Child soldier of the First World War
Recorded on the memorial in St John’s RC Church, Ivy Street, is the name of Drummer Fletcher Clough. He celebrated his 16th birthday in the trenches in the Dardenelles while serving with the 1/5 Battalion East Lancashire Regiment.
His obituary in the Burnley Express of June 30th, 1915, says he was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Clough, 158 Cleaver Street, Burnley. He joined up initially as a bugler with the Territorials and was so keen to enlist he told his mother “not to claim him out”. He even wrote from Egypt urging his parents to let his 12 year-old brother Albert go as a bugler. Albert tried to join up but was told he was far too young.
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Hide AdThe obituary says Fletcher: “Was a nice lad and greatly liked by those who knew him.”
Sadly, child soldiers are not uncommon is some parts of the world today.
Fr Michael Waters
St John’s Presbytery
Bracewell Street, Burnley