To FuManch and Phillip G
I'm sure FuManchu is aware of this already, but for the sake of explaination. The Fletcher's were part of the Mining Company, Fletcher, Burrows and Co. As i haven't my notes in front of me, I'll start from the top.Almost all of the Officers were part of the Volunteer Force, before it transitioned over to the Territorial Force. The Company they were with is annotated.
Lieutenant Phillip Fletcher is first recorded as attending the VF annual camp in 1881, he is with 'I' Company (Atherton), at this point in time there are 13 companies in the 1st VBMR (later 1/5th M/C Regt). He moves through the ranks and is promoted to Captain Commandant of 'I' Co replacing Capt. A.T. Edmundson. Edmundson resigns on 16th April 1884. Phillip Fletcher then moves to the Adminstrative staff, becoming a Major and then onto Lt.Col, replacing Lt.Col Henry Darlington as the CO in 1904. Phillip resigns his commission on 24th March 1908. As he has served over twenty years he is awarded the Volunteer Long Service medal. (Hence the term V.D. after his name). By all accounts, Phillip was a fit individual who was an avid mountain climber.
2nd Lt. Ernest Fletcher is first mentioned in 1898, being promoted to Lt. This is the generation of Officers that served with the Battalion in WW1, H.C. Darlington, A.E.Cronshaw, H.M. Rogers, N.Seddon-Brown all arrive as 2nd Lt's in this decade (1890-1900). He is promoted in his time and becomes the Capt. Commandant of the Atherton detachment (I & M Co)
2nd Lt Clement Fletcher joins the Atherton detachment in 1900 and is promoted to Lt in 1903. He moves to become OIC Eccles detachement (G & K Co) and is promoted to Captain on 27th Dec 1905. I believe that he is the nephew of Phillip Fletcher.
His cousin Basil Lindley Fletcher joins 'H' Company (Atherton Co) 9th March 1909 and promoted to Lt in 1909.
The Burrow's family.
2nd Lt Eric Burrows and his brother M. Kenneth Burrows join the 1/5th Manchesters just before or during the garison duties in Egypt 1914. I believe that that Basil and M.K. Burrows were not only business partners but also good friends. M.K. has a collection of notes and photographs stored at the Liddle Museum in Leeds. You can purchase a copy of the photographs, these show the battalion in Egypt, as well as a tour of the battlefields shortly after the end of WW1. M.K. and Basil are in thee photographs. The written elements have to be viewed in person.
Regards
Ginge