correspondence. The final letter dated 20 July 1917 is addressed from "somewhere" and suggests that he has returned to the field. In 1911, he was an apprentice letterpress printer living with his parents and siblings in Mytton Street, Manchester. He mentions George DODD (now has three stripes), Bert (Herbert) BRYDEN, "Bish" (who he met in Malta), Tom MILLAR, Ted KITCHEN, Frank MAJOR (not heard anything of him), Arthur BAILEY and Tom WILLIAMSON (May WILLIAMSON's brother, both with the 5th Bn. Manchester Regiment) and also his sister Florrie.