Photo of Mount Thompson Crematorium by Roger Garland [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Stoker Douglas Hubert Fletcher, the son of Hubert Sidney Fletcher and Olive Louise Marguerite Fletcher (nee Simmons) was born at Brisbane in Queensland on 19th March 1927. He was educated at the Toowoomba Grammar School. After leaving school he entered employment as a Clerk. At the age of 18 years and 2 months he was mobilized into the Royal Australian Navy Reserve on 31st May 1945. His physical description was that he was 5 feet 7 inches in height and had a fair complexion, green eyes, and light brown hair. He stated that he was of the Methodist religion. He gave his next of kin as his father, Mr Hubert Sidney Fletcher, residing at “Loombra”, Birkain Street, Hawthorne, Brisbane. He was allotted the service number of B5527. He joined H.M.A.S. Cerberus for his initial naval training on 5th June 1945.
Australian War Memorial Photograph: 109373
HMAS Lachlan
Stoker Douglas Fletcher joined the shore base H.M.A.S. Penguin at Balmoral, Middle Head, Sydney on 28th November 1945 to prepare for a sea posting. He joined the crew of HMAS Lachlan on 3rd December 1945. He joined the crew of HMAS Townsville, an Australian minesweeper on 23rd December 1945 an\d he served on this vessel until 26th February 1946.
He joined the shore base HMAS Lonsdale 27th February 1946. He was transferred to the shore base HMAS Huon 15th March 1946. He rejoined HMAS Townsville for sea duty during the period 18th March until 2nd May 1946. He was granted leave during the period 2nd May 1946 until 14th May 1946. He joined the Naval facility HMAS Moreton in Brisbane on 5th August 1946.
Stoker Douglas Fletcher accidentally died due to electrocution whilst on shore leave on 6th January 1947. At the time of his death he was 19 years of age. His body was cremated at the Mount Thompson Crematorium at Holland Park in Brisbane. His name is commemorated on Panel No. 4 at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and locally on the Toowoomba Grammar School WW2 Roll of Honour.
Note
Royal Australian Navy Archive files consist of a double sided card written in pencil. Many of the notations are very difficult to read. His biography has been created to the best of the author’s ability.
