Shropshire serviceman remembered on centenary of his death - with video and pictures
A Shropshire-born serviceman who was killed in an air crash weeks before the end of the Great War was remembered in a service on the exact centenary of his death.
On Saturday, Second Lieutenant Charles Fletcher, who was laid to rest in Hadley Cemetery, was commemorated in the latest part of a six-year project by Oakengates and District branch of the Royal British Legion honour fallen heroes from the First World War.
It is holding ceremonies at the final resting places of those who were buried in the area on, or close to, the centenaries of their deaths.
Robert New, a distant cousin of Charles Fletcher, travelled from Cheshire to attend the moving ceremony led by the Rev Kevin Evans, of Wombridge Parish Church.
Representatives from Hadley Parish Council, RAF Shawbury and Dawley Air Training Corps were among 25 people to pay their respects.
Branch secretary of Oakengates and District Royal British Legion Moira Wallace said: "The memorial service was brilliant. It was a wonderful morning lead by the Rev Kevin Evans.
"A number of passers-by also stopped to watch what was going on which was really good. We weren't expecting a big crowd under the circumstances."
Charles was born in Hadley on August 17, 1895 four months after after his father died in Tewkesbury leaving his mother Christina a 35-year-old widow with three other children to look after.
At 15, Charles was working as a shop assistant.
During the war he served in the Worcestershire Regiment and was attached to the RAF gaining the Military Medal.
He died in a flying accident at Turnberry Bay, in Scotland, on October 20, 1918.
Up and coming events organised by the Oakengates and District branch include the unveiling and dedication of a new poppy cross at Hartshill Park on November 11 as part of its Remembrance Day programme.
The event will also feature a street procession from the Salvation Army citadel at 10.50am arriving at the park shortly before 11am, the re-dedication of the park's memorial gates, a two-minute silence and the symbolic release of pigeons.
The ceremony will be led by Rev Evans, the branch's chaplain.
Mrs Wallace added: "We had a sandbag poppy cross built in 2014 and its been there since. But the branch members and people in the community wanted a more permanent memorial.
"We brought in a contract company who have rebuilt it and they will be officially handing it over on Thursday."
Oakengates Town Mayor Councillor Stephen Reynolds is due to attend the hand over at midday on October 25.
