Captain Wilfred Alan Fleming was born on June 3, 1890, at Thayetmo, Bengal, while his father was serving in the Bengal civil service. His parents, Allan Stopford Fleming and Lila Tod were married at St Peter’s, Woolton, on November 14, 1888.

According to the 1901 census, the ten-year-old, Wilfred was living with his grandmother, Harriet Tod, at The Grange, Speke Road, along with other family members and several servants. There is no mention of his parents at this time and, presumably, young Wilfred was in the UK to attend school while his parents remained in the Far East.

After school, Wilfred was commissioned in the army and, in 1911, was serving with the 1st Battalion, Devonshire regiment. He is recorded, along with his fellow officers, as living in the regimental barracks in the 1911 census.

Meanwhile his parents, with his father now retired, were living nearby, in a house with four servants.

When war broke out, Wilfred headed to France and was awarded the Military Cross for distinguished servies in the Machine Gun Section, in June, 1915. He was then attached to the Royal Flying Corps, and returned to the UK for training at Tidworth. During this training, Wilfred married Dorothy Norma Paterson in Kensington, London, but their married life was to be shortlived.

Promoted to Captain, Wilfred returned to France and served in the 56th Squadron of the Royal Fling Corps but was killed in action on August 10, 1917.

Probate shows hat he left an estage worth £7410 15s 1d to his widow.

Wilfred Allan Fleming is Remembered with Honour at the Harlebeke New British Cemetery Belgium. He is also remembered on the Harrow School Roll of Honour and Chagford War Memorial, Devon.

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