Eric Fulcher was born on 9 November 1890 at Townsville, Queensland, Australia. His family was originally from Shropshre – his Uncle George lived at Morda and was manager of the Union Workhouse. The family – his father James Thomas Fulcher, mother Margaret and 2 daughters Molly and Bessie – had emigrated to Australia, arriving at Townsville by coastal steamer on Christmas Day 1888. Eric’s father had been appointed headmaster of Townsville School. Townsville was the port for nearby mines and had a population of about 10000.

Eric went to agricultural college and, helped by his father, set up as a dairy and bamboo cane farmer at Pialba near to Maryborough, Queensland were he lived with his new wife, Charlotte Jane Johnson – they had married on 7 April 1915. At the outbreak of the First World War, Eric tried to join the army but was rejected, as he was too short. Later, when height restrictions were changed, he tried again and enlisted at Maryborough on October 16 1916. He had come over to England in the 17th draft of reinforcements and replacements, disembarking at Portsmouth in March 1917. The journey had taken over 10 weeks including a stop over in Egypt. He had been sick during the journey and, soon after arriving, was ill again, this time contracting mumps. He and his comrades had then spent time training in England before going over to France in June 1917. Eric died of wounds in No.2 Canadian CCS at Lijssenthoek and is buried in the military cemetery there. Lijssenthoek, near to Poperinghe, on 20 September 1917,  was the opening day of The Battle of Menin Road, Third Ypres. He had been hit in the arm and back by gun shot or possibly shrapnel.

His few effects were returned home; a damaged Franc coin, his wedding ring, wallet, some photos, a pocket knife and his spectacles. Charlotte asked if she could also have his uniform as a memento; the War Office declined the request due to it being government property. Eric is remembered on the Australian War Memorial and also at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

In September 1917, his sister Bess received a letter from Eric, written two months earlier, in France:

“Dear Bess,

As you see by the address that I’m over here and am ready to go up to the line any time, in fact we are warned to be ready to go up today and the lads are packing up and talking 19 to the dozen. This is a bosca country for scenery, it’s dead pretty but you never know what minute its going to rain and then the mud is that darned slippery, dam we have to fall in.

July 6th.. Another spasm. I joined up the Battalion on Tuesday last and struck a couple of Maryborough chaps. I’m having a fairly good time and we aren’t up in the front line yet but we aren’t too far away. We hear the guns going most of the night and planes are just like birds and almost as common.

Well old girl there’s nothing to write about here, its all military stuff and that wont go through.

Oh, by the way, you needn’t put reinforcement on my letters now, put D Company signals 25th Battalion AIF France. 

I’m going to have a wash in a shell hole presently, it’s dead funny in this camp, it’s real active service now. Well old girl I’ll have to love and leave you and get fixed up for the morning. I’m writing this lying on my back with my legs cocked up for a writing desk, a plane is going over the tent and Fritz is sending a few pills over to our lads. I can hear them bursting. Good-bye my girl, lots of love to all, love and kisses to yourself and the kids, 

Your affectionate Bro,

 Eric.”

Acknowledgements. Geoff Astell, Queensland, Australia.

References and Sources

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