William Fletcher, GCR Fire Brigade officer 1911.

An original studio portrait by H. Blackburn, 42 Freeman Street, Grimsby.

Here is a timeline for William Fletcher:

Born 1st October 1876 and baptised on 29th October 1876. He was the son of Samuel Boswell Fletcher and Betsy Fletcher. (Samuel Boswell Fletcher, a plumber and glazier of Flottergate, and Betsy Sands of Duncombe Street married on 27th May 1875. The couple lived at East Marsh Street. William’s grandfather, William, was a foreman of the borough highways.)

1881 – William Fletcher, aged 4, and brother John, 3, are living with their parents at 12 East Marsh Street.

1891 – William was working as a blacksmith, aged 14. He and his brothers James, 13, and Charles H., 6, are living at 12 East Marsh Street.

1901 – William was a locomotive engine stoker, aged 24, living with his parents and two brothers at 20 Rowlandson Street, Grimsby.

1911 – William, aged 34, was a stationary engineman for a railway company. He and brother, Charles Henry, steamship broker’s clerk, were still living at 20 Rowlandson Street with their parents.

1921 – William, aged 44, was a staff lieutenant in the fire brigade, working for the Great Central Railway Company. He was the only son still living with his parents at 20 Rowlandson Street.

1923 – William Fletcher married Annie Matilda Boon in Grimsby.

1939 – A shipping foreman (stevedore) living with wife, Annie M., at 35 Weelsby Avenue, Grimsby.

1947 – Retired stevedore of 35 Weelsby Avenue, William Fletcher, died on 28th September 1947. Annie Matilda Fletcher died on 9th January 1950, aged 71. The couple are buried in Scartho Road Cemetery.

William Fletcher is wearing the uniform of a fire brigade officer. (Great Central Railway; staff lieutenant in the fire brigade?) Brass, ‘fish scale’ epaulettes were only worn by firemen. The cap is typical of those worn by fire brigade officers. Note the ‘GCR’ motif and the fireman’s helmet badge below. The whole uniform appears to be based on that of a Dragoon Guard (British Army).

The portrait must date to 1911. William was not a fire brigade officer in April 1911 when the Census was held. The photographer emigrated to Australia in December 1911 (see below). William must have been promoted after the Census and the photograph must have been taken between April and December in 1911.

On the back of the photo is written, “I hope you both will have a Merry Xmas and a prosperous new year”.

Will Fletcher of 20 Rowlandson Street was also known as the ‘Lincolnshire Hercules’, a strongman.

Henry Blackburn, the photographer, was born in Liversedge, Yorkshire in on 18th July 1869. He married Jane Hardy in Dewsbury in 1894. Their third child was born Morley/Dewsbury in 1899 and their fourth child in Grimsby in 1900. This dates this photograph nicely, together with the clothing. Henry Blackburn was still at 42 Freeman Street in 1911. There was a 5th child by then.

The Blackburn family emigrated to Brisbane, Australia on the ship ‘Orsova’ on 22nd December 1911. They arrived on 5th February 1912. The family spent the remainder on their days in Queensland.