William Fletcher (rower)

William Alfred Littledale Fletcher, DSO (25 August 1869 – 14 February 1919) was both a successful English oarsman and coach, and soldier.

He went up to Christ Church, Oxford where he rowed to win the Ladies' Challenge Plate and the Thames Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 1889.

[citation needed] He became part of the patriotic volunteer movement at the beginning of 1900, joining the 32nd Company Imperial Yeomanry on 7 February 1900.

[8] He enlisted again on the outbreak of the Great War, joining the Territorial Force Reserve as a captain on 23 September 1914.

[9] He was appointed adjutant of the 6th (Rifle) Battalion The King's (Liverpool Regiment) on 10 November 1914;[10] a position he held until 27 April 1915.

It deployed to France on 14 February 1917, and he was one of the 457 casualties suffered by the battalion during the second mustard gas attack of the war, at Armentières on 29 July 1917.

[13] His successful command was recognized on 1 January 1918 when, as a captain (temporary lieutenant-colonel) he was appointed brevet major for distinguished service in the field.