The heroic story of Corporal Vivian Clyde Fletcher MM remained untold for almost 100 years until Glen Innes RSL recognised his contribution at both Gallipoli and the Western Front with a dedication at the Ex-Services Club last Anzac Day.
As a Trooper in the 1st Australian Light Horse, Viv Fletcher landed at Gallipoli on May 9, 1915, after the initial invasion, remaining there to be among the last to leave in December that year.
His service at Gallipoli was amazing; having survived seven months of bitter fighting, huge casualties and atrocious conditions.
He came through this unscathed.
He went on to win the Military Medal on the Western Front for his bravery in action at Villers-Brettoneux.
Vivian Fletcher was born on May 30, 1892 and was raised on the family farm, Ferndale, at Bald Nob, east of Glen Innes.
Viv was working as a bushman in Glen Innes at the start of the war and enlisted in the 1st Light Horse Regiment.
After initial training, he embarked on the Star of Victoria on October 19, 1914.
The troopers thought they were heading for Europe to relieve the British, but during the journey were diverted to Egypt, arriving in Cairo for desert training.
There the decision was made for Australians to be used in the invasion of Turkey and on April 25 that year they landed at Gallipoli.
Huge losses created a big demand for re-enforcements and Viv and the 502 strong 1st Light Horse Regiment embarked on May 9, 1915, landing at 6am under heavy shelling 2000 yards south of Fisherman's Hut.
By 4pm that day, they had bivouacked 500 yards south of Pope's Hill, where they remained under heavy shrapnel fire during the night. The next day they moved to the trenches at Pope's Hill to relieve the 13th Battalion.
They remained there until relieved by the 3rd Light Horse Regiment on May 17.
Pope's Hill was at the head of Monash Valley with the Turks occupying the top of the hill, their trenches being only 50 to 150 yards away.
Heavy fighting continued over the next few days with a concerted attack by the enemy, which resulted in an estimated 4000 dead Turks.
The stench was so bad that on May 24 a truce was called from 7.30am to 4.30pm for all parties to bury their dead.
Viv's unit was involved in heavy fighting at The Nek on August 7.
It was moved to Outpost No. 1 on September 2, 1915, where it remained until the evacuation in December.
Family legend has it that Viv was one of the last to leave Gallipoli. If so, he would have departed with the second group C on Monday, December 20, which left Outpost No. 1 at 3.08am.
Viv transferred to the 4th Division Artillery in April, 1916 and landed at Bertham, France, on May 7 to begin his involvement against the Germans on the Western Front.
Vivian was awarded the Military Medal on June 18, 1918 for bravery in the early morning of June 2, 1918.
Army Form 3121 describes his action as: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When in charge of a medium trench mortar at Villers-Brettoneux at 3am on June 2, 1918, the enemy placed an intense barrage of H.E and gas on the position. Bombardier Fletcher led his detachment in spite of the barrage and removed the gun and ammunition. Gas helmets had to be worn continuously. The building in which the mortar was in place was in flames and a direct hit had been obtained on the ammunition."
Two days after receiving the medal, Viv was promoted to corporal, and on June 17, 1918, he returned to Australia.
Not much is known about Viv after the war.
Records show that in 1928, he married Ruby K. Horder (or Currier) at Woolahra, Sydney.
He was working as a taxi driver and living in William Street, East Sydney in 1950.
His wife Ruby died in 1968 and there are no records of any children from the marriage.
Vivian died aged 79 years in Darlinghurst, Sydney in 1971.
*Extracts from research by Andrew Fletcher
POST SCRIPT: The author of this article, and editor of Redland City Bulletin, Jeff Freak, and researcher, Andrew Fletcher, are first cousins and great nephews of Vivian Fletcher MM.