John Hoodham Fletcher

A Second Hand with H.M. Drifter Kent County, John died on 8th of December 1916 at the age of 29. 

John was born at Lowestoft on 19 August 1887, a son of Harry and Alice Fletcher. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 14 September 1887, and his family lived at 6 Strand Cottages, and this was still their home in 1901. Later his parents lived at East Street. 

On 8 January 1908 John married Agnes Jenny Aldred at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. John was a fisherman living at 6 Strand Cottages and Agnes lived at 1 Rank Score. By 1914 they were living at 12 Queens Road, and later Agnes lived at 15 Woods Loke, Oulton.  

In 1911 John was the fourth hand on the trawler Osprey at Haking, Pembrokeshire.  

John joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 10 August 1914 and served on the drifter Kent County. The Kent County was a Special Service Vessel, also known as Q-Ships. The drifter was sunk by a mine about one mile off Cross Sand, near Lowestoft, with the loss of all ten members of crew.